Cerro Chirripó (Chirripó National Park)

Route Typology: High-Altitude Páramo Ascent. Cerro Chirripó is Costa Rica's highest mountain (3,820m) and the center of the Chirripó National Park. The ascent involves a significant 2,000m vertical gain, transitioning from tropical oak forests at the base into the unique high-altitude páramo—a shrubland ecosystem of glacial origin. Widely considered the most physically demanding established trek in Costa Rica, it is typically broken into two days with an overnight stay at the Refugio Crestones. On rare clear mornings, the summit offers a simultaneous view of both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

The Apolobamba Traverse is a remote, high-altitude backpacking route in the northern Bolivian Andes. Spanning approximately 92km between the villages of Pelechuco and Curva, the trek crosses the ancestral territory of the Kallawaya people—traditional herbalists recognized by UNESCO. The route follows ancient stone paths and animal trails, staying almost exclusively above 4,200m. It traverses several high passes, including the 5,100m Sunchuli Pass, offering direct views of the 6,000m peaks of the northern Apolobamba range. Due to its distance from major cities, it remains one of the least-trafficked and most preserved regions of the Bolivian Andes.