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 24th Carrera Chirripo
Friday Feb 24th
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: athletes receive their race numbers
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Crowning of the Festival Queen
5:00 pm: Athlete’s Dinner
7:00 pm: Gala Dinner for Race Patrons
Saturday Feb 25th
7:00 am. Race begins from the centre of San Gerardo de Rivas
7:30 am. Children’s Race
8:00 – 10: am. Cultural & Recreational activities
10:00 – 1:00 pm Runners return
1:00 pm: Concert sponsored by ICE
4:00 p.m. Presentation to the winners of the 24th annual Chirripó Race
8:00 p.m. Dance with Discomovil Mociones
Music throughout the day
Sunday Feb 26th (Football Tournament begins)
10:30 – 2:00 pm: Finals of the Men’s Football Cup
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Tournament Awards
3:30 pm: Giant BINGO
7:00 pm: Spectacular Fireworks Display
Closing
Monday Feb 272:00 pm Football game: Los Arrieros (Guides/Porters) vs Despistados (Clueless!)
3:30 pm Football game: Indigenous team vs. Seniors
Come and enjoy the fiesta with the Community of San Gerardo de Rivas
Everyone is invited by the Asociacion de Desarollo Integral.
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 21st January 2012:
• 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