27 Epic Crater Lakes Around the World

The world is full of so many wondrous natural sites. Exploring those natural beauties is one of the things I love most about travel. It took me several years to realize just how many incredible crater lakes there are around the world and since then I’ve been dying to visit as many as possible. I asked my fellow travel bloggers to help me put together a list of some of the most epic crater lakes around the world. Each one is beautiful, unique, and inspires travel. Let’s check ’em out!

Askja Lake – Iceland

Located atop the stunning lunar-like highlands of Iceland is the beautiful Askja (Öskjuvatn) Lake. This crater lake is the second deepest in all of Iceland at an impressive 217m deep. It is situated in the centre of the mountain range Dyngjufjöll. The lake is a beautiful milky tinted blue and is warm to the touch. The lake is a little piece of paradise amongst the desolate landscape of the massive crater. It is perfect for a lovely bath after an enjoyable hike across the crater ridge. As you are bathing in the magical pale blue waters you cannot help but be amazed at the fact that you are swimming in the centre of a volcano surrounded by an amazingly unique and unearthly landscape. It is truly an experience to remember.

Ryan – The Opposite Travelers

Blue Lake – Australia

Boiling Lake – Dominica

Located in the Lesser Antilles, the tiny island of Dominica is not a popular destination among travelers. However, it’s a true paradise for hiking and adventure lovers! I recommend that you take the one-day hike to the Boiling Lake in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. This amazing lake is constantly boiling due to the high activity of the area, which volcanoes formed thousands of years ago. The hike is not hard to complete and will take you around other volcanoes and unique, surreal places like the Valley of Desolation. At the end of the trail, you’ll get to the Boiling Lake, where, with your own eyes, you can watch the powerful eruption of steam and the water rising dramatically!

Miguel, Travelsauro

Coatepeque – El Salvador

Probably one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen was Coatepeque, in El Salvador. I remember being in the car, driving towards the Cerro Verde volcano complex, and as we were going up, the panorama of the lake would show more, and more. And the size of it was impressive. Hard to believe that this massive 26 square kilometres lake was a crater lake, inside a volcanic caldera. Coatepeque stands inside a caldera that was formed around 70,000 years ago. What is more fascinating about the lake is that inside it there is an island which was important for the Mayan civilization. On the shores of the lake you can find a lot of hot springs, due to the nearby volcanos.  What makes this lake special as well is that it changes the colour of the water, from intense blue to azure. The best view of the lake is from Cerro Verde, a complex of three volcanos, out of which two are still active.

Joanna – The World in My Pocket

Devil’s Bath – New Zealand

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. These out-of-this-world colors occur naturally at Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland near Rotorua, New Zealand. While there are several eye-catching sights throughout the park boasting shades of red, orange, green and blue, a personal favorite is the eruption crater lake called Devil’s Bath. The interesting feature of this crater lake is the vibrant, green color that occurs naturally. It looks like a slime filled lake but it’s actually suspended sulphur that is responsible for the unique hue of the water. The paths in the park allow visitors to see the lake from above. This freak of nature has been one of our favorite crater lake visits!

Brian + Amanda, Eat Work Travel

Emerald Lakes – New Zealand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19,4 km trek on the North Island of New Zealand. The trek goes through spectacular active volcanic terrain. You can experience so many climate zones – from alpine to rain forest and from dry sandy hills to emerald surreal lakes. If you decide to do the trek, prepare with good shoes and plenty of water, as there’s no fresh water for the whole trek. It is an effort but the views are magical. The trek finishes in a totally different place than the start so we had to hitchhike to the beginning. But that’s not an issue in New Zealand. One very picturesque part are the emerald lakes. They are volcanic crater lakes and their colors are tempting but don’t touch them and don’t stay near them for long. It is intoxicating. Some of the most beautiful things on Earth should be contemplated from distance.

Bistra + Nace, The Magic of Traveling

Erte Ale Crater – Ethiopia

Most crater lakes a beautiful blue, teal, or turquoise.  But there are a few crater lakes in the word that are filled with red hot molten lava.  One such lake is found in Erte Ale crater in the inhospitable Danakil Depression near the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea.  This lava lake has been active for many years and most recently overflowed in January 2017.  It can only be visited on a 2 to 4-day tour with armed guards and involves a 3-hour trek up the volcano and sleeping on the ground at the outer rim.   You can stand at the mouth of the inner crater and see flowing and spurting lava less than 20 meters below.

