Cerro Kamuk
Encyclopedia
Cerro Kamuk is a mountain in the core of the foothills and mountains of La Amistad International Park
, in the Cordillera de Talamanca
, between the mountain ranges of northern Panama
and south-eastern Costa Rica
. These are the highest and wildest mountains of Central America. The diversity of species
of this area is unequaled in any other reserve of equivalent size in the world. The area protected comprises four national parks clustered together that become La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO
declared it a natural World Heritage Site since 1983 and is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
UNESCO's project shared by eight Central American countries (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and South of Mexico) to help protect the remaining pristine mountain forest and wildlife
of Central America
Kamuk peak rises to 3549 metres (11,644 ft) above sea level. It takes 4 days to reach the its top, one way, (7 days for the complete expedition). Journeys require about 6 to 10 hours hiking per day. The climb to the summit is non technical, but since the trail often gets consumed by its own wildlife, it is absolutely necessary to have a certified guide
. There are no trail signs and water is found only near campsites. The absolute fragility and pristiness of this area requires that explorers take very important precautions: take only new tenting and camping equipment, free of spores, mildew or other microorganisms, as they may cause an ecological disaster. Wash your hiking boots and make sure you bring no soil from other areas of the world.
The seasonality
to explore the Talamanca Range and climb Kamuk ranges from November to April only, and is closed the rest of the year due to heavy rains, tree falls, management and protection of species.
A not for profit organization Organizacion Xtremas, develops community projects to help local inhabitants, native indigenous, Bribris and Cabecar people around the Talamanca range area. This organization is always seeking for travel volunteers. Through this organization you may find also local experts, naturalist guides and more information on how to explore Talamanca and climb Kamuk.
La Amistad International Park
The La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is an Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama, following a recommendation by UNESCO after the park's inclusion in the World Heritage Site...
, in the Cordillera de Talamanca
Cordillera de Talamanca
The Cordillera de Talamanca is a mountain range that lies on the border between Costa Rica and Panama. Much of the range and the area around it is included in the La Amistad International Park, which also is shared between the two countries....
, between the mountain ranges of northern Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and south-eastern Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. These are the highest and wildest mountains of Central America. The diversity of species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of this area is unequaled in any other reserve of equivalent size in the world. The area protected comprises four national parks clustered together that become La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
declared it a natural World Heritage Site since 1983 and is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor is a large habitat corridor in Mesoamerica, stretching from Mexico southeastward through most of Central America, connecting several national parks. It was started in 1998 to keep 106 critically endangered species from going extinct...
UNESCO's project shared by eight Central American countries (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and South of Mexico) to help protect the remaining pristine mountain forest and wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
Kamuk peak rises to 3549 metres (11,644 ft) above sea level. It takes 4 days to reach the its top, one way, (7 days for the complete expedition). Journeys require about 6 to 10 hours hiking per day. The climb to the summit is non technical, but since the trail often gets consumed by its own wildlife, it is absolutely necessary to have a certified guide
Guide
A guide is a person who leads anyone through unknown or unmapped country. This includes a guide of the real world , as well as a person who leads someone to more abstract places .-Guide - meanings related to travel and recreational pursuits:There are many variants of...
. There are no trail signs and water is found only near campsites. The absolute fragility and pristiness of this area requires that explorers take very important precautions: take only new tenting and camping equipment, free of spores, mildew or other microorganisms, as they may cause an ecological disaster. Wash your hiking boots and make sure you bring no soil from other areas of the world.
The seasonality
Seasonality
In statistics, many time series exhibit cyclic variation known as seasonality, periodic variation, or periodic fluctuations. This variation can be either regular or semi regular....
to explore the Talamanca Range and climb Kamuk ranges from November to April only, and is closed the rest of the year due to heavy rains, tree falls, management and protection of species.
A not for profit organization Organizacion Xtremas, develops community projects to help local inhabitants, native indigenous, Bribris and Cabecar people around the Talamanca range area. This organization is always seeking for travel volunteers. Through this organization you may find also local experts, naturalist guides and more information on how to explore Talamanca and climb Kamuk.