10 Active Volcanoes You Can Actually Visit main image
Scroll Down To Continue

10 Active Volcanoes You Can Actually Visit

10. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

10. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i

There's more than one volcano in Hawai'i. The big one is the constantly-oozing Kilauea. You can check the lava flow at the National Park Service's website, which describes "fumes and glow from the lava lake" from the vent at the summit, which can be viewed at the Jaggar Museum overlook and elsewhere on Crater Rim Drive. Now that's just awesome. Lava lake. On the negative side, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park can also be known for being a dangerous tourist destination, so tread carefully.

(image via exfordy, CC)

9. Mount Vesuvius

9. Mount Vesuvius

Italy

That's right, the volcano that destroyed Pompeii is still around, still considered active, and available for tours. You can actually visit the ruins of Pompeii, and you can visit the mountain itself; it was declared a national park in 1995. It's only a day trip from Rome, Naples, or Sorrento, so you'd be more than comfortable staying in any of those cities and trekking out. Vesuvius mostly generates steam these days, but it's actually considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, because of its tendency towards explosive eruptions, and because of the 3,000,000 people who live near it.

(image via Morn the Gorn, CC)

8. Mount Redoubt

8. Mount Redoubt

Alaska

Eighty percent of active volcanoes in the United States are located in Alaska, mostly along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." The state boasts over 100 volcanoes, including Shishaldin, Novarupta, and Mount Redoubt. There is even an area called the "Valley of 10,000 Smokes" and an Alaska Volcano Observatory, complete with webcams. Alaska might not sound as relaxing a getaway as Hawai'i, but there are plenty of opportunities for glacier-and-volcano tours, "flightseeing" helicopter rides to see the volcanoes, and more.

7. Bárðarbunga

7. Bárðarbunga

Iceland

Iceland is another area with a ton of volcanoes, most significantly Bárðarbunga, emptying into the lava field of Holuhraun. There's also Thrihnukagigur. As a dormant volcano, Thrihnukagigur doesn't quite belong on this list, but it gets an exception because it's the only volcano on Earth that you can actually tour the inside. It's billed as a "journey toward the center of the earth," and in truth, the volcano Jules Verne's explorers entered was the nearby Snæfellsjökull.

(image via peterhartree, CC)

6. Mount Rainier

6. Mount Rainier

Washington

You don't have to go globe-hopping to find a volcano to scope out. Mount Rainier has its own national park in the state of Washington. Mount Rainier lodgings such as Almost Paradise provide a wonderful romantic getaway with hot tubs and fireplaces, there's an RV park nearby, and the area is covered in viewpoints and trails. It's just the right combination of warm romanticism and the thrill of danger that's perfect for a romantic getaway.

(image via Stan Shebs, CC)

5. Mount Bromo

5. Mount Bromo

Indonesia

Indonesia actually had five volcanoes erupt at once three months ago. Mount Raung, Gamalama, Dukono, Sinabung, and Karangetang all blew at once, darkening the sky with ash and causing thousands of evacuations. Krakatau is one of the big brand-name volcanoes, and it's still active, with two vents that spew out an incandescent gas. Indonesia actually has some 130 active volcanoes, one of the most popular being Mount Bromo, and is part of the same Pacific "Ring of Fire" that Alaska is. Finding one that you want to hike won't be difficult at all.

(image via saramarlowe, CC)

4. Volcán de Colima

4. Volcán de Colima

Mexico

Despite the name, the Volcán de Colima sits partially in Colima, but mostly in Jalisco. The volcano actually erupted twice as recently as August 2015, spouting huge plumes of ash into the air. Still, tours are available of the mountain, including trips based out of the gorgeous port of Manzanillo, a perfect place to surf and snorkel while you're not climbing fire-spewing mountains.

(image via ana_carrington, CC)

3. Mount Fuji

3. Mount Fuji

Japan

Mount Fuji is considered active, although it hasn't blown its top since 1707. Still, it seems to deserve a spot here, being one of the most iconic mountains in the world, an inspiration to artists and poets for centuries, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There's a lovely welcome center and all kinds of tours up and down the mountain to explore.

2. Volcán Arenal

2. Volcán Arenal

Costa Rica

Costa Rica has numerous active volcanoes. The most famous is probably Arenal, though while the volcano is still active, lava flow has ceased, and it's not going to be visible to tourists. Still, what is visible to tourists is some incredible scenery, and a host of other volcanoes to try. For instance, Turrialba, which isn't a massive tourist destination at the moment, but which did start erupting back in March 2015.

(image via Matthew.landry, CC)

1. Mount Mayon

1. Mount Mayon

The Philippines

The Philippines have 18 active volcanos, in addition to 19 dormant ones. The big active volcanoes are Mount Pinatubo, Mount Mayon, and the Taal Volcano. Mount Mayon began spewing lava in 2014, as well as generating rock falls and earthquakes. More active tourists like to climb the volcano (when it's not, you know, exploding). You can always check out a gorgeous beach if you get tired of lava.

(image via Tomas Tam)