Lisa,The Hot Flashpacker

Karakul Lake (Black Lake) – Tajikistan

Karakul Lake in Tajikistan, or the Black Lake as the name translates, is one of the largest salt lakes in Asia. Despite its name, the waters of the lake are the most staggering blue. The lake is surrounded by high-rising peaks with caps of never-melting snow which shines in the sun. The highest peak in the area, Lenin Peak, rises in the distance. The sunsets over the peaks at the shores of the lake are stunning. But reaching the Karakul Lake is not an easy task. The Pamir Highway runs past the lake. It’s the only real road which can lead you to this astonishing part of the world. But don’t let the name fool you: the road, covered in half-eaten or missing pavement and dust can hardly be called a highway in any modern country. Still, visiting this part of the world is extremely rewarding as the staggering beauty of the Pamir Mountains all around you will make up for all the discomforts of the journey.

Naddya, NTripping

Katwe Crater Lakes – Uganda

I never thought I would find one of the most beautiful crater lakes in the world in Uganda. Right inside Queen Elizabeth National Park north of the Mweya Peninsula are the Katwe Crater Lakes. They are located at the highest point of the entire park and are absolutely stunning. The 27-kilometer “crater drive” is the best route to take to capture all the beauty. Although it is in a national park, we rarely found any wildlife. Although, lions, buffalo, and elephants do frequent the area. The drive around the crater lakes took us two hours, but we made plenty of stops for photos around the rim of the craters. Along the route you also have the opportunity to check out Lake Katwe, and take a tour learning about the ancient salt works with the local community!

Natasha + Cameron, The World Pursuit

Kerid Crater Lake – Iceland

Kerid (Kerið) Crater Lake in Iceland can be found along the well-known Golden Circle. Unlike a lot of crater lakes this one didn’t come from an explosion. The signs around the site explain that the magma in the volcano actually just depleted and then the chamber caved in which created the lake. The crystal blue water stands out surrounded by the red volcanic rocks. One side of the rock is green from moss so it creates a beautiful rainbow arrangement of colors with everything from red to blue to green. The crater is also a beautiful and very easy hike. It takes approximately 20 minutes around the lake and 5-10 minutes up and down to the lake (depending on how easily you slip!).

Liliane, My Toronto, My World

READ NEXT: Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle

Lagoa Azul – Portugal

Sete Cidades is a city on Sao Miguel in the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic.  While Sete Cidades is a town of about 800 people on the island, it is also a volcanic crater and lake.  The lake is best seen from above where it glistens a tealish and greenish hue that radiates against the lush landscapes and everchanging skies.  The lakes are called Lagoa Azul (blue) and the caldera is almost a perfect circle.  These lakes formed at around 500 AD and are one of the biggest attractions in the Azores today.

Megan, Megan Starr

Lagoa del Fogo – Portugal

Lagoa do Fogo (or Lake of Fire) is a crater lake on the island of Sao Miguel (part of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores). It is a part of a large nature reserve, with no construction allowed around the lake. This means that though you can get some stunning views of Lagoa do Fogo from a few viewing platforms positioned along the mountain road linking the North and the South of Sao Miguel, the only way to get down to the lake is hiking. There are several different routes that vary in duration and complexity and the reward for reaching the lake is the opportunity to enjoy a picnic and cool off swimming in the clear waters (weather permitting of course).

Hélène, Flight to Somewhere

Laguna de Maderas – Nicaragua

Lake Atlilán – Guatemala

Lake Atitlán in Guatemala is one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen.  Formed inside an enormous volcano, which erupted 84,000 years ago, the lake is now overlooked by three smaller volcanoes – Volcán Atitlán lies on the southern rim of the caldera, and just in front, Volcán San Pedro and Volcán Tolimán watch over Santiago, one of the towns nestled along the shores of the lake.  The lake is one of Guatemala’s top tourist destinations, and it is easy to see why.  Hike between the villages, where indigenous Maya villages each have their own beautifully sewn blouses and dresses, or visit a women’s cooperative where women widowed during the civil war there have come together to make a living from selling their handmade clothes, scarfs and toys.  You can also sample the coffee, grown on the side of the volcano, or take a high-altitude scuba dive in the lake to see the volcanic rock formations beneath the water.

Claire, Tales of a Backpacker

Lake Holon – The Philippines

Lake Toba – Indonesia

Lake Toba is located in Sumatra, Indonesia. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world and is over 100km long and 30 km wide. Scientific research points to it having the largest known explosive eruption in the last 25 million years. This changed the world and how we know it today! I stayed on Samosir Island, which is an island in the middle of Lake Toba. It has a population of over 95,000 and an array of guesthouses, hotels, hostels, restaurants and bars. I would thoroughly recommend spending at least a day going around Samosir Island on a scooter. The views are simply breathtaking and you get a real feel for the island and a chance to meet the very friendly locals. Lake Toba is a stunning place to visit and really is off the beaten path for most travellers. One of the highlights of my 2.5 months in Indonesia!

– Craig, No Real Plan

Llyn Idwal – Wales

Llyn Idwal is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. It has one of the most dramatic settings of any of the Snowdonia lakes – high up in a hanging valley, with the vertical crags of Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach rearing up to the south, and the toughest mountain in Snowdonia, Tryfan, to the east. If you tackle the steep hike up the Glyder mountains, you climb through a narrow defile called the Devil’s Kitchen, with sublime views back to the dramatic peak of Pen Yr Ole Wen. Cwm Idwal, the tiny valley in which the lake sits, has a fascinating history. Its rocks were formed around 400 million years ago, some being from volcanic eruptions. Cwm Idwal had a major influence on Charles Darwin, who visited and studied the location at least twice. First time around, he noticed that some of the rocks – hundreds of metres above sea level – had sea shells embedded in them, leading him to the conclusion that this mountain location was once under the sea. He also came to understand that the stunning landscape was formed by glaciation, at a time when wales was a lot colder than it is now.

David, Delve Into Wales

Mount Pinatubo – The Philippines

Mount Pinatubo is an active volacano in the Zambales Mountains. It is located on the tripoint boundary of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. I had a chance to visit this amazing place and the way up was an adventure. We rode a 4×4 car, and we needed to cross a river and hills. It was an hour extreme road trip. Then we have to hike for approximately 7 Kilometers, and would take 2 hours walking. I actually thought it would be an easy trek, but I was wrong. We passed by big boulders, cross a river and walk in a vast field. The trail was uphill and downhill course. It was mostly an open area, with not so much trees to cover us from the heat of the sun. Along our way, we passed by an Aeta Village. They are an indigenous people with a  brown-skinned and have kinky afro-like textured hair. They were very nice and taught us some words of their own language. Indeed, it was great experience.

Roneth, The Fickle Feet

Mount Rinjani – Indonesia

Mount Rinjani is a tough hike, but the stunning vistas that await you at the top are well worth the blisters, sweat and tears. Rising to 3,726 metres, Rinjani is the second highest volcano in Indonesia and it’s extremely active. The crater lake at the top of the volcano is named Anak Laut (Child of the Sea), after it’s bright azure coloured water. The crater lake of Mount Rinjani stands out from others due to eruptions within the last 20 years causing a small cone to form in the centre of the caldera, so it’s like looking at a volcano within a volcano! Reaching the crater lake is not a feat for the faint-hearted, and a high level of fitness is required to reach the top (alive), but you’ll definitely be glad you did it.

– Sarah, Just a Pack

Mount Zao – Japan

Mount Zao (蔵王山) is a volcanic mountain range on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures of Japan. The mountain is crowned by a beautiful crater lake at the summit called Okama (御釜). Because of its enchanting emerald green water, the Okama Crater Lake is also called Goshikinuma (五色沼), which means “lake of five colors”. The view of the lake from the top of the mountain is absolutely surreal. You can hike to this off the beaten path gem in the summer time and enjoy lush green mountain views along the way. As if this epic scenery is not enough, at the foot of Mount Zao is a hot spring town. Zao Hot Spring offers many bathhouses and hotels with some of the best acidic thermal water, a perfect place for relaxation after a day of hiking

Viola, The Blessing Bucket

Naivasha Crater Lake – Kenya

The Naivasha crater lake in Kenya’s rift valley, just a few hours outside of Nairobi, is a beautiful place to explore with fantastic views from the top. After a boat tour around Lake Naivasha where I was spotting hundreds of hippos, I hiked up the trail to the rim of the crater. The views on the savanna below were incredible – I even spotted some giraffes eating from the trees, while the sun was slowly setting. Fun fact: There was a random camping chair placed on top of the rim! Therefore, it was the perfect place to sit down, relax and enjoy the sunset views. There’s also a nice lodge on the shore of the crater lake and even if you’re not staying there, it’s a nice place to enjoy a sundowner with wonderful views on the African landscape.

