Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Gerardo de Rivas, to Albergue Urán or to Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, you will need
a 4WD.
PARQUE NACIONAL CHIRRIPÓ
Costa Rica's mountainous spine runs the length of the country in four distinct cordilleras
(mountain ranges), of which the Cordillera de Talamanca is the highest, longest and most
remote. While most of the Talamanca highlands are difficult to access, Costa Rica's
highest peak,
Cerro Chirripó
, at 3820m above sea level, is the focus of popular
Parque
Nacional Chirripó
( 2742-5083; park fee for two days $15, plus $15 for each additional day;
closed 2nd half of May & all of Oct)
. Of course, while Chirripó is the highest and most famous
summit in Costa Rica, it is not unique: two other peaks inside the park top 3800m, and
most of the park's 502 sq km lies above 2000m.
Like a tiny chunk of the South American Andes, Parque Nacional Chirripó's rocky high-
altitude features are an entirely unexpected respite from the heat and humidity of the rain-
forest (it's downright cold at night). Above 3400m, the landscape is
páramo,
which is
mostly scrubby trees and grasslands, and supports a unique spectrum of highland wildlife.
Rocky outposts punctuate the otherwise barren hills, and feed a series of glacial lakes that
earned the park its iconic name: Chirripó means 'eternal waters.'
The bare
páramo
contrasts vividly with the lushness of the cloud forest, which domin-
ates the hillsides between 2500m and 3400m. Oak trees (some more than 50m high) tower
over the canopy, which also consists of evergreens, laurels and lots of undergrowth.
Epiphytes - the scraggly plants that grow up the trunks of larger trees - thrive in this cli-
mate. However, the low-altitude cloud forest is being encroached upon by agricultural
fields and coffee plantations in the areas near San Gerardo de Rivas.
The only way up to Chirripó is by foot. Although the trekking routes are long and chal-
lenging, watching the sunrise from such lofty heights, literally above the clouds, is an un-
deniable highlight of Costa Rica. You will have to be prepared for the cold - and at times
wet - slog to the top, though your efforts will be rewarded with some of the most sweep-
ing vistas that Costa Rica can offer. The vast majority of travelers visit Chirripó over three
days: one to get to San Gerardo de Rivas to secure permits, one to hike to Crestones Base
Lodge and one to summit the peak and return to San Gerardo. An extra day of day hiking
at the top is advisable for those who really wish to soak up the amazing sights.
