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.

One of the most frequented day hikes from El Chaltén, the route to Laguna Torre leads to a glacial lake at the base of the Torre massif. The 18 km out-and-back trail follows the Fitz Roy River valley, moving through sub-antarctic forests of ñire and lenga. The terrain is primarily well-maintained gravel paths and packed dirt, with a short initial ascent followed by mostly level walking through the glacial valley. The destination offers direct views of Cerro Torre (3,128m) and the Adela range, with icebergs frequently calving from the Torre Glacier into the lake.