About Chirripó and the Chirripó trek

Climbing
If you want to climb Chirripó mountain it is recommended to start early in the morning (you need to buy tickets at the park office located in San Gerardo de Rivas). The uphill trail is steep and can take up to 12 hours in poor conditions for slow trekkers. Fit, experienced hikers can do it in 6 to 7 hours. The trek is 14 km to the base camp and then another 4 km to the top. It is better to climb only to the base camp the first day and continue the next day to the summit.

At the 7 Km mark there is a shelter where you may refill your water bottle. At 14 Km you reach the base camp, which is very basic with bunk beds, no heating and no hot showers. Though your guide book may say they are, blankets, sleeping bags and cook stoves are not provided in the base camp, so be prepared. You may rent sleeping bags at Casa Mariposa (we have a limited supply) or at the Hotel Uran nextdoor. Hotel Uran also has one cook stove for rent. You can pay a local porter ($30 one way) to carry your supplies.

The hike can be very difficult but it is worth it. If clear, you can see the stunning views of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
See Hiker's Checklist

Altitudes, average temperatures and conditions
Chirripó Base Camp has an elevation of 11,152 ft (3400 meters) with daytime temperature 40 - 65°F and nighttime 30 - 35°F
Weather on Chirripó is unpredictable and potentially dangerous if you are not prepared.
Bitterly cold winds can exceed 100 kph with wind chill dropping temperatures significantly.
Rain is always a possibility, especially in mid-afternoon. Temperatures usually fall to freezing or below during the night.

How to get there   (Map)
By car: From San Isidro del General to San Gerardo de Rivas, pass the church, go 1 more kilometer up towards the entrance to the park. We are the last hotel in San Gerardo, but closest to the park.
By bus: Take the bus at 5.00 A.M. or 2.00 P.M. (there is a bus ride only twice a day), get off the bus at the park office to buy tickets for the hike and then continue walking up towards the entrance to the park.

Activities
In Chirripó valley you can see cloudforests, waterfalls, Chirripó river, you can visit local hot springs and especially climb the highest mountain of Costa Rica Chirripó (3 820 m, 12 532 ft).
There is also troutfishing, horseback tours and massage by a certified masseuse.

Natural History
Formation
¤ 40-60 million years ago in the Eocene by volcanic activity. The presence of basaltic and andesitic rocks and tuffs
¤ 18 million years ago - Tectonic folding followed by intense plutonic activity which caused a rapid elevation of the entire area.
¤ 3-5 million years ago - The definitive shape of the range was attained during the post-organic phase.
¤ 25,000-30,000 years ago. - Formation of glacial lakes by movement of ice which still remain intact. They are u-shaped valleys, such as we can see in Valle los Moranos, el Valle los Lagos, and el Valle Los Conejos
Hydrology
¤ Chirripó means "Land of the Eternal Waters''. A Chirripó Trek in the rainy season will provide views of numerous streams and brooks. On the top of Cerro Chirripó Grande you will have a view of more than 30 lakes and lagoons. Some of them disappear completely in the dry season.
¤ Many large rivers have their source in the valleys of the Talamanca Mountain Range such as Rio Chirripó Atlantico, Rio Telire, Rio Chirripó Pacifico and the Rio Ceibo.
Flora
An extraordinary number of habitats can be found here, as a result of the differences in altitude, soil type, climate and topography.
¤ Paramo - From 2,900m up with mixed shrubs, grasses and perennial herbaceous plants of Andean origin.
¤ Swamps - Composed of herbaceous and shrub communities.
¤ Madrono Forests - Predominant species of the upper parts of the park.
¤ Cloud Forest - Large trees like the oak, sweet cedar, nargusta, elm, magnolia, lancewood, and mountain cypress.
¤ Fern Groves - They are mainly made up of the 1-2 meters high Lomaria fern and of sphagnum moss.
Fauna
¤ 263 species of amphibians and reptiles, and about 400 bird species have been observed. Chirripó National Park shelters the largest population of tapir in the country, puma jaguar, peccary, monkeys and many other species of mammals.
¤ Among the birds should be mentioned the most spectacular: The resplendent quetzal.
Human History
¤ In 1904 Agustin Blessing, a priest and missionary of Talamancais, reported as the 1st white human reaching the summit.
¤ Following expeditions in 1905, 1913,1915, 1920, 1932 and 1942.
¤ From that time on many expeditions have achieved the goal: Get to the second highest peak in Central America: Mount Chirripó.
¤ On August 19th, 1975, Chirripó National Park was officially established. The Park was declared a "Biosphere Reserve'' by Unesco in 1982, and of the "World Heritage Sites" in 1983.