Cerro Terbi: A monument to our natural wealth

Our country has been globally recognized for its conservation efforts. We have an extensive system of protected wilderness areas, organized into conservation regions, which preserve important resources of flora, fauna, landscapes, and sites of historical, archaeological, and anthropological interest.

As geographer Gilbert Varas aptly states: “The country decided nearly two decades ago to use nature as the central axis of its national tourism product. Whether visiting national parks, private reserves, beaches, rafting, or birdwatching, we are offering nature to our visitors.”

Perhaps one of the crown jewels among the vast array of protected wilderness areas in our country is, without a doubt, Chirripó National Park. Located in the central section of the Talamanca Mountain Range, this park is home to Costa Rica’s highest peaks and forms part of the continental divide, separating the Caribbean and Pacific watersheds. It reaches a maximum altitude of 3,822.64 meters above sea level (according to SNIT 1:25,000 data), where small glacial valleys, carved by ice movement, dominate the landscape. This protected area safeguards Costa Rica’s most significant páramo ecosystems, as well as much of the evidence of past glacial activity recorded in the country. Five major river basins originate within this national park—one flowing to the Pacific (Río Grande de Térraba) and four to the Caribbean (Río Matina, Río Pacuare, Río Sixaola, and Río Reventazón).

Speaking of Chirripó National Park is an invitation to embark on a journey through its breathtaking landscapes, including Cerro Chirripó, Cerro Ventisqueros, Sabana de los Leones, Valle de los Conejos, Lake Ditkebi, Valle de los Lagos (Morrenas), and, of course, Cerro Terbi and its enigmatic Crestones.

Officially named Cerro Terbi, the famous Crestones are part of this mountain, as recorded in the 1:50,000 official cartography of the National Geographic Institute (IGN). Territorial and administratively, it belongs to District #4 Rivas, Canton #19 Pérez Zeledón, Province #1 San José. Its distinctive shape has given the area its well-known name and made it a popular attraction.

Cerro Terbi (3,762.52 meters above sea level, according to SNIT 1:25,000 data) is a plutonic volcanic-glacial mountainformed by the slow cooling of magma beneath the Earth’s crust, allowing its minerals to crystallize. It is where impressive arêtes, or ridges known as “Crestones,” converge. These towering rock formations were created through the folding of the Earth’s crust, resembling gigantic and striking “fingers” of rock, reaching up to 60 meters high. One of the most outstanding formations is “La Aguja,” which stands over 60 meters (197 feet) tall.

An arête (/ əˈreɪt / ə-RAYT) is a narrow rock ridge separating two valleys, typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. Arêtes can also form when two glacial cirques (bowl-shaped depressions where ice accumulates) erode toward each other, often resulting in a saddle-shaped pass called a col. Over time, the ridge sharpens due to freeze-thaw weathering, and the slopes on either side become steeper through mass wasting events and the erosion of exposed, unstable rock.

The word arête (French: [a.ʁɛt]) means “edge” or “ridge” in French; in the Alps, similar formations are often described using the German term “Grat.” When three or more cirques meet, they form a pyramidal peak.

According to Quesada and Pérez (2020): “This is perhaps one of the few cases in the world where intensive hydrothermal activity strengthens rocks instead of weakening them. This hydrothermal action is partly responsible for the geographic prominence of these iconic peaks.”

Today, the Crestones of Cerro Terbi are recognized as a National Symbol of Costa Rica’s natural wealth. These remarkable formations were declared a national symbol on April 6, 2011, under Bill #17437, as a testament to the country’s natural heritage. This declaration aims to raise awareness of the natural and economic value that promoting scenic landscapes and natural beauty can generate for the nation. Furthermore, it marked the first time a tourist site was designated a national symbol, allowing public institutions to promote it as an official destination under the country’s tourism brand.

The Origin of the Name “Terbi”

The origin of the name “Terbi” is not entirely precise, and there are several interpretations, including:

1. It may derive from the term Texbi, Terbi, Térrebe, Téjada, Térraba, which refers to the Térraba or Brörán Indigenous People.

2. It could be a reference to the Terbi River, which originates at the Costa Rica–Panama border and is a tributary of the Teribe River.