Parque Nacional Chirripó — Attraction in Rivas

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!

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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...

I've been to tons of national parks and climbed lots of high mountains in the world. This one is the only one that requires you to register at the local office THE DAY BEFORE YOUR TRIP, even if you already purchased the ticket online. That means you have to go there twice in two days. Imaging your stay is 2hr away from there and you've planned everything and drove there only to find out it that you couldn't register on the day you booked! It's a shady trick to keep the tourists in the town. Btw their office closes at 4:00pm. I tried to call them at 3:40pm and no one picked up the phone. If they don't care about the tourists, the tourists will treat them the same...