ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
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Monday, October 15, 2012

Hiking Chirripo - Costa Rica's HIGHEST Point


HIKING UP TO CERRO CHIRRIPO -

Costa Rica's HIGHEST Peak
12,530 feet!!!


WHAT TO KNOW•BRING WHEN HIKING TO CHIRRIPO MOUNTAIN

RANGER STATION (MINAE):  (2-742-5083 or 2-200-5348)

HOURS:  Daily from 6:30am-4pm.  EXCEPT it is CLOSED for 2 weeks May 15 – 31st, PLUS - ALL of October for annual service maintenance.

LOCATION:  San Gerardo de Rivas.

PRICE:  Costa Rican Nationals: 4,000 colones per person
                     International visitors: $15 per person

- Only 40 visitors are allowed within the park at any one time.

- Only 10 spaces daily are available for people arriving withOUT reservations; the other 30 spaces are for people with reservations.

RESERVATIONS - In the dry season (December to May), you may need to make reservations up to 12 weeks in advance.  Call (506) 2-742-5083 - BUT, they ONLY Speak S.  They are ONLY accepted Monday-Friday and pre-paid via Banco Nacional (if you're not in Costa Rica when you reserve you'll have to wire it).

WHEN:  Starting the first Monday in May for June 1st – November 30th.
              Starting the first Monday in November for December 1st – May 15th.

DAY PASS:  $10 daily fee, plus $15 a night for lodging at the station

- The nights are VERY, VERY cold. Some spots to sleep are only a platform...

BE SURE TO BRING THE FOLLOWING:

* Warm clothes - preferably layered clothing for varying temperatures and humidity.

* Rain Gear. A poncho is best.

* Sturdy hiking boots and walking stick(s).

* Warm sleeping bag - good to 0°C.

* Headlamp or Flashlight with spare batteries.

* A compass and map(s) (1:50,000 topographical survey (sections 3444 II San Isidro and 3544 III Durika)).

* Water. There is NO water supply for the first half of the hike.

* Food, including snacks. Dried bananas and peanuts are good energy boosters.

* Bag for litter/garbage.

* Wind/sun protection.

* Of course, a camera.


MORE INFO ON PREPARING TO HIKE
If you are a group, you could pay a guide. I know there is a couple with horses that take care of all your luggage and food (including hot meal preparation).  At that altitude, a backpack seems pretty heavy... especially when you have many liters of water...


I've got a wonderful book entitled
"Plantas comunes del Parque Nacional Chirripo³"
(in Spanish AND English).
2003, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, 260 pages... Colored illustrations on every page (one plant per page).


TOURS TAKING YOU UP CHIRAPO:




(THANX for sharing this ANGEL!


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