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How to Organize Your Trip to Cerro Chirripó on Your Own: Tickets, Lodging, and Tips

April 21, 2024

At the beginning of this year 2026 I took a trip to Chirripó that I had been meaning to do for 2 years, but I had never been able to because I didn't know how to go about it. Going to Chirripó is not just showing up and paying an entrance fee, like at other national parks; it takes a bit of planning. That's why in this post I'm going to show you how to organize the trip on your own and what you'll need to make it happen.

What is Chirripó and what should I expect physically?

Cerro Chirripó is the highest point in Costa Rica, at 3,821 meters above sea level, and it sits inside Chirripó National Park. From San Gerardo de Rivas, the trail runs about 14 km up to the lodge (Base Crestones, at around 3,400 meters), and from there it's about 5 more km to the summit. The hike up to the lodge can take between 6 and 10 hours depending on your fitness level, with an elevation gain of over 2,000 meters: one day you hike up to the lodge, sleep there, and before dawn you head out to the summit to watch the sunrise. You don't need to be an athlete or have mountaineering experience — the trail is well marked and there's no climbing involved — but it is a long and demanding hike.

Buying entrance tickets

The first step is getting your entrance ticket to Chirripó. This sounds easy, but it isn't. If you're planning this trip with a group, this step gets even more complicated, since one person can buy a maximum of 4 tickets. So if you're more than 4 people, you'll have to coordinate so that someone else buys tickets at the same time. On top of that, depending on the date and the number of days you want to go, it gets even harder to find tickets, since this is one of the most in-demand parks in the country and it's almost always sold out. So here are some tips on how to pull it off.

Tickets are purchased on the SINAC website. You'll need to create an account; it's a simple process and you shouldn't have any trouble. Once inside, go to the side menu and navigate to Comprar > Reservación en Línea > Parque Nacional Chirripó > Realizar Reservación. There you'll find the reservation form. Under Sector/Horario choose the San Gerardo sector; this is the park's main entrance, it has the best-marked trail, and it does not require a guide. Now, my first tip. If it's just you, you can try to find any open spot that works; generally weekdays are less booked, for obvious reasons. But if you're going as a group for several days, that's much harder to find, so here's the thing: every day at midnight, new spots open up for 6 months in the future. For example, the date I'm writing this post is 2026/07/12; if I wait until exactly midnight, spots would open up for 2027/01/13 — and book as fast as you can. When I booked at midnight, I wanted to see if I could buy 2 more tickets and the spots were already taken.

If you're wondering about the entrance fee, it's 4,000 colones per person per day. In my case we were 4 people for 3 days, so we paid 48,000 colones in total. Like every price in this post, it may change in the future.

As for dates, the recommended season supposedly runs from December to April, which is the dry season (low chance of rain). I traveled from January 9 to 12 and it didn't rain on us at all. The rest of the year it supposedly rains more, but there are more flowers, mushrooms, and in general a different experience walking the trail.

Time for the second tip when buying tickets. Have the details of the people going with you and your card details at hand, because once you select the number of tickets, you'll have 12 minutes to fill in all the information and complete the purchase. The information you'll need is the following:

  • Full name
  • ID or passport number
  • Card details (expiration date, CVV, card number, etc.)
  • Billing information

Booking lodging at Chirripó

Here's something important to understand: these are two separate reservations that work together. The park entrance is managed by SINAC, while lodging and meals are managed by the Consorcio Chirripó. Once you buy your tickets on the SINAC website, you should have received an email with your reservation number to continue with the lodging. The email will tell you that "You have 5 calendar days to pay for the lodging and ensure your reservation is confirmed", so you need to complete this step as soon as possible. The email also explains how to pay for the reservation, but in short it's the following:

You can pay with SINPE Móvil or bank transfer; the email gives you the account numbers for that. In the transaction description or reference you have to add the number they gave you, e.g. "Reservation number hospedaje". Once the transfer is done, send the payment receipt to info@chirripo.org with the subject "Pago hospedaje Chirripó Reservation number". And with that, this step is done.

