Chirripó National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐦 Highland Hummingbird Haven

⏱ 2–3 days 🥾 Challenging trails

🌍 #199 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #34 in Central America #92 in Tropical Forest

Talamanca Highlands, Costa Rica 1082 spp. recorded

Chirripó protects Costa Rica's highest peak — Cerro Chirripó at 3,820 m (12,530 ft) — and the country's only páramo ecosystem, an alpine tundra of shrubs and grasses found nowhere else in Central America at this latitude. The park shelters the largest population of Baird's tapir in the country, along with pumas, jaguars, and over 400 bird species including the Resplendent Quetzal, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, and the endemic Volcano Junco.

9.540° N 83.493° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

60–70% · Likely

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely

Blue-gray Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

Palm Tanager

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Speckled Tanager

Ixothraupis guttata

50–60% · Likely

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

40–50% · Likely

Emerald Swift

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

30–40% · Possible

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

20–30% · Possible

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

10–20% · With luck

Sumichrast's Vesper Rat

Nyctomys sumichrasti

Insufficient data

Spotted Paca

Cuniculus paca

Insufficient data

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

0–10% · With luck

Gabb's Cottontail

Sylvilagus gabbi

Insufficient data

Greater Broad-nosed Bat

Platyrrhinus vittatus

Insufficient data

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data

Mexican Deer Mouse

Peromyscus mexicanus

Insufficient data

Baird's Tapir

Tapirella bairdii

0–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

60–70% · Likely

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

60–70% · Likely

Blue-gray Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

Palm Tanager

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

50–60% · Likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely

Speckled Tanager

Ixothraupis guttata

50–60% · Likely

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

40–50% · Likely

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

40–50% · Likely

Amazilia edward

Saucerottia edward

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Swift

Sceloporus malachiticus

40–50% · Likely

Many-scaled Anole

Anolis polylepis

30–40% · Possible

Side-striped palm pit viper

Bothriechis lateralis

20–30% · Possible

Humble Anole

Anolis humilis

20–30% · Possible

Slender Anole

Anolis woodi

20–30% · Possible

South American Milksnake

Lampropeltis micropholis

20–30% · Possible

Costa Rica Montane Pitviper

Cerrophidion sasai

10–20% · Possible

Black-tailed Worm Snake

Geophis talamancae

10–20% · Possible

Blotched Palm-pitviper

Bothriechis supraciliaris

10–20% · Possible

Fire-bellied Snake

Erythrolamprus epinephalus

10–20% · With luck

Mesaspis monticola

Abronia monticola

10–20% · With luck

Black-speckled Palm Pit Viper

Bothriechis nigroviridis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald Glass Frog

Espadarana prosoblepon

30–40% · Possible

Warszewitsch's Frog

Lithobates warszewitschii

30–40% · Possible

Isla Bonita Robber Frog

Craugastor crassidigitus

20–30% · Possible

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

Craugastor fitzingeri

20–30% · Possible

Pygmy Rain Frog

Pristimantis ridens

20–30% · Possible

Masked Tree Frog

Smilisca phaeota

10–20% · Possible

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

10–20% · With luck

Pugnosed Tree Frog

Smilisca sila

10–20% · With luck

Golden-groined Robber Frog

Pristimantis cruentus

0–10% · With luck

Varagua Caecilian

Gymnopis multiplicata

Insufficient data

Cerro Utyum Robber Frog

Craugastor podiciferus

Insufficient data

Savage's Worm Salamander

Oedipina savagei

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦅

Migrant Raptor Passage

OctNov

Broad-winged Hawks stream overhead in great spiraling kettles, riding thermals along the mountain spine on their long migration. Hundreds can wheel together in a single swirling column before peeling off to glide south.

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

10–20% · Possible

🐦

Highland Hummingbird Peak

SepOctNov

When the highland shrubs and epiphytes bloom, hummingbirds swarm the flowers in a shimmering rush of activity. The Violet Sabrewing, one of Costa Rica's largest hummingbirds, hovers in deep purple iridescence while the bold Rufous-tailed Hummingbird darts and squabbles over every nectar-rich perch.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

30–40% · Possible

🐦

Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season

FebMarAprMay

During the breeding season the male Resplendent Quetzal grows tail streamers nearly a meter long, flashing emerald and crimson as it courts and defends a nest hollowed into a rotting highland tree. Collared Trogons breed alongside it, their steady calls threading through the same cloud forest canopy.

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

10–20% · With luck

Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

Resplendent Quetzal

<5

<5

10–20

0–10

0–10

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

<5

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

Violet Sabrewing

20–30

30–40

30–40

20–30

20–30

50–60

30–40

20–30

30–40

30–40

40–50

20–30

Central American White-faced Capuchin

0–10

10–20

0–10

0–10

10–20

10–20

10–20

0–10

10–20

0–10

10–20

0–10

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

50–60

70–80

70–80

40–50

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

Silver-throated Tanager

60–70

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

80–90

80–90

Golden-hooded Tanager

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

Blue-gray Tanager

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

Clay-colored Thrush

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

30–40

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Buff-throated Saltator

50–60

30–40

40–50

30–40

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

30–40

40–50

Speckled Tanager

30–40

30–40

30–40

40–50

30–40

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

30–40

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

30–40

10–20

10–20

50–60

40–50

70–80

Gray-headed Chachalaca

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

Animal Events

🐦 Highland Hummingbird Peak

🦅 Migrant Raptor Passage

🐦 Resplendent Quetzal Breeding Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good

🐦 Highland Hummingbird Haven

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

663

🐒 Mammals

208

🦎 Reptiles

145

🐸 Amphibians

66

1082 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

30 Threatened 82 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

56%

📊

Coverage (261 species at ≥5% of 1082 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

24%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

20%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

158

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

6

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

23

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