Mount Chirripo, or Place of Enchanted Waters, is the highest mountain in Costa Rica and attracts climbers from all over the world. At an altitude of 12,533 feet, Mt. Chirripo's towering height in relation to its surroundings reveals a stark contrast, making it the 38th most prominent peak in the world. Located in the heart of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Chirripo National Park features a high-altitude paramo ecosystem with unique biodiversity, making it one of the best hikes in Costa Rica.
Requires high-intensity physical efforts that push the limits of one's fitness. May include tours with multiple days in a row of strenuous physical activity or single requiring more than 7 hours of activity. Recommended for travelers maintaining a demanding fitness level.
This morning drive south following the Pan-American Highway through Cerro de la Muerte (Peak of Death at 11,000 ft ) and on to the Chirripó Highlands. You will be introduced to the high-elevation páramo forest and the surrounding cloud forest, which is home to the elusive Resplendent Quetzal and other cloud forest wildlife. You'll arrive at your lodge in the quaint village of San Gerardo de Rivas at the base of the Chirripo Mountain. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the area.
Depart early this morning to begin trekking into Chirripó National Park. 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. After passing the sign "Trail to Chirripo," you begin an uphill stretch called La Cuesta del Agua for about two hours. This climb crests at Monte Sin Fe (Faithless Mountain). Some of the wildlife that you may encounter as you hike through dwarf cloud forests draped in "Old Man's Beard" mosses are monkeys, toucanets, trogons, and several other species of birds. Today’s trek will finish at the Chirripo Shelter and Base Camp at 6 km below the summit where you will overnight. While temperatures may start out warm today, be prepared for chillier climates as you ascend. Costa Rica hikers have even found themselves in ice from time to time. Arrange for a private guide on your hike for an additional cost.
Day 3: Chirripo Summit
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Rise before dawn this morning to trek to the summit of Mt. Chirripó before the fog rolls in. Chirripó National Park protects 50,150 hectares of high elevation terrain and cloud forest that covers half of the park above 8,250 feet elevation. On your way to the summit, you will pass by numerous lakes, making it clear why the indigenous people call it Chirripo or "Place of Enchanted Waters." If it's a clear day, you'll have stunning views of both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. It's about a 1-2 hour ascent before descending to Valle de Los Conejos (Rabbit Valley). Hike to Cerro Terbi and Los Crestones before you continue descending to Refuge Llano Bonito and the mountain base. Transfer back to San Jose this afternoon.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Adventure Life handled all the planning and any unexpected changes quickly and with our satisfaction in mind. Costa Rica is a fantastic place with many opportunities for adventure, depending on what an individual requests. Adventure Life helped our adventurous group discover and enjoy everything that we wanted.
Denise
3 months ago
Excellent service, great hotels and well organized excursions with expert guides! Highly recommended!
Shadi Dalili
4 months ago
We keep coming back to Adventure-Life for custom tailored, out of the ordinary, non-touristy trips and they deliver the best every time. The trip planners know how to put together just what we are looking for.
Judith P. NYC
5 months ago
We have been working with Adventure Life for 5 years now and it is very easy to plan out our trips. Our holidays include customization of activities and side trips along with the standard packages available on the Adventure Life website. Kevin, Jess, Mary Rose and their teams have many recommendations that have enhanced our travel.
Joe
5 months ago
We had a great experience- they were very helpful in trip planning and making sure we got to do all the activities and see the places we wanted. There were some things we couldn't do/see due to the time of year being the rainy/low season and they steered us away from those. We had never been to Costa Rica before and it gave us a good overview of this lovely country.
