Festival dates 2012: February 24th – February 26th. RACE: February 25th
Once a year, in late February, San Gerardo hosts a four day fiesta known as Carrera Internacional Ecológica y Cultural al Cerro Chirripó. In English: the International Chirripó Marathon.
Believe it or not hundreds of athletic competitors arrive from all over the world to race 34-km up and down the country’s highest peak – Cerro Chirripó!
Starting at 7 a.m. (in the cool!) runners leave from Plaza de San Gerardo de Rivas, heading uphill to the Crestones base camp and down again. The winner usually returns in just over 3 hours, though the fun goes on all day as young and old, women and men, return to a hero’s welcome in the plaza.
Over the four days the village Community Association and the Race Committee will host the following program:
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Cultural and Social Activities of the 23rd Annual International Chirripo Race.
Saturday 26 February
7:00 a.m. Race begins from the centre of San Gerardo de Rivas
7:30 a.m. Children’s Race
8:00 a.m. Walk to the Aguas Eternas.
9:00 a.m. Cultural activities and children’s games
10:00 a.m. First runners return
4:00 p.m. Presentation to the winners of the 23rd annual Chirripó Race
8:00 p.m. Dance with Discomovil “2084”
Displays of local arts
Tasty food made locally
Local Information, Projects and Culture
OTHER DAYS
Thursday 24 February
7:00 p.m. Coronation of the Festival Queen & Arts Presentation
Friday 25 February3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Athletes receive their race numbers
5:00 p.m. Gala Dinner for the athletes
6:00 p.m. Karaoke in the plaza
7:30 p.m. Gala Dinner for Festival Patrons and Collaborators including traditional dance entertainment.
Sunday 27 February (Football Tournament begins)
9:00 a.m. Third/Fourth place Women’s game – Chirripó Sports Cup
10:00 a.m. Third/Fourth place Men’s game: Chirripó Sports Cup
11:00 a.m. Final Women’s Game – Chirripó Sports Cup
1:00 p.m. Final Men’s Game: Chirripó Sports Cup
4:30 p.m. Bingo
5:00 p.m. Presentation to the winners of the 5th Chirripó Sports Cup
5:30 p.m. Chirripó Cup Dance with 88 Stereo
Monday 28 February
12:00 p.m. Football game: indigenous team from Gilda and third place tournament winners
2:00 p.m. Veterans’ vs. 4th place team
7:00 p.m. Final Grand Dance with 88 Stereo
For a flavour of real Costa Rican celebrations visit San Gerardo during the Races – don’t forget to book ahead as hotels will be hopping!
Registration
To register visit one of the following locations open on Saturday 22rd January 2011:
• San Jose: Tienda la Gloria, Avenida Central, San Jose
• San Isidro de General: Oficina de Bienes Raices, Restaurante Chirripó
• San Gerardo de Rivas: Salón Comunal
You will need to bring your passport (international athletes), or cedula (nationals), a local address and phone number where you can be reached and the fee.
Cost of admission: 15,000 colones (approximately US$30.00)
All funds are used for community development purposes.
There are 225 spaces for athletes in the following categories:
- Adult males
- Adult females
- Veterans A
- Veterans B
- Female Veterans
Total distance: 34 km (from 1350 m to 3400 m exits)
Full information at: www.carrerachirripo.com
Contact: (506) 2742-5032 – Jose Luis Garita (President of the local Asociacion de Desarrollo)
Chirripó Race & Fiesta 2008