The quick answer to this question is yes, although logistically it is a little more complicated than that.
If you are asking this question then more than likely you already know the background on both volcanoes, so I won’t bore you with those details. Instead I’ll give you some things to consider.
Irazu Volcano is the easiest, of the two to visit. You don’t need a guide and you don’t need to hike. However, you do need to purchase your ticket online on the government website here. Be sure to purchase the Sector-Crater ticket. The cost is $15.00 for non residents and 2000 CRC to park. The park is open from 8-3.
Turrialba Volcano is more complicated. You need to hike to the crater and you have to do it with a guide. It is an exhausting hike. It’s more pricey- $40 USD. You need a 4×4 vehicle to get to base camp. You need to purchase your tickets in advance or at least reserve your spot. Tours occur from 6-11 am on the hour. This tour takes at least 4 hours. Here’s the link for the tour.
If you are staying near the San José area, it will take you 2.5 hours to drive to Turrialba or 1.5 to get to Irazu. They are about an hour drive apart. The driving times are a big consideration when planning to visit both of these volcanoes within the same day.
Easiest plan: Visit Irazu first because you’ll be very tired after your hike to Turrialba. Arrive at Irazu at 8 am. Spend about an hour there. Then take the hour drive to Turriabla. Arrive at Turrialba between 10-10:30 for your 11:00 reservation. Complete the hike by 4. I highly recommend visiting the Sector-Prussia at Irazu, but you’ll have to plan that for another day. A trip to Irazu is not complete without a visit there.
Plan B: Stay in Cartago. (I don’t recommend driving from San José at 3am to get to Turrialba by 6) Hike Turrialba at 6am. Complete your hike by 11. Head over to Irazu by 1 (consider traffic) Spend about an hour there. The good thing is that after hiking Turrialba, Irazu is easy (no hiking required).
I have visited both volcanos on separate occasions (you can read my experience to Irazu here, and my experience to Turriabla here). I wanted to visit both within the same day but did not plan properly as I didn’t know the logistics. Also, seeing both, although doable, would be rushed and I like to take my time. But if you’re pressed for time, it’s a good idea to squeeze them both into one day. Keep in mind that the weather changes quickly in Costa Rica and the clouds roll in and out at their own pace, this will influence how much of the craters you will be able to see. When I visited Turrialba (Feb 2023), a new road closer to the crater was being built to shorten the hike, that would definitely make things easier.
Have you hiked these 2 volcanoes in one day? What was your experience?
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