Ascent to “Cerro Uran” and “Cerro Chirripo”
If you are planning going to Costa Rica, you cannot miss this high experience at 3800 meters, very close to the sky itself… Mount Uran and Mount Chirripo !
4 Days
Jan - Sep, Nov, Dec
High
Intermediate
Description
This is probably the most beautiful mountainous route of the central mountain range of Costa Rica, where both Cerro Uran (3600 m) and Cerro Chirripó (3820 m) stand tall. On this program, we will visit these beautiful peaks and we will also pass through Paso de Los Indio’s, where once, as also today, the indigenous people from the Caribbean coast cross to the general valley to exchange goods.
Early in the morning, we will begin the first ascent to Cerro Uran. After a short rest, we will continue our walk and reach the highest point in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripó. If the weather permits, we will enjoy spectacular views from the top.
To carry out this tour, you must hire the service of a Local Guide from the Herradura community. Groups cannot exceed 7 members. We always start by arriving at the community of Herradura on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays because of the National Park Permit which only allows entry on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Contact me today to plan your adventure!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Permit and entrance fees
- Snacks
Price details
- INCLUDED:
- Accommodation for the first night at Reserva Rio Blanco with dinner and breakfast.
- Transportation to the starting point of the walk.
- Snack for the first day of the Walk.
- Admission to the National Park for 3 days.
- Rights of the way through private farms.
- Lodging for the second night in a shelter in Paso de Los Indio’s.
- Porters for personal luggage to the Paso de los Indios. Each Porter carries 12 kilos maximum. The service is authorized and issued by the SINAC to be developed the first day until Paso de los Indio’s and second day back to Herradura with equipment not necessary to continue to Crestones Base.
- Meals at Paso de Los Indio’s shelter.
- Lodging for the third night at the Base Crestones shelter, for this night two blankets are included.
- An empanada and hot drink, Dinner on day 3, and breakfast on day 4 at the Base Crestones shelter.
- Certified 1 or 2 local guides throughout the journey
- Transportation from San Gerardo to Herradura on the last day and lunch the day of return at Reserva Rio Blanco.
- Organization and Reservation for the Entrance at the Chirripo National Park
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Transportation from the Hotel in San Jose – San Gerardo de Rivas and back after the Trek from San Gerardo de
- Rivas to San Jose,
- Sleeping bag. Necessary for the second night at the Paso de Los Indio’s shelter (They can be rented in the Rio Blanco Reserve).
- Porter Service is also available, if required by the participants, to send clothes up to Base Crestones for the third Day or/and back down on the fourth day. Per kilo, the cost is around $ 5,.
- Tip
- 150 USD per person for the national park fee is nonrefundable.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to San Gerardo de Rivas
3:00 pm maximum time of arrival at the administrative office of the National Park in San Gerardo de Rivas for the corresponding entry registration to the National Park. 3:30 pm registration of lodging at Base Crestones shelter in CRC Chirripo. 5:00 pm check-in and luggage organization at Reserva Rio Blanco. 6:30 pm, dinner, and subsequent talk by the Guide in charge of the group.
ON Reserva Rio Blanco (D)
Day 2: Paso de los Indios
4:00 am, breakfast at Reserva Rio Blanco. 5:00 am, transportation by car to the starting point of the walk. 5:30 am, start of the walk at 1700 meters above sea level to the Paso de los Indio’s shelter at 3330 meters above sea level. Approximate time of arrival at Paso de los Indio’s, between 1:00 and 2:00 pm. 5:00 – 6:00 recommended time for dinner preparation. Hiking Distance 12 Km, Approximate Time 8 hours
ON Paso de los Indios Hut. (B,L)
Day 3: Uran and Chirripó
3:00 am, breakfast preparation. 4:00 am, start of the walk (the Guide will be able to define if it is advisable to start the walk even earlier or delay it depending on the weather conditions and the condition of the walkers) 7:00 am, Approximate arrival at the summit of Cerro Urán, 3660 meters above sea level, a space of 30 minutes to an hour is established to be at the site and resume the walk to the summit of Chirripó. 12:00 md – 1:00 pm, arrival at the summit of Chirripó at 3820 meters above sea level. 3:00 – 4:00 pm, approximate time of arrival at the Base Crestones lodge at 3400 meters above sea level. 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Diner. Hiking Distancia 17 Km, Approximate time 11 hours
Day 4: Hiking down to San Gerardo de Rivas
5:30 am, breakfast. 6:30 am, start of the descent to San Gerardo. 12:00 noon, arrival in San Gerardo where a transport waits to return to Río Blanco Reserve 1:30 pm, lunch.
