Hiking Tour to Mount Chirripo

Come discover the extraordinary Mount Chirripo, the highest mountain in Costa Rica. It is 3820 meters high and has an extension of 50,150 hectares.

During the amazing hiking tour of Mount Chirripo, you will be surprised by the interesting flora and fauna of the area. Vegetation here is not too high and it is called “paramo” – similar to the tundra. The tallest trees are a mere 4 meters tall. Amongst the fauna in Chirripo you can find: peccaries, squirrels, pumas (mountain lions), jaguars, dantas, rabbits, coyotes, frogs and toads, and a great variety of birds such as the finches, hummingbirds, mosqueritos, trepadores, reinitas escarcheras, and the Quetzal that is a green metallic color, the ira or aguantillo, worms, insects, reptiles and small amphibians.

You will also be able to appreciate some of the most interesting discoveries made in Mount Chirripo – the modeling and various glacier formations in the shape of a “U”, glacier terracing, lakes and glacier cirques.

In the uppermost part of the Chirripo National Park there are 5 areas with beautiful landscapes: the “Sabana de los Leones” or “Savannah of the Lions”, the “Valley of the Rabbits”, the Chirripo Mountain, the “Valley of the Morrenas” and the “Valley of the Lakes”.

The climate on Mount Chirripo is very variable, but is very pleasant and different for those who visit the park.  The highest elevations can have strong winds, frost, and frequent drizzle.  The coldest temperature registered on Mount Chirripo is 9° C below zero.

It takes about a 10 hour trek to reach the top of Mount Chirripo.  During this walk you will be supported by a guide who is an expert in the area and who will point out the most interesting things and be able to answer any questions you may have along the way.

The cost for entering Chirripo National Park are modest and are included in your
Hiking Tour to Mount Chirripo.  You will also be able to obtain a map of the area and you can rent mules and porters as needed.

We also offer the option of providing all your meals for you during your stay.

It is not necessary to bring a sleeping bag nor blankets as the "Albergue Los Crestones" (a mountain lodge) rents them fairly cheaply.

You have several options for your overnight stay in Mount Chirripo and its environs.  You can stay in cabins that are in San Gerardo or you can camp near Mount Urán which is around 8 kms from the base refuge Los Crestones, or you can stay at the refuge which is comfortable (although colder at night) and you can visit all the sites from there.

But your visit to Chirripo doesn't end there.  The area around San Gerardo de Rivas is beautiful and during our tour we offer a visit to the thermal waters there, as well as a visit to the Cloud Bridge Waterfall, a tour in ATV and a horseback riding tour.

The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1:

9 a.m.:  Arrival to San Gerardo de Rivas with a tour of the paths around the hotel.  You will observe the birds and fauna present in the area.
11.30 Noon:  Typical Cost Rican lunch (or a la carte)
1 p.m.: Optional visit to the thermal waters which can be done on horseback, on ATV, on mule, by car or on foot.
6-7:30PM: Dinner.  After dinner you can watch a movie, read, play Ping-Pong, swim, talk with your friends, drink something or prepare for the next day.

Day 2:

4 AM: Start our ascent to Mount Chirripo
Noon: Lunch
1PM:  Visit several different parts in Chirripo National Park

Day 3:

Visit to various parts of the park throughout the day.  You can take many photographs.
2PM: Return to the hotel
7-8 PM Invigorating dinners

Day 4

7-9 am  A typical Costa Rican breakfast (or a la carte)
10AM:  Tour the Cloud Bridge Waterfalls.  There are several options for this tour: on horseback, on ATV, on mule, in a 4x4 vehicle or on foot.
12-1PM: Lunch and return to the hotel
2PM: Return to your home.

We will take care of all your needs, from your reservations in the park, your stay there as well as all y our meals and transportation (we pick you up at your house, hotel or airport and we drop you off wherever you need to go).

Come and enjoy this tour of Chirripo National Park and San Gerardo de Rivas.

Another variance from this tour that we offer is to reach Chirripo through a different route, so that instead of visiting the thermal waters, we offer rappelling down the waterfalls followed by trout fishing.  You will still have the opportunity of trekking to Mount Chirripo.

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