The countries of Central America are known for their great biodiversity and amazing landscapes, qualities that have made them favorite tourist destinations for many foreign tourists. In Costa Rica, the Chirripó Valley stands out, an unmissable place for nature lovers.
Located in Central America, Costa Rica stands out on the world scene not only for its paradisiacal beaches tropical, but also for its exotic biodiversity. Places like the Valle del Chirripó, have become an unmissable destination for tourists from all over the world.
This tropical paradise is located at the foot of the highest mountain in the Central American country, in a sector surrounded by nature and where traditions coexist premises and a varied gastronomy.
However, the attractions multiply just by moving a little through the Chirripó Valley, where landscapes, flora and fauna species, clean water rivers, conservation projects and a gastronomy that combines corn-based meals abound. with trout and dairy products.
EFE News Agency
A bridge in the clouds
In 2002, the South African couple Ian and Jenny Giddy bought a farm that was practically deforested and turned it over the years into the Cloudbridge reserve (bridge in the clouds), alluding to the height of the place, the cloud cover and its role as a bridge. for species to mobilize in the forest.
Cloudbridge CEO Casey Ella McConnell, explained to the EFE news agency that this place was born with the aim of providing ecosystem services and also to be a kind of natural laboratory for local and foreign scientists.
“Twenty years Later, 255 hectares have been reforested and 23 more of primary forest conserved. With the reestablishment of the forest, many fauna have returned”, McConnell declared.
The Pacific Falls is one of the jewels of this site, because in addition to its scenic beauty, it demonstrates the cleanliness of the Chirripó Pacífico River in the vicinity of its source in the mountains.
Another of the reserve’s jewels is its fauna, since the camera traps placed in the forest have detected the 6 species of cats that inhabit Costa Rica, which include the jaguar and the puma, the most greats of America; as well as amphibians and more than 300 species of birds, including the quetzal.
“These protection zones are of great importance for Costa Rica, since they provide us with ecosystem services and the opportunities for the Costa Rican people to get to know the forest, nature, breathe fresh air and exercise with walks and trekking” , McConnell said.
EFE Agency
Rurality, landscapes and gastronomy in the Chirripó Valley
The Rural community tourism is becoming a key element for this area of the country, an activity that has begun to reappear after the most critical stage of the covid-19 pandemic that hit the tourism sector hard around the planet .
In the Chirripó Valley, tourists can visit agricultural projects for products such as apples and mushrooms, others for the production of honey, and some for cheese, jam or coffee.
The numerous natural landscapes are other great attractions and an example of this is the Piedra de Lucas, a site that can be reached after an hour and a half walking along a path through nature, and that offers a beautiful view of the valley and the mountains.
The Costa Rican tourism authorities and the chambers of tourism are promoting gastronomy as one more attraction of the country.
In the Chirripó Valley corn-based foods such as tortillas and chorreadas, in addition to fish such as trout and the traditional gallo pinto, make up part of the gastronomic offer.
The director of Promotion of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), Ireth Rodríguez, commented that gastronomy opens opportunities for rural areas and allows visitors to learn about the traditions and history of communities.
“We see gastronomy not only as an element that adds value to the tourist experience, but also as an element that helps the well-being of the communities, because our sustainable tourism development model makes companies consume local products, which allows more producers to have the benefits of tourist activity”, said Rodríguez.
Tourism is one of the main engines of the economy of Costa Rica, a country of 5.1 million inhabitants that before the covid- 19 received more than 3 million tourists s every year.