Cerro Caraigres, Mountain summit in San José Province, Costa Rica.
Cerro Caraigres is a mountain summit in San Jose Province that rises 2506 meters above sea level with steep slopes and dense forest throughout. The vegetation covers the entire mountainside, creating a heavily wooded terrain from base to peak.
Early Spanish explorers named the mountain 'Dragon' after spotting what they saw as a sleeping dragon's profile in its ridge line when viewed from a distance. This observation by colonial settlers became the enduring local name for the peak.
Local farmers have long grown coffee on the lower slopes, adapting their methods to the mountain's altitude and climate over time. This farming tradition continues to shape both the landscape and the daily routines of those who live in the area.
The hike follows the Sendero Dragon trail and takes around six hours of climbing, so proper mountaineering gear and weather awareness are needed throughout. Visitors should be well prepared before setting out, as the route is demanding and time intensive.
This peak stands as the tallest elevation within Zona Protectora Caraigres and has a prominence of 653 meters above the surrounding landscape. This distinct rise makes it visually prominent and recognizable from considerable distances away.
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