Explore
The active crater interior holds the blue fire vents, sulfur mines, and the highly acidic turquoise lake.
After reaching the rim, you must navigate an 800-meter rocky descent to reach the crater floor. This active volcanic depression houses highly pressurized sulfur vents that create the blue flame phenomenon.
The environment here is extreme and hazardous. The sulfuric gases ignite at temperatures exceeding 360°C, and the air is filled with thick, toxic sulfur dioxide smoke. Wearing a respirator is mandatory to protect your lungs.
800 meters45 mins
A narrow, steep, and rocky 800-meter path leads down into the crater towards the sulfur vents. You need a strong headlamp to see in the pitch-black conditions. Keep three points of contact on the rocks to avoid slipping. Always step aside and yield the right of way to sulfur miners carrying heavy loads up the trail.
30 minsGas mask mandatory
This active solfatara releases pressurized sulfuric gases that ignite into electric blue flames upon contact with the air. The phenomenon is only visible in complete darkness. Put your gas mask on before reaching the bottom of the crater. The dense sulfur smoke here can be blinding and suffocating.
15 minsBring small cash
Miners work in this area to manually break and extract heavy blocks of condensed yellow sulfur. Do not interfere with the workers or block their equipment. If you decide to take a photograph of the miners, it is customary to hand them a small tip.