Details
More info
150 USD per person for the national park fee are non-refundable,
• Due to the physical effort required to carry out this tour, it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with severe obesity, asthma, diabetes, or hypertension problems.
• This tour is classified as of a high level, physically very demanding, we recommend that people who do it prepare adequately by doing as many previous walks and physical activity as possible.
• For the Guide in charge, the first priority is the safety of the people, if necessary, the guide will assess the possibility of aborting the trip due to adverse weather issues, accidents, emergencies of a natural or institutional nature (for example, forest fires or natural phenomena), health problems of one or more members of the group, poor physical preparation of one or more members of the group, any special situation that prevents one or more members of a group from continuing. In the event of a situation such as the aforementioned and not being able to make the full route of the route, the Guide will value the complete return of the group to Herradura de Rivas, never partial, without this implying the reimbursement of any money paid for the tour.
Meeting point
Equipment you will need to bring
▪ Backpack for 40. – 50. Litre Volume, ▪ Small Trekking bag (waterproof) for the personal luggage what we carry to the hut, ▪ Hiking shoes, (Gore–tex are better), ▪ rain jacket and rain pants, ▪ fleece coat, hat and gloves (essential), good sun-scream, Mosquito repellent. ▪ Cap or hat (essential) Preferably hat that covers the neck well and a handkerchief. ▪ Water bottle (essential) with a capacity of at least two liters. ▪ sunglasses, ▪ hiking poles (recommended), ▪ sandals or shoes for inside the lodge, towel, personal medicines, energy food, ▪ warm clothes (for inside and outside), ▪ flashlight with extra batteries. ▪ Sleeping bag (rent possibility for $ 10,-) **Pack everything in plastic bags inside your backpack.
FAQs
How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?
Very simple hut along the trek with only cold water available. Food will be provided throughout the trek: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.
What is the best time of the year for this hike?
From December to May, it is the dry season. Keep in mind the nights are very cold. The rest of the year is the rainy season but it is not so cold during the nights.
What happens in the event of bad weather?
In general, it is always dry in Costa Rica in the morning and it can only rain in the afternoon. That's why we always start very early on tour. Should the weather change on the mountain, the mountain guide will decide whether to continue or turn around.
What is the average distance and altitude gain that we will hike each day?
First day 12 km and 1000 meters up (8 miles and 3280 ft), second day 17 km and 600 meters up and 600 meters down (10 miles and 1970 ft up and down together), and on the third day 14,5 km and 1900 meters down (9 mile and 6233 ft.).
Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that I need to consider before the tour?
I recommend travel cancellation insurance that includes mountain rescue.
Can I join a group?
If there are free spaces available, yes!
What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
This tour is classified as of a high level, physically very demanding, so we recommend that people who do it prepare adequately by doing as many previous hikes and physical activity as possible. Not well-prepared participants can be a potential risk for the rest of the group! Not suitable for children!
How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?
Car, bus, and taxi. We can organize a private shuttle too.
National Park Rules for a Completed Booking!
IMPORTANT: Once the reservation is made and the Paid, if the client does not use their space, they will not have the right to any refund of the advance amount not even change whit family Member or oder Person.
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Armin
4.9
(19)
Mountain Guide
IFMGA / UIAGM Mountain guide
I was born in Admont, a small town in Styria in Austria, in the center of the Austrian mountains. After my school, I studied motor vehicle mechanic. Beside my hobbies (skiing, nordic ski, running and soccer) mountain climbing was a very important part of my free time activities.
There are experiences in our life we will never forget. When I was 10 years old, my dad took me one day to a local mountain tour. We were climbing over a local and very famous waterfall. I was so impressed about this experience that my interest for mountain climbing was awake forever. After that, I started to take climbing courses with various alpine associations.
Later, I used to climb repeatedly very famous mountains like the “Rosskupenkante”, the north wall of “Perternschartenkopf”, the north wall of “Dachl” and the north wall of “Rosskupen”. My first foreign experience was in Croatia in “Velebit” and in Italy, in the Dolomites, where I did several tours there. Now, since 22 years, I work as a professional mountain and ski guide all over the world.
I guided successfully more than 30 expeditions and more than 50 trekking tours. I give climbing and ice courses to students; children adventure weeks, firm events, canyoning and rafting tours, and much more. Here are some of the peaks I climbed these last years: Alpamayo, Toclaraju, Huascaran, Cotopaxi, Cimborazo, Iztaccihuatl, Pico de Orizaba, Aconcagua, Denali, Pic Lenin, Gasabrum II, etc.
My philosophy: Go outdoor and explore the beautiful magic of the nature, to experience and to enjoy unique moments! It can be in the Alps or on top of the highest mountains of the world or in the nature paradise of Costa Rica (where I live now for the last 13 years). Come with me and let’s carry out together a great adventure!
Languages
German | English
Certificates
IFMGA
What people are saying about this trip
Emily
We made a self planned trip to Chile and Argentina to climb Volcan San Jose and Aconcagua. While we are fairly experienced climbers and mountaineers at lower elevations we had Armin as our guide for Aconcagua. He was our insurance for our lack of high altitude experience and organizer with the local support agency. It was a very nice experience. Armin for the most part let us run around on our own as we wanted and only reigned us in when he thought it appropriate. When he forced us to make a rest day in camp at about 5500m altitude to improve our acclimation we were not happy because we thought we were strong and wanted to continue. The photos of our faces in camp that rest day and the fact that I barely remember the day as I was falling asleep all the time tells me that he was very right and we needed rest. He did exactly what we wanted from him; protect us from our own enthusiasm and inexperience. Two days later we all reached the summit. It never felt like having a guide that was calling the shots but like traveling, trekking, and climbing with a very experienced friend. Thanks Armin, "pura vida"!
Del
the uran chirripo trek was a beautiful experience! All organized very well and the guide Armin Liedl is not simply a guide but a man who loves his job, a true professional who talks to you about the history of the place you are going through, about the fauna and flora, a guide who "feels" from the first minutes such as are your skills and cares about the best outcome of the course. My wife and I are thrilled that we managed to complete this trek without difficulty and that's thanks to Armin. A great person who we won't hesitate to contact for a future trek. Pura vida, Paola and Sandro
ALVARO
Very friendly and experienced guide! The local staff also very knowledgeable and helpful. The hike is awesome an unforgivable experience. Incredible views. Make sure you come prepared physically and mentally for an extraordinary effort.
Greg
The view was absolutely amazing. I recommend this route vs. just the climb to Chirripo, as the loop route give no overlap of trail plus it is about the same amount of time. I actually preferred the trail up to Urán as it was more scenic. The views from the top of the 2 peaks are worth the challange.
Karolina
The Tour with Armin to the peaks of Uran and Chirripo was quite unique. A wonderful experience that I will never forget. The view from Uran and Chirripo was fantastic and made you forget all the efforts needed for the ascent. If you like the mountains and hiking, you will love it. Armin is a perfect tour guide. He has a lot of experience and many interesting stories. Armin was always there, when I needed help. The communication and organization was also really good. All in all, I can definitely recommend the tour with Armin.
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