Festival dates 2010: February 25th – March 1st
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 22nd Annual International Chirripo Race.
Thursday 25 February 2010
7:00PM Coronation of the Queen of the Fiesta and disco dance.
Friday 26 February 2010
3 p.m. – Athletes receive their racing numbers.
5 p.m. – Gala Dinner for Athletes
7:30 p.m. Gala dinner for sponsors and supporters.
Saturday 27 February 2010
7 a.m. Athletes begin the race from the sports plaza in San Gerardo de Rivas.
8 a.m. Walk to the Aguas Eternas
9 a.m. Cultural activities and children’s games.
10:30a.m. Winner of the race arrives back.
4 p.m. Last runners return to the plaza.
Prizes.
8:00 p.m. Grand Dance with disco 2084
Sunday 28 February 2010
9:00 a.m. Children’s football game
10:00 a.m. Regional Chirripo Cup Tournament.
12:00 p.m. Grand final of the Chirripo Cop Tournament
5:00 p.m. Cup awards by the Regional Commitee of Sports for Perez Zeledon.
Monday 1 March 2010
12:00 p.m. Indigenous Football game: Sitio Gilda vs. the Third Age.
2:00 p.m. Veterans Football game.
4:00 p.m. Grand Bingo
7:00 PM Dance with live music from “The Corporation”
Also: exhibition of art from the region.
delicious home made food
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!
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)
More information: www.carrerachirripo.com
Contact: (506) 2-742-50-91 – Lesmes Marin
Chirripó Race & Fiesta 2008