Heavy Rains Hamper Access to Irazú Volcano and Costa Rica’s Caribbean

Heavy rains have disrupted travel to two of Costa Rica’s most important tourism areas after a landslide affected the road toward Irazú Volcano and falling debris forced the closure of Route 32, the main highway connecting San José with the Caribbean. The most serious incident was reported last night on National Route 219 in Oreamuno, Cartago, where a large landslide blocked part of the road leading toward Irazú Volcano following hours of heavy rain. An initial emergency report indicated that around 30 people may have been left isolated by the landslide, prompting the Costa Rican Red Cross to send rescue crews and basic emergency units to the area. However, by late Saturday night authorities had not confirmed that anyone needed to be evacuated, and there were no reports of injuries connected to the incident. Emergency officials activated the Municipal Emergency Committee in Oreamuno, while the National Road Council, police and rescue personnel were sent to evaluate conditions and determine what would be needed to clear the road. As of this morning, authorities had not publicly confirmed whether Route 219 had been completely reopened or whether all of the people initially reported as isolated had been able to leave the area. The uncertainty is important for anyone using Route 219 as its the main road used to reach Irazú Volcano National Park from Cartago, as well as communities including Cot, Tierra Blanca and Potrero Cerrado. The road had already experienced problems earlier in September because of heavy rain, making the latest landslide another reminder of how quickly conditions can change on Costa Rica’s mountain routes during the rainy season. The problems were not limited to Cartago. Route 32, the main highway between San José and Limón, was also closed last night after heavy rain caused material to fall onto the road in the mountainous section of the highway. The closure was announced shortly before 7 p.m., and drivers were advised to use alternate routes, including Route 10 through Turrialba, Route 126 through Vara Blanca or the Bajos de Chilamate–Vuelta de Kopper connection. Route 32 is one of our most important transportation corridors, taking drivers between the Central Valley and Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Tortuguero, while also serving as the principal land connection to the Caribbean ports. The highway has suffered repeated closures this rainy season because of landslides, falling rocks and saturated hillsides, particularly through the mountainous section near Braulio Carrillo National Park. Last night’s problems followed the passage of Tropical Wave 45, which brought heavy showers and thunderstorms to several parts of Costa Rica while being influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Although the tropical wave has moved through by now, unstable weather is expected to continue today, with more afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible in the Central Valley and other parts of Costa Rica. That means travelers heading toward Irazú Volcano, the Caribbean or other mountainous areas should check road conditions before leaving and be prepared for sudden closures if heavy rain causes additional landslides. For anyone planning to go to Irazú Volcano National Park today, the main issue is the condition of Route 219 rather than volcanic activity, and you should confirm that the road is passable before making the drive from Cartago. The same applies to anyone traveling between San José and the Caribbean, where Route 32 can reopen quickly after crews remove debris but can also close again if rain destabilizes surrounding slopes. Costa Rica is in one of the wettest times of its rainy season, and saturated ground makes steep mountain roads especially vulnerable to landslides even after the heaviest rain has ended. Authorities are continuing to monitor conditions, and further road restrictions remain possible if strong afternoon storms return.