The beauty of the area, the spectacular views of the Poas Volcano, make this the most visited National Park in Costa Rica. The park contains four major habitats: arrayans, stunted forest, cloud forest and, finally, areas with little or no vegetation.

In the cloud forest look for Oak trees and Cypress 20 m. (66 feet) tall, draped with ephyphyties and moss. In other areas, acid rain from the volcano prevents anything but ferns, and other small plants from growing.

Poas Volcano Park is a birdwatcher's paradise. The park is home to eighty or more species of birds, including sooty robins, black guans, the resplendent quetzal, green toucan and flame-throated warblers, squirrel cuckoos, great curassows, purple-throated mountain gems, golden-hooded tanagers and hummingbirds. Hikers will be treated to glimpses of baird's tapirs, coyotes, rabbits, skunks, and various species of bats. Vegetation includes banderita española orchids, royal brooms zorrillos and poor man's umbrellas, famous for having the largest leaves of any plant in Costa Rica.