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Published Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Government offers accommodations in Chirripó By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Government, through the National System of Conservation Areas, is offering hiking trail and accommodation packages in the Chirripó National Park area, even though access to the park is closed to the general public. The tourist services offered by the organization are hiking trail guided tours from the entrance that is located in the community of San Gerardo to the area inside the park known as Crestones. The maximum groups are 30 tourists a day, in groups of 10. The guided tour includes a 39.2 km round trip on the same day. The second option is a two-night stay within the protected area. This option includes a trekking guided tour, the first night stay in a camp, and the second night, accommodation in the park rangers base located in the Crestones area, on the last day of the tour, visitors will be guided to the departure area located in the San Gerardo community. These special tours will start on Thursday, seven days before access to the general public will be allowed. These tourism options can only be purchased on the conservation area website, serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr. The price of tourist services will be accepted through Wednesday and can be paid directly at the website. Among the main recommendations to people interested in book these tours are: - Tourists must store garbage from the products they consume inside the park. - The visitor will not be allowed to cook inside the camp protected wild area. However, cooking will be allowed inside the park ranger base facilities. - Food and drinks must be brought by the tourist. - Visitors will have to bring their accessories for the night, at the camp and the base facilities of the park rangers. - The tourist must bring or wear the necessary implements such as a flashlight, batteries, cap, lip protector, sunscreen, sunglasses, among others. - The visitor must carry their gear along the hiking trail. Access to this offer is for a limited number of 10 people per group, and three groups per day. For more information about these hiking trail guided tour or accommodation options, those interested can call the conservation area at 506-2522-6500. In February the Ministry of Environment announced that access would remain closed until March 11 due to the failure to reach an agreement with the company in charge of the management of Chirripó National Park. According to the ministry, the temporary suspension of the online system for reservation of regular tickets to the park is due to the fact that it was not possible to renew the administration contract with the company Consorcios Aguas Eternas, which was in charge of the park administration. The problem lies in the fact that the contract between the company and the government expired last week and could not be renewed due to a series of appeals made by other companies interested in acquiring that contract. According to the Comptroller General, the entity responsible for the review and approval of business contracts with the government, it is possible that the appeals will be resolved in March. After that process, the company that finally granted contract must complete the process with the National System of Conservation Areas. This to be able to have the requirements in order before the reopening of access to the park. According to the authorities, the process to hire companies that provide services in this park began in 2017, but each time a proposal was accepted "it was immediately appealed by groups of the same community organizations." According to the ministry, due to the setbacks with the closure of access to the park, the route between the community of San Gerardo to the park had to be closed. However, for drivers who must go through the areas near the park, there are two open routes: the route between the community of San Jerónimo to the communities of Sabana and Leones in Pérez Zeledón and the route between the community of Urán to Rivas de Pérez Zeledón. According to the ministry, Chirripo is visited by 10,000 people per year. The park name, Chirripo means in the Cabecar language, "a mountain of eternal waters." With 50,000 hectares, the Chirripó Park is located in the Talamanca Mountain Range. There is the Chirripó peak, 3,820 meters above sea level. That is the highest point of Costa Rica. That territory was declared a national park in July 1975. To reach the peak, visitors have to hike from the community of San Gerardo. -------------------------------- Have you visited the Chirripo park? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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