If you're a foreigner it's a bit more complicated. The email itself explains it, but basically what you have to do is email info@chirripo.org to request an alternative payment link, as long as you don't have a bank account at a Costa Rican bank; if you have one, you can pay normally.

If you're wondering about the cost of lodging at the lodge, it's 20,847 colones per person per night, but this price may change in the future. The Consorcio Chirripó website should have up-to-date prices, since they're the ones who handle all of this. You can also find more information there about the place and the services they offer.

And if you're wondering what the lodging includes, the payment guarantees the following (so you don't need to bring a sleeping bag):

  • Bed with orthopedic mattress, comforter, two blankets, and a pillow.
  • Locker with key (requires a cash deposit).
  • Access to bathrooms equipped with toilet paper, paper hand towels, hand soap, and body wash.

Paying for meals

Once your lodging reservation is confirmed, they should also send you an email with the menu and the steps to book it. But in short it's the following:

  • You must arrange the menu between one and two weeks before your entry date.
  • You must send the payment receipt to info@chirripo.org with the subject "Pago servicio comida para reserva Reservation number" and also indicate your menu choices for the three meals and the day. All of this information should have been shared with you in the email.
  • There are two plans: basic and full. The basic one is breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the full one includes trail snacks. I went with the basic one.
  • The price of the basic plan I chose was 22,166 colones per day. Remember this price may change in the future.

And with this, you'd have everything covered to enter and sleep in the park!

San Gerardo de Rivas: how to get there, check-in procedures, and lodging

The whole trip starts in San Gerardo de Rivas, a town at the foot of Chirripó where the park entrance is, so in this section I'll explain how to get there and everything you have to do there before starting the ascent.

How to get there

You can put the address directly into Waze. We went in a high-clearance car; there are some parts of the road that could be tricky in a low car, but a 4x4 is not required. If you don't have a car, there's a bus service by Hernández Solís S.A.; you can look up schedules and routes online.

Check-in before entering

To enter the park and finish the lodge check-in procedures, you have to be in San Gerardo one day before your entry date. You have to go to the SINAC office (link to the office) before 4 p.m. on the day before your entry. E.g.: if you enter on January 15, you have to be in San Gerardo on January 14. Once you've registered at the SINAC office, you have until 5 p.m. to go to the Consorcio Chirripó office (link to the office) to complete the entry registration they require. With both registrations done, you can enter and start the ascent to Chirripó from 3 a.m. the next day.

Note: There is no guard watching the entrance, but legally, entry and the ascent must start from 3 a.m. on your entry date.

Lodging in San Gerardo

You're probably wondering: if I already paid for lodging at the lodge, why do I need another place to stay in San Gerardo? Well, it's because, as we saw, you have to be there one day early for the check-in procedures, so you'll need somewhere to sleep before starting your ascent. There are plenty of options and you can shop around, but I think the one everyone picks, and the one we picked, was Hotel Urán. They have parking and you can leave your car there for as long as you're up the mountain, they offer a package where they prepare a small packed lunch for you, and when you come down from Chirripó, they let you use the showers.

Luggage hauling service

This one is an extra. Hiking up with weight can be tough, which is why you can request the hauling service to carry your things up to the lodge, so you only hike with the essentials. This is arranged when you go to the Consorcio Chirripó office. There you'd leave the bag you want them to carry, they weigh it, and they charge per kilo. When I went up it cost 2,461 colones per kilo. They ask that the bag you leave be wrapped in a plastic bag, because it can get wet if it rains, and that it contains nothing fragile. You can read more about this service here. One important point is that the way up and the way down are charged separately; keep that in mind, because if you carry your own luggage down you can save some money.

Gear

The emails from the reservation process include information about things you'll need, but here are some I consider important for your trip to Chirripó:

Essential:

  • Headlamp
  • Mosquito repellent (very important — at the start of the trail there are lots of mosquitoes, and they're huge)
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Water bottle, 1 liter minimum
  • Gloves
  • Puffer jacket (for the cold)
  • Whistle (this is officially required, but nobody ever asked me if I had one)
  • Batteries for the headlamps (in case they run out)
  • Power bank (to charge your phone)
  • Towel (you can also rent one at the lodge)
  • ID card or passport (for all the check-in procedures, entering the lodge, and picking up your food)
  • Hiking shoes (waterproof and comfortable)
  • Something to eat along the way

Optional:

  • Trekking pole
  • Sunscreen and lip balm (almost everything is done at night, but if you plan to hike during the day they're essential)
  • Cap or visor
  • Poncho (the jacket should already cover you, and if you go in the dry season you probably won't use it)
  • Handheld flashlight

Keep in mind that Chirripó can reach temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius at night. At the summit I was wearing my shirt, the puffer jacket, and the waterproof jacket, and I didn't feel cold at all; during the day you could even get by with just a shirt.

