Chirripó National Park

14km until base camp, not too dificult but not for amateurs. Amazing views!

Chirripó National Park changed me. Just wait until you see the natural beauty of this place! The amazing changes in the vegetation around you as you climb the 14km (8.6 miles) to reach the basecamp. From there it's approx 5km (3 miles) to the summit. You can send your bags up with the mules in the early morning, or you can carry your own weight. You need to make a reservation beforehand so make sure to do so with anticipation! In addition to this you must register with Chirripó National Park administration to pay a park entrance fee.

Starting at starting at San Jerónimo de Perez Zeledón at an altitude of 1502 mts (5200 feet above sea level) you will climb all the way up to the summit at 3820 mts (12532) along lush tropical jungle, cloudy oak forests, high elevation bamboo forests, and finally alpine tundra and sabanas. The basecamp has great installations, nice warm beds, pillos and an individual sleeping bag for everyone. The best cold showers! Food is expensive and they don't allow any cooking done on your own accountso you either have to take your own food that won't spoil or pay the appox $12 for each meal.

Either way it's worth it! The scenery is awe inspiring; go through the Sabana de los Leones (Lion's sabana), climb Chirripó were hopefully you'll get to see both oceans (best time to visit is January-May) although you might just get lucky any day of the year. Just as amazing and special in their own accord are Cerro Ventisqueros, Cerro Terbi, and the Crestones (huge vertical rock formations). Have a great time!

Contact me on my Facebook if you would like to visit.

Best National Park in Costa Rica! Has the highest peaks, great landscape, awesome views and very challenging hikes. The place is for advanced hikers though, getting to the refuge is a 15KM uphill walk. From there you can do other 6 trails. So you must be ready to do a great exercise. Come prepared, be sure to read articles on internet with tips and recommendations for this advanced hike.

Chirripó is one of the most beautiful mountains I've ever been. I'm conducting my research focusing on ecosystems ecology and couldn't be more perfect place for that.
The trail starts in a more degraded environment (pasture like) but before entering the national park (km 4) it's already beautiful! The cloud forest starts with a more like-Atlantic rainforest (lots of palm-trees and ferns), and from around km 7 (where you find the coffee stop) starts the Oak cloud forest. From km 12 or so starts to look more like a subarctic ecosystem, first time I've seen in the tropics! Then at km 14 is the research/stay accomodation and from there the amazing and unique páramo ecosystem. I definitely recommend hike up to Ventisqueros.

Did Chirripo in 1 day.
Absolute upper limit of my endurance.
You can buy breakfast at the hut but need to pay 1 day in advance at the office below.

Incredible, nature at its purest

One of the best places to be with nature.

Amazing life changing experience!

A fantastic experience to climb up Mount Chirripo, or even make it up to the first shelter (~4km, offers snacks). You need to reserve space online weeks in advance and check in with the ranger station before. Absolutely worth the bureaucratic hassle to climb up to the peak (see James Kaiser's website), but do not try without booking the base camp. It took us 8 hours to get to the base camp and 12 the next day to get to the peak and all the way back down. Also make sure you have a warm down sleeping bag. In base camp, indoor temperatures drop close to freezing point at night.

Beautiful mountain! Unbelievable sights, blue sky and sunny early February days, and cold evenings! You got to go there, it totally worth the ticket!

Exelente experience

Even though it is a bit of a challenge to get everything organised hiking chirippo is amazing and one of the best things I did in Costa Rica

The scenery here is beautiful, and the hike to the summit is a bit challenging but worth it.

Beautiful mountain. Great for trekking. Very well marked path

One of the best experience you could have.
You need to be a good condition! To do that.

Top 🇨🇷

Nice place nice experience

I have no words for this place. Cant wait to go back one day!

Wonderful experiences with my wife and friends. Thrilling.

Must do experience