Cerro Chirripó

Costa Rica, Costa Rica

---

Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, rising to about 3,820 meters (12,530 feet) in the Cordillera de Talamanca within Chirripó National Park.

It is also one of the world’s most prominent peaks, meaning it stands out dramatically above the surrounding landscape and is visible from much of southern Costa Rica. The mountain is part of a UNESCO‑recognized highland area that protects rich cloud‑forest and high‑altitude páramo ecosystems, harboring diverse plants and wildlife.

Reaching the summit requires a demanding round‑trip hike of roughly 25 kilometers, usually approached from the village of San Gerardo de Rivas, with most climbers either doing an intense single‑day ascent or spending a night at the Crestones base camp; on clear days, hikers are rewarded with sweeping 360‑degree views reaching both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.