Editor Pick
Ziplining Combo Thrills in the Rain Forest Canopy
Ziplining from tree to tree in the jungle canopy is one of the highlights of a visit to Costa Rica. But you have to admit you're really there for the adrenaline rush rather than appreciating nature.
In the La Fortuna area, we found the ziplining prices ranged from about $35 to $60. We chose to splurge on the $60 tour at Mundo Aventura, just outside of La Fortuna. It had been recommended to us back in Alajuela and they (supposedly) had the longest single cable in the La Fortuna area (about 1000 meters). At Mundo Aventura, for ziplining, you go on a series of about 10 different runs, ranging from about 100 meters for the introductory lines to the long 1000 meter one. They give you sufficient training so you know what to do and they seemed pretty safety-conscious. We had a blast zipping through the canopy there and they have one run where you come in right over a waterfall which is really beautiful to see from the sky.
But wait! For your $60, you get much more. Our tour started at 8 a.m. and we didn't get out of there until around 2 p.m. After an introduction on how to use the equipment, you ride in a wagon pulled by a tractor most of the way up into the hills where the zip-lines are. Then you have to hike the last couple hundred yards (uphill, carrying your gear, but it isn't too hard) to the start point. After zipping along all the cables, you have a horseback ride to a recreated traditional village of an indigenous tribe, where members of the tribe greet you and tell you about their culture. You get to talk with the tribal members a little while and have the opportunity to buy various masks and other carvings produced by the tribe. It sounds pretty hokey writing it here, but it wasn't bad and we enjoyed it. Then you ride your horse back to the starting area.
Near the main entrance, they have a small butterfly enclosure with lots of butterflies fluttering around, and another greenhouse which is there "tree frog enclosure". Our guