Platanar Volcano is located in the Cordillera Central mountain range.

It is part of a complex that covers 900 square kilometres (220,000 acres) and is dominated by Porvenir Volcano at 2,267 m (7,438 ft).

[2] Both of these are part of a composed stratovolcano of Upper Pleistocene age that on Platanar's side overlies the remains of Palmera's collapsed caldera, of probable late Pleistocene age.

[3] Platanar has erupted lavas ranging from basalts to andesites in composition.

[4] In 1968 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) on Cerro Platanar were converted into a National Forest.