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    - Photo via Sinac - |
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Published on Wednesday,
October
20,
2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Chirripó Tourism
Chamber (Catarchochi) is awarding $800,
among other prizes to tourists who visit the
valley of the same name
located in Perez Zeledón Canton, San José
Province.
According to the chamber, the goal of the contest is to increase tourism and reactivate its local economy, which has been greatly affected by the covid-19 sanitary restrictions. "This contest is a win-win deal, visitors win by enjoying the zone, they have the option to win prizes and the local economy that was affected by the covid will also benefit," Omar Elizondo-Martínez, President of the Chamber said. Tourists who enjoy traveling to the countryside will have until Dec. 20 to participate in the promotion. The challenge consists of visiting the Chirripó valley, taking at least 10 pictures of the natural beauties of the place as well as the tourist places such as shops or hotels. Then, the contester must register on the Chamber's website and upload the photos. Once registered and photos uploaded to the Chirripó Valley website, participants are up for the grand prize and other awards. The chamber has secured in prizes: 15 cards for full stays in hotels in the town, $800 and tickets to Chirripó National Park, among others. The list of participating communities and places to be visited are listed on the chamber website The reward of reaching the highest point in the country is the main reason, but not the only one, that attracts tourists to Chirripo. Impressive views, observation of endemic, resident, migratory bird species and a journey between moors and glacial lakes are all part of the experience of visiting the park. According to the National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac) Chirripó is a word from the Cabécar indigenous language whose meaning is “Land of the Eternal Waters.” Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, with an elevation of 12,536 feet.The mountainous region contains various glacial forms such as U-shaped valleys, terraces, rivers and lakes that witness the passage of great ice tongues whose action dates back approximately 25,000 years. According to Sinac records, a missionary from Talamanca Canton Father Agustín Blessing was the first white man to conquer the summit of Cerro Chirripó in 1904. In addition to the exuberant vegetation of the humid tropics, in the park, there is a great diversity of wild mammals such as tapir (Tapirus bairdii), mountain goats (Mazama temama), coatis (Nasua narica), zaínos (Pecari tajacu), tepezcuintles (Cuniculus paca) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). In addition, the six species of wild cats of Costa Rica inhabit living in the area, such as Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), Margay (Leopardus wiedii), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Puma (Felis concolor), Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) and Oncilla ( Leopardus tigrinus). There are also a large number of bird species, including the quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), the tufted harrier (Spizaetus ornatus), the black guan (Chamaepetes unicolor), the peacock bass (Crax rubra), the black-faced woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) and the goldfinch (Myadestes melanops). Average temperatures in the area range from around 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the lower parts to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the higher parts. In addition, during the summer the presence of strong winds characteristic of the high mountains of Costa Rica is very common. The highest parts are strong winds, frosts, frequent drizzles and sudden changes in temperature, to such an extent that the lowest recorded in Chirripó and in Costa Rica has been -15 degrees Fahrenheit, experts said. ------------------- When is your trip to the Chirripó? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com            
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