Why go to a volcano?

Active volcanoes are the ultimate adventure destination. Those who have been lucky enough to witness a fire-fountain spouting red lava high into the sky or billowing clouds of steam rising as lava pours into the ocean will testify that volcanoes provide one of nature's most awesome spectacles. Volcanoes are impressive, spectacular, and have a profound effect on life on Earth. Active volcanoes allow us to experience the thrill of hearing a loud explosion which can make the ground shake at our feet, to gaze at the cracking and shifting of a lava lake's surface, and to smell the strangely appealing sulfur odor. Even when they are dormant, volcanoes offer a wide variety of beautiful and strange sights, ranging from the majesty of snow-capped cones to the barren lava wastelands that have often been compared to Hell.

Volcanoes are definitely a destination for those of us who are adventurous travelers. We are no longer a peculiar group made up of daring eccentrics, but a growing number of intelligent people who are not content with spending our vacations in quaint seaside towns. Exotic and unusual destinations are increasingly within our reach. In recent years, the traveling public's growing interest in adventure as well as in ecology has led to a wave of “nature tours” ranging from safaris and whale-watching to shark diving and trekking in the Amazon forest.