Although residents of Costa Rica are mostly used to feeling an earthquake or two each week and experiencing periods of increased volcanic activity, concern over catastrophic natural disasters is currently at higher than usual levels. Not long after celebrations of Columbus Day commemorated the discovery of the New World and its wonderful natives, people in Costa Rica were jolted by phreatic eruptions in the Poas Volcano and multiple nighttime earthquakes. Naturally, emergency management officials are preparing for even more geological disturbances and many people are concerned; however, many tourists seem to be truly enjoying themselves.

According to a report by Alejandro Fonseca of daily tabloid Diario Extra, tourists flocked en masse to the Poas on Tuesday morning just as soon as they found out that the national park would intermittently reopen after a breathtaking, yet dangerous, eruption sent volcanic matter flying right into the middle of the main observatory platform overlooking the crater on Monday morning. Residents whose communities are located on the skirts of this colossus, which has been particularly active in the last few years, have wondered if geological reports would keep tourists away or actually encourage them to risk their lives and visit the Poas. An eloquent answer came from park ranger and administrator Juan Dobles:

“In fact, when phreatic eruptions or other less severe events occur, many more visitors arrive. They understand that this is a very active volcano that is still partially open to the public, and thus they are attracted. Some may be scared and cautious, but our experience has been that even more tourists want to see what takes place up here.”

On Tuesday morning, about 24 hours after the magnificent eruption reported by The Costa Rica Star (of which you can see video here), there was a line to climb to the main crater observatory. A female tourist from Chile, which is an even more seismic nation than Costa Rica, confessed that she was disappointed to have missed the Monday morning eruption, but was excited to feel the volcanic warmth and acrid sulfur emissions as well as the earth shaking the night before. A brave boy from Colombia mentioned that he was not afraid something would happen, and that he liked the activity of the Poas, which he had previously thought was nothing more than a “mountain with a hole in the middle.”

Geologists are examining the volcanic debris for the purpose of enacting the proper emergency protocols. The recent earthquakes are not related to the activity in the Poas, but residents are reminded of the 1994 eruptions, which spewed magma that actually burned coffee crops and prompted ash clouds that lingered for days.