Cerro Kamuk Border Highland Traverse

The track to Cerro Kamuk climbs through oak forests and alpine páramo to reach 3,549 meters—Costa Rica’s second-highest point—on the Panamanian border. Starting from the Ujarrás village in Buenos Aires Canton, the route follows an old indigenous hunting trail that becomes increasingly technical as you ascend past the treeline at 3,200 meters. The final 8 kilometers cross exposed páramo grasslands where GPS is essential—clouds roll in fast and visibility drops to zero without warning.

This extreme-difficulty route requires serious mountain driving experience and modified vehicles with low-range gearing for the 25% grades above Kilometer 15. Weather changes in minutes from sunny to freezing fog, and the rainy season (May-November) makes the route completely impassable. Bring cold-weather gear, emergency shelter, and enough fuel for the 6-hour return descent. The summit rewards you with views across the Talamanca range and, on clear days, both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans—assuming you can handle the altitude and exposure.