Sample itinerary

This is the itinerary I followed on my trip, from January 9 to 12; the entry I had booked was from January 10 to 12, that is, 2 nights at the lodge.

Day 1: January 9 — Arrival in San Gerardo. Get to San Gerardo de Rivas with enough time to register at the SINAC office before 4 p.m. and at the consortium office before 5 p.m. There you can also drop off your bag for the hauling service.

Day 2: January 10 — Ascent to the lodge. Start hiking around 3 a.m. to take advantage of the cool, sunless hours. It's about 14 km uphill to Base Crestones, so depending on your pace, you'll arrive between mid-morning and early afternoon. The rest of the day is for lunch and rest.

Day 3: January 11 — The summit. Leave the lodge before dawn (around 3 a.m.) to cover the ~5 km to the summit and watch the sunrise from the highest point in Costa Rica. Afterwards you head back to the lodge for breakfast, and the rest of the day is free to rest or explore the nearby trails. Last night at the lodge.

Day 4: January 12 — Descent. Head down the 14 km to San Gerardo early. When you arrive, you can use the hotel showers, have lunch, and head home.

Some questions you might have

  1. Are there power outlets at the lodge?
  • Yes, but they're switched off at night.
  1. Is there internet?
  • Yes, but it's very slow; don't expect to watch Netflix.
  1. Is there hot water?
  • No. Showering is going to hurt.
  1. Is there a curfew or hours when you can't be outside?
  • I don't think anyone ever mentioned one while I was at the lodge. I believe you could be walking around the park at midnight if you wanted, since there's nobody patrolling and the lodge door stays unlocked.
  1. Is there anywhere to refill water or buy something on the trail?
  • Yes, at kilometer 7 there's a spot where you can refill your bottles and buy basics like sports drinks, cookies, or chocolate.
  1. Who carries the bags for the hauling service and when do they arrive?
  • Horses carry them up, and they arrive at the lodge around 5 or 6 a.m. On the way down, you pick up your bag at the consortium office.
  1. Are the meals mandatory, or can I bring my own food and cook/eat at the lodge?
  • You can't cook at the lodge. Buying the meals is not mandatory, but you'd have to carry your own food. You can also buy specific things at the lodge, like empanadas and coffee.
  1. Chirripó is high — is altitude sickness a thing?
  • Yes, you may experience it, but it shouldn't be much of a problem.
  1. Is there cell signal on the trail and at the summit?
  • There's cell signal up to a certain point around kilometer 6, but from there on there isn't.

Summary

In short, this would be the checklist to complete:

  1. Buy the entrance ticket on the SINAC website (spots open at midnight, 6 months in advance).
  2. Pay for the lodge accommodation to the Consorcio Chirripó (you have 5 days after the purchase).
  3. Book and pay for the meals (between one and two weeks before entry).
  4. Book lodging in San Gerardo for the night before your entry.
  5. The day before entry: register at the SINAC office before 4 p.m., register at the consortium office before 5 p.m., and, if you want, drop off your bag for the hauling service.
  6. Start the hike from 3 a.m. on your entry date.

As for cost, in our case (3 days of entry, 2 nights at the lodge, and 2 days of meals) it came to about 98,000 colones per person, plus the hotel in San Gerardo, which can be around 30,000 colones, transportation, and the hauling service if you use it.

The cheapest option is doing Chirripó as an up-and-down day hike, but it's extremely demanding. In this mode you only pay the 4,000 colones park entrance fee, since you'd be walking the nearly 40 kilometers it takes to reach the summit and come back down, all in the same day.

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