Chirripó: Place of Eternal Waters

Date:
Anytime of the year - Four days, three nights.

With 3,820 meters above sea level (MASL) -12,550 feet-, Chirrip's Summit is the highest peak in the country and the second highest in Central America (second to Tajumulco, 4,210 MASL, in Guatemala). However, Chirrip's National Park is unique for its particular natural richness, its unforgettable glacier landscapes and the easy access offered by its trails. This Park was declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 1982, and a World Heritage Site in 1983.

Day 1. Transportation to San Gerardo

We will depart from San Jos at 8 a.m., making a hour stop at Chespirito's restaurant, for coffee. The arrival to San Gerardo de Rivas (El Pelcano Hotel) will be at about 1:30 p.m. In the afternoon we'll enjoy a walk to the Clouds Bridge Falls in San Gerardo de Rivas.

Day 2. Climb

After breakfast, at 4:00-5:00 a.m., we'll start hiking at 5:15 a.m., from El Pelcano Hotel in San Gerardo de Rivas (1,520 MASL). The slow pace demanded by El Termmetro Slope (km 0, 1,520 MASL) and Los Monos Tract (km 1, 1,739 MASL), allows you to enjoy beautiful sunrises with landscapes comprised by prairies, forests, canyons, and the impressive Urn Row or Paso de los Indios, where the Urn and Ventisqueros mountains stand out. Later, the Cementerio de la Mquina Row (km 2, 1,990 MASL) and El Jilguero Tract (km 3, 1,990 MASL) lead to the entrance to the Park, where there are forests with trees covered by lichens, moss, bromeliads and orchids. After a journey of about 7 km in at least 4 hours, we will have a well deserved rest at Llano Bonito (km 7, 2,400 MASL), where a small hut from the National Park works as a shelter for having a snack and refill our water bottles. The following 3 km (The Water Slope) are magical, since the landscape and the slow pace appeal to a lonely walk and self meditation. Suddenly, at km 11 (3,096 MASL) your senses are shocked by Los Quemados Tract, comprised by thousands of hectares of ghost trees, burned during the latest fires caused by hunters. Finally, at the foot of the Old Refugio de Piedra (3,183 MASL), the Los Arrepentidos Slope starts (km 13), which is the last self determination test, before getting to El Pramo (km 14.5, 3,393 MASL), in front of the impressive Crestones, and the goal at the end of the day: El Pramo Environmentalist Center Shelter.

Day 3. Climb to the summit and more

After an early breakfast, we'll start hiking at 6:00 a.m., in order to reach the summit of the country preferably before 9:30 a.m., when it is most likely to be clear. We will first go through Los Conejos Valley (km 2.3), an interesting U-shaped valley because of glaciations, then the San Juan Lake (km 4.3), called tortirrica because of its tortilla-like shape, where besides, starts the Chirrip Pacfico river. Later, there is a sharper 500 m slope until reaching the final goal: the peak of Chirrip Summit, at 3,820 MASL (km 5). From there, if it is clear, the landscape is simply unforgettable: the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Quepos, Cao Island, Osa Peninsula; the peaks of Turrialba, Irazú, Pos and Barva volcanoes; the Villa Mills Towers, and the challenging Dúrika, Kamuk and Barú peaks. In the surroundings, almost at the same height, there stand out the peaks of Ventisqueros (3,812 MASL), the Urn Row and, at the foot of Chirrip, Las Morrenas Valley, a complex of glacial lagoons (where the Chirrip Caribe river starts) that you will try to visit inevitably (+2.5 km). After Las Morrenas, we will go downwards to Los Conejos Valley (+4 km), and then to Terbi Hill (+2.5 km, 3,760 MASL), one of the coldest sites in the country, because of its constant breeze. After passing over the Pronto Row (+1 km) we will get to the emblematic Crestones, undoubtedly the symbol of the Park, given its magnificence and the paradisiacal views that surround the place, especially at sunset. At last, the descent to the shelter (+3.5 km) is through a zigzagging trail that ends at Talari River.

Day 4. Descent

After breakfast (6:00 a.m.), the return to San Gerardo de Rivas starts. Walking downward slope allows appreciating and enjoying the extensive variety of plants and landscapes of the zone with much more tranquility. It is recommended to walk at a slow and safe pace (at least 5 hours) to avoid unnecessary injuries.

Accommodations:

• El Pelcano Hotel: It will offer accommodations Day 1. It's located in San Gerardo de Rivas, 2.5 km away from the park entrance and that's why the adventure starts with the transportation in pick up trucks from the hotel to the park entrance. The hotel belongs to a local family, with a warm customer care. It's rustic, the rooms have bunk beds or 2 twins, and shared bathrooms.
• El Pramo Environmentalist Center: It will offer accommodations Days 2 and 3. It's located inside the park, in km 14.5, in Crestones Base. It has shared rooms, with 2 bunk beds and shared bathrooms.

Meals:
Day 1, it's included lunch and dinner at the Hotel El Pelcano restaurant; Day 2, breakfast (4:30 am) at the Hotel El Pelcano, plus a snack to go. Our cook, exclusive for the group, will be in charge of preparing all the meals in the Crestones Shelter. Arriving to Crestones, you will enjoy a delicious and stimulant lunch and warm beverages. On Day 3, breakfast (5:30 a.m.), a snack to go and lunch once we get back to the shelter after our walk through out the park. Later we'll have dinner. Day 4 includes breakfast (6:00 a.m.) and a snack to go. Lunch on Day 4 will be at the Pelcano Hotel.

Recommendations:
It's preferable to take along clothes specially design for walks, it's much more comfortable because is lighter and looser. Avoid wearing denim clothing, since it's very heavy and friction burns the skin. Take a change of clothes per day. We recommend pants that can take off the sleeves, and look like shorts. Use wool socks, thick and preferable seamless. Take a thick wool sport pant to sleep, and a coat, gloves and a wool hat.

Included Services:
This amount includes transportation in a luxury bus San Jos-San Gerardo de Rivas-San Jos, 3 breakfasts, 3 snacks, four lunches and 3 dinners, accommodation for 3 nights, National Park entrances, Assist Card insurance, specialized guide services and trekking poles.

Rate per person: $487.50 (4 people minimum).