Patrick, German Backpacker

Nyiragongo Lava Lake – Democratic Republic of Congo

The crater of Mount Nyiragongo blazes with molten lava. The lava is exceptionally fluid and moves constantly forming beautiful patterns. Watching Nyiragongo’s lava show after the nightfall is one of those experiences that will stay with you forever. Nyiragongo lies inside Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The summit has basic cabins, so it’s possible to spend a night at the volcano rim, gazing at the boiling lava lake. Hiking Nyiragongo requires taking part in a guided volcano hike with armed rangers. Daily only one 16-person group is allowed to the summit. The 4 to 6-hour trek takes you through lush rainforests and old lava fields. It’s a tough climb, but witnessing the world’s biggest lava lake in action is well worth the effort. Hiking Nyiragongo was a highlight of our adventures in the DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Niina + Piritta, Bizarre Globe Hopper

Prashar Lake – India

Prashar Lake, in Mandi Himachal Pradesh is one of the high crater altitude lakes in India.The depth of this lake is unknown so researchers are still investigating on that feature. Although smaller in length,this lagoon is one of the most beautiful lakes in India as it acts as the major water supply to some areas of the district. The lake acts as an independent water body in the Mandi district and tourists come from all corners to view its magnificience and  brilliance. Prashar lake acts as a floating island and people come from all over to make some offerings. Tourists are not allowed to go inside the lake or swim around for their safety. The lake symbolises an epic water body in the area and continues to impress travellers with its eminence and distinction.

Somnath, Travel Crusade

Rano Kau – Easter Island

Easter Island, or Isla de Pascua, is an island whose reputation thrives from the mystery and magic of its great Moai statues, its once diminishing population, and its unusual topography. The island itself was created by the joining of three once active volcanoes. The volcano known as Rano Kau makes up the Southwest section of the island and includes its very own glorious crater lake. Important as well as stunning, it is one of the islands only 3 sources of fresh water.  As a result of the volcano being largely surrounded by the ocean, the eroding waters have created large sharp boarding cliffs making for an epic look on this crater lake. The steep entrance into the waters of the caldera, with the figs and vines growing within add to its legendary vista. The volcano and caldera are also home to the village of Orongo, the spiritual and ceremonial epicentre for all things Easter Island. The ruins of Orogno were once the hosting community for the bird man culture and challenge making it an epic crater Lake both visually and culturally for the top of your list.

Kimberly Erin, Walkaboot Travel

Taal Volcano – The Philippines

The crater lake inside Taal Volcano is a quick day trip from Manila. Getting the opportunity to stand on the edge of the main crater takes quite the journey. First, you arrive at the edge of the lake surrounding Taal Volcano and that’s just the easy part of the trip. Then, you have to catch a small boat across that lake to the edges of the volcano crater. After you touch land again you find yourself standing at the base of a volcano caldera. From there you have to hop on a horse or trek up by foot to the top of the center crater where you look down on a lake within the crater within the lake. How cool is that? The water and surrounding peaks just creates an unforgettable landscape.

Paige, For the Love of Wanderlust

READ NEXT: Even More About My Travels Through The Philippines

Tianchi (Heaven Lake)  – Border of China + North Korea

Straddling the border between China and North Korea, Tianchi is a crater lake shrouded in mystery and mythology. Its name translates to either Heavenly Lake or Heaven Lake, and it sits on the highest mountain of the Changbai Mountain Range.  Considered sacred by both the Manchu and Korean peoples, Changbai Mountain and Tianchi welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year on the Chinese side. Those interested in seeing the stunningly azure Tianchi will not only have to spend hours (or even days) to get to the rural location, but they will also need to have some luck. Tianchi is so often shrouded in a thick layer of fog that many visitors end up seeing nothing when they get up to the crater lake. Many visitors stick around and make the ascent day after day to try their luck. Those with more luck may even have their own spotting of the mythical Loch Ness-like Lake Tianchi Monster, sightings of which have been reported for more than a century.

Rowena, A Nomad on the Loose

Viti Crater Lake – Iceland

Viti means “hell.” It’s an ominous name for this crater lake.  You’ll find Viti on the active volcano Krafla at Lake Myvatn in the north of Iceland.  To reach Viti you have to drive off the main road, past smoking fumaroles and bubbling mud pits.  The landscape is barren apart from hardy lichen which covers old lava flows. But Viti’s name is deceptive. When you reach the lip of the crater, you’re greeted with a view over a peaceful sapphire lake. You can take a gentle stroll around the lake soaking in the views over the rest of Krafla and look for more boiling mud and volcanic activity. Just don’t step off the path or your shoes will melt – perhaps the red-hot ground is where Viti gets its name from!

Emily,Kids and Compass

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