Find out all you need to know to organise and conquer your hike to the summit of Cerro Chirripó, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica.
Sitting pretty at 3,821 m above sea level, Cerro Chirripó (land of eternal waters) is not only Costa Rica’s tallest peak, it’s the 5th tallest in all of Central America.
Needless to say, these accolades make hiking the mountain an exciting challenge for outdoor lovers. But it’s not just the physical nature of the hike that draws tourists.
On a clear day, from the summit of Cerro Chirripó, you get stunning views of both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This is one of the few places on Earth where you can see both coasts of a country. And if that wasn’t enough, the sunrise is exceptional too.
Most hikers climb Cerro Chirripó over 2 days, starting out from San Gerardo de Rivas and spending a night at Crestone’s Basecamp—a hostel-style lodge close to the summit. Hardcore hikers can complete the hike in a single day, but you’ll need a high level of fitness for this.
In this guide I’ll break down everything you need to know to organise your Cerro Chirripó hike starting out/finishing at San Gerardo de Rivas. I’ll clarify how to complete all the necessary online reservations beforehand, what to expect from the trail and give you tips for the hike based on my personal experience.
Where is Cerro Chirripó National Park and how to get there?
Chirripó National Park (Parque Nacional Chirripó) is a 3 h drive or bus ride south of San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city. The park straddles a small area within 3 different provinces: San Jose, Cartago and Limon. Cerro Chirripó sits at the intersection of these 3 provinces.
Along with Cerro Chirripó, there are 18 other mountains within the national park and these make up a section of the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range.
San Isidrio de El General (Perez Zeledon)
Cerro Chirripó National Park is in a fairly remote spot. The closest city is San Isidrio de El General, in the district of Perez Zeledon, which is roughly a 1 h journey from the national park and a 3 h journey from the capital.
To get to San Isidrio from San Jose, you can take a MUSOC bus. If you buy your ticket online beforehand, which I recommend doing as the route is popular, then you need to choose the route San Jose – Perez Zeledon.
Perez Zeledon is the other name for San Isidrio de El General and the one that’s listed on MUSOC’s website.
As of 2024 the bus journey between San Jose and Perez Zeledon costs 4,020 CRC ($7.5 US).
San Gerardo de Rivas
At the edge of the national park in San Jose province there is a small town called San Gerardo de Rivas. This is the closest town to Cerro Chirripó National Park and you can get there easily from San Isidrio de El General by bus or car.
If taking the bus, then you first need to head to the Municipal Bus Terminal (Terminal de Buses Municipal). This is the main bus terminal in the city, but not the one you arrive at with the MUSOC bus from San Jose. It’s roughly a 10-minute walk from the MUSOC terminal to the municipal bus terminal.
At the municipal bus terminal look for the 134 bus. This will take you to San Gerardo de Rivas and as of 2024 the ticket costs 1,275 CRC ($2.5 US).
Where to stay in San Gerardo de Rivas
San Gerardo is a long and narrow town which climbs through the valley. In the town centre you’ll find a church, a football pitch, restaurants and a mini market. Hotels are dotted along the length of the town and prices start at around $40 US/night.
From the centre of San Gerardo de Rivas it’s a 2.5 km walk to the Cerro Chirripó trailhead. I recommend staying in a hotel that’s close to the trail head as this will reduce the extra distance you’ll need to add on to the hike.
Hotel Uran is the ideal accommodation as it’s a few metres downhill from the trailhead. If you want a cheaper option, then I recommend Alma Music Temple. This is where I stayed and at the time it was the cheapest hotel I could find. The hotel was comfortable and had kitchen access.
Checking in to your hike
The day before you start your hike, you need to check into the Cerro Chirripó National Park. If you’ve booked a night at Crestone’s Basecamp, you also need to check into that too.
You check in to the national park at the SINAC Oficina Parque Nacional Chirripó in San Gerardo. You must check in before the office closes at 16:00.
Opposite the SINAC office, on the other side of the road, you’ll see the Oficinas Servicios Turísticos Chirripó (Chirrió Tourist Services Office). This is where you check in to Crestone’s Basecamp and it closes at 17:00.
Cerro Chirripó from San Gerardo de Rivas route
- Distance: 21 km (summit) 42 km (round trip)
- Duration: 8-10 h (ascent) 5-7 h (descent)
- Elevation gain: 2,387 m
- Summits: Cerro Chirripó (3,820 m)
- Difficulty: hard
Overall, I’d describe the trail from San Gerardo de Rivas to the summit of Cerro Chirripó as hard. The rocky terrain is mostly uneven and muddy, and the incline varies making it tough to find your rhythm. While it’s not the steepest hike I’ve done, the distance ups the difficulty.
Each kilometre of the trail has a different name and is marked by a sign which makes orienting yourself easy. The trail is also maintained in all sections meaning at all times it’s clear in which direction you need to go. You don’t need a guide to do this hike.
IMPORTANT: Ascending hikers must start their hike before 10:00. Descending hikers must depart Crestone’s Basecamp by 12:00.
Day 1
On the first day of the hike, you’ll mostly pass through dense forest and the views come from breaks between the trees. I found kilometres 1-6 moderately challenging. The incline was relatively easy and being early in the hike, I had lots of energy.
Halfway through kilometre 7 (Llano Bonito) you’ll find a refuge and here you can buy snacks and drinks. The refuge marks the halfway point to Crestone’s Basecamp, so it’s a good spot to take a break and refuel. Another reason to rest up here is because the next sections of the trail are the toughest.
Kilometres 7-10 were by far the most difficult for me. The trail becomes steeper just after leaving the refuge and I found the incline to be consistently challenging.
Kilometres 11-14 vary in difficulty with some steep parts but also long flat sections where you can catch your breath. In these sections the tree coverage clears up and you get great views of the surrounding valley.
The day ends with a steady descent as you approach Crestone’s Basecamp at kilometre 14.
Day 2
The second day of the hike is when the magic happens. I recommend leaving Crestone’s no later than 2:30 to give yourself plenty of time to reach the summit for sunrise. The sun rises over Chirripó National Park between 5:00-6:00 and the distance from Crestone’s Basecamp to the summit is 5 km. This will take you at least 2 h to cover.
Just like the previous day, the final sections of the hike are sign posted. In some areas the trail is rock and no path is visible. In these sections the route is marked by red lanterns.
On a clear night, as you leave the light pollution from Crestone’s behind, the Milky Way becomes visible. It’s a special sight so turn off your headlamp for a moment to appreciate it. Another hiker who was behind me on the trail took this next photo on his phone at around 3:00.
Around 45 minutes after leaving Crestone’s you’ll come to a crossroads with signposts for the different routes. Here you need to head left towards Chirripó.
The final kilometre as you approach the summit is challenging and slightly dangerous. You’ll need to scramble in some areas as the terrain becomes really steep. It’s also dark and, at times, you come close to edges with sheer drops. Keep your eyes peeled in these parts and go slowly.
Sunrise from Cerro Chirripó
Watching the sunrise from atop Cerro Chirripó is a special experience. The sky changes through a range of colours and clouds swirl in the valley below. Distant peaks are also visible adding to the dramatic scenery. If the conditions are really good, then you’ll also be able to see the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
How to organise your Cerro Chirripó hike
The hike requires a bit of organising beforehand and now I’ll walk you through all the necessary steps.
If you plan on doing Chirripó in a single day, then you’ll just need to book entrance to the national park. If you want to split the hike over 2 days, as I recommend you do, then you’ll also need to book a night in Crestone’s Basecamp.
How to reserve park entrance
Entrance to Chirripó National Park costs $18 US/day per person for foreign adults and group booking can be made for a maximum of 6 people. A maximum of 60 people are allowed to enter the park each day.
Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance and you must leave the park no later than 2 days after you enter. You cannot book entrances the same day you want to enter the park.
The national park closes the last two weeks of May for trail maintenance. The park is also closed the last weekend in February for the annual Chirripó footrace.
To reserve your park entrance, follow these steps.
1. Create an account on the online services section of the SINAC (Costa Rican National System of Conservation Areas) website.
2. Head to the ‘Comprar’ (Buy) tab and select ‘Reservaciones en línea’ (Online reservations)
3. Select Parque Nacional Chirripó (Cerro Chirripó National Park)
4. Now you’re presented with the following drop downs:
- Sector/Horario: select San Gerardo
- Fecha de entrada (entry date): choose your entry date
- Fecha de salida (exit date): choose your exit date
5. Click the ‘Disponibilidad’ (availability) button and a table will pop up
- Dia (day): the day of the week
- Fecha (date): the day of the month
- Disponibilidad (availability): the number of beds available that night in Crestones’s Basecamp
- Visita Diaria (day visit): the number of park entrances available for that day
6. Select the number of people you want to make the reservation for. The system automatically calculates the total price of your booking displaying it lower down
7. Click the ‘Continuar’ (Continue) arrow in the bottom right of the screen. A popup notifying you that you have 12 minutes to complete booking will appear
8. The payment page then loads. Enter the personal details requested for each visitor and your payment details
9. Click the ‘Continuar’ (Continue) button to finalise the payment
How to reserve Crestone’s Basecamp
Reserving a bed in Crestone’s is done separately via email and as of 2024 the rate per night is $35 US. The Basecamp sits at 3,400 m and has capacity for 52 people. The accommodation is shared dorms and there’s no hot water. Be warned, the showers are freezing cold…
You’ll need your park entry permit number from the previous booking to reserve Crestone’s. Immediately after you book your park entrance, email the permit number to info@chirripo.org and include the date you want to stay the night.
You typically receive a response within a few days confirming the booking that explains the next steps. The email will contain a payment link and you must make the payment within 5 days of receiving the email.
If you don’t want to pay online, you can pay at a Banco Nacional. To do this, respond to the previous email with the specific branch where you’ll pay and the date you’ll pay. Banco Nacional branches can be found throughout Costa Rica.
Reserving meals at Crestone’s Basecamp
There’s also the option to book meals at Crestone’s. I highly recommend doing this as there are no self-catering facilities at the lodge. It also means carrying less food on the hike.
As of 2024 meals cost: breakfast ($10 US), lunch ($13 US) and dinner ($13 US).
Meal reservations can be made within 7 days of your park entry date either via a payment link online or in person at the tourist services office (where you check in to Crestone’s) in San Gerardo.
The email confirming your Crestone’s Basecamp booking will explain how to reserve meals.
Booking guides and porters
These extra services are available to make your Cerro Chirripó hike easier and can also be booked at the tourist services office in San Gerardo de Rivas.
As of 2024 it cost $5 US/kg of luggage taken up to Crestone’s Basecamp. Depending on the conditions, your luggage will either be brought by a horse or a porter.
At the tourist services office you can also rent gear and buy basic food supplies.
What to pack for Cerro Chirripó
Cerro Chirripó is a tough hike and lugging a heavy pack will only make it harder. I recommend packing only the bare necessities leaving anything else at your hotel. You’ll need:
- Toiletries
- Proper hiking boots
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A decent sized backpack – 30L minimum is good
- Waterproof layers
- Warm layers for the second day including gloves and hat
- Headlamp for the second day
- Extra batteries for headlamp
- Plenty of water – 2L is good
- Pyjamas for the night in Crestone’s
- Snacks
- Necessary electronics
- Cash for any purchases at Crestone’s
When to hike Cerro Chirripó
Costa Rica’s climate generally follows 2 patterns: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season runs from late November to mid-April and the rainy season from late April to early November.
I recommend hiking Cerro Chirripó during the dry season. The heat will be taxing, but it’s your best chance of experiencing a stellar sunrise and seeing both coasts from the summit.
I don’t recommend doing the hike during the rainy season. While rains in tropical climates typically fall heavily for a few hours and then clear up, the unpredictable nature of this means you might not see anything during the hike.
I did the hike in mid-April and pushed my luck a little. On the first day, it rained heavily on and off and views were limited. Luckily on day 2 the conditions were perfect and I had the full experience. However, it could have gone both ways…
Based on this, for the best chance of good weather during both days, my recommendation is to hike Cerro Chirripó no later than the first week of April.
Weather at Cerro Chirripó
During the day temperatures at the summit of Cerro Chirripó range between 4–18˚C. At night this can drop below freezing.
San Jerónimo route to the summit
San Gerardo is 1 of 2 starting points to hike Cerro Chirripó. The second route starts/ends at another small town called San Jerónimo. This route is roughly the same distance but is supposedly more difficult than the San Gerardo trail. Also, a guide is mandatory if climbing Chirripó from San Jerónimo.
Final tips for hiking Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica
leave no trace
Costa Rica is a country that highly respects nature and the authorities do a great job at keeping their national parks clean. Throughout the Chirripó hike you’ll barely see a piece of litter.
Do your best to contribute to environmental efforts by minimising the single-use plastic you bring into the park. Any rubbish you are responsible for, pack it safely away and dispose of it either at Crestone’s Basecamp or when you get back to your hotel.
Don’t bring alcohol or substances
It’s prohibited and an armed police officer is stationed at Crestone’s Basecamp who checks all bags upon arrival. If you bring alcohol or any other substance into the national park, you can get into trouble.
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Hiking Cerro Chirripó in Costa Rica is magical. The view of the Milky May, the amazing sunrise and the fact that you can see from coast to coast make it a truly unique experience.
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Likewise, if you think the guide is missing information, or you recently did the hike and found any of the information here to be outdated, please let me know in the comments.
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