Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In addition to the prolific birdlife, the park is home to some unusual high-altitude rep-
tiles, such as the green spiny lizard and the highland alligator lizard. Mammals include
puma, Baird's tapir, spider monkey, capuchin and - at higher elevations - Dice's rabbit
and the coyotes that feed on them.
Although spotting rarer animals is never a guaranteed proposition, here are a few tips to
maximize your chances: pumas stick to the savanna areas and use the trails at dawn and
dusk to move about; Baird's tapirs gravitate to various highland lagoons, mainly in the
rainy season, so stake out the muddy edges at dawn or dusk if you see recent tracks; and at
nighttime, coyotes can be seen feeding at the rubbish bins near Crestones Base Lodge.
Climbing Chirripó
The park entrance is at San Gerardo de Rivas, which lies 1350m above sea level; from
here the summit is 2.5km straight up! A well-marked 16km trail leads all the way to the
top and no technical climbing is required. It would be nearly impossible to get lost.
The amount of time it takes to get up varies greatly - it can take as little as five and as
many as 14 hours to cover the 10km from the trailhead to the hostel, depending on how fit
you are: the recommended departure time is 5am or 6am. The trailhead lies 50m beyond
Albergue Urán in San Gerardo de Rivas (about 4km from the ranger station). The main
gate is open from 4am to 10am to allow climbers to enter; no one is allowed to begin the
ascent after 10am (although it is unlikely that a fast-moving latecomer would be turned
away). Inside the park the trail is clearly signed at every kilometer.
The open-sided hut at Llano Bonito , halfway up, is a good place for a lunch break.
There is shelter and water, but it is intended for emergency use, not overnight stays.
About 6km from the trailhead, the Monte Sin Fe (which translates as 'Mountain Without
Faith'; this climb is not for the faint of heart) is a preliminary crest that reaches 3200m.
You then enjoy 2km with gravity in your favor, before making the 2km ascent to the Cre-
stones Base Lodge at 3400m.
Reaching the hostel is the hardest part. From there the hike to the summit is about 5km
on relatively flatter terrain (although the last 100m is very steep): allow at least two hours
if you are fit, but carry a warm jacket, rain gear, water, snacks and a flashlight just in case.
From the summit on a clear day, the vista stretches to both the Caribbean Sea and the Pa-
cific Ocean. The deep-blue lakes and the plush-green hills carpet the Valle de las Morenas
in the foreground. It's recommended to leave the base camp at 3am to arrive in time to
watch the sunrise from the summit - a spectacular experience.
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