Costa Rica is world-renowned for its canopy tours, also known as zip-lines. Imagine sailing through the treetops hundreds of meters in the air with a chance to spot some of the country's diverse wildlife.
Don't worry, safety is a top priority. With nearly a quarter of the land covered with rainforests, there are dozens of family-friendly locations and companies to take you on this thrilling adventure. Though many of Costa Rica's national parks offer canopy tours, the best are in Monteverde, Arenal and Manuel Antonio.
There are a number of walkways or skywalks throughout Costa Rica's forests that have bridges strung across a valley where you can walk above the canopy of trees and get a panoramic aerial view of the forest below. However, the most popular form of canopy touring is zip lining - a practice where strong steel cables are strung between strong, ancient trees. Tourists are then sent zipping across the forests from tree to tree on these lines via a safety harness.
Without a doubt, the most famous cloud canopy tours in the country are in Monteverde. This region sits atop Costa Rica's continental divide at an elevation of 1,440 meters, producing a mist of clouds. The canopy is bursting with more than 500 species of animals and 2,500 species of plants - and you'll be sure to spot some of them during a tour.
There are several zip-lining companies operating in Monteverde, the two most established being Sky Trek and Selvatura. At Sky Trek, you'll discover nine cable systems, the longest of which is 770 meters long! Cruise above the stunning rainforest with views that will take your breath away. Selvatura offers an equally exciting adventure, with slightly smaller landing platforms and more independent braking systems. A popular feature here is the "Tarzan Swing," a securely fastened cable that hangs over a huge canyon.
Sail through the sky with a spectacular view of a massive volcano. With the Arenal Volcano in the background, the canopy tours in La Fortuna offer some of the most picturesque tours in the country. The Sky Trek offers a popular ride. Ascend through the rainforest first on a gondola, and on the way down, you can opt for the fast-paced zip-line tour. From here, travelers embrace unobstructed views of Arenal's southern face, Arenal Lake and the rolling hills beside it. The trip takes around two hours.
Choose Canopy Tours by Region
Topping the charts for famous national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio has extraordinary zip-lining. Get picked up from your hotel by MidWorld Canopy Tour before reaching the upper levels of the jungle. This tour is set outside Quepos, extending across farms and plantations. Another company, Canopy Safari Manuel Antonio, includes 10 zip lines, two repelling lines and one suspension bridge called the "Tarzan Swing."
Not for the faint of heart, canopy tours are a hot ticket for adrenaline buffs! It is truly one of the best ways to explore Costa Rica and capture aerial vistas of the rainforest.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $932 per person
10 Days / 9 Nights
Starting at $1,193 per person
