13 active volcanoes that are tourist attractions

The primal power of volcanoes has fascinated humanity for thousands of years, and it is no different today. Tourists flock to sites with particularly spectacular displays of volcanic activity despite the potential danger they pose.

My own experience with volcano tourism involved a few nights’ stay below the slopes of the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. As thrilling as the nightly show was, with periodic orange bursts of lava, it was humbling to know that only a few years earlier the volcano had erupted so violently that the surrounding area was evacuated. This knowledge didn’t stop me from enjoying myself, but I did keep a more watchful eye on that distant fiery peak.

• Arenal Volcano (Costa Rica)
• Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)—Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes
• Montserrat Volcano Observatory (Montserrat, West Indies)—Soufrière Hills Volcano
• Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and Stromboli Volcanoes (Italy)
• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (Washington State, USA)
• Kilimanjaro, Oldoinya Lengai, Meru Volcanoes (Tanzania)
• Yasur Volcano (Vanuatu)
• Popocatepetl National Park (Mexico)
• Fuji Five Lake Region (Japan)—Mount Fuji
• Santa Maria/Santiaguito Volcano (Guatemala)

You can read more about the Arenal volcano in Tabacón Hot Springs at Interesting Thing of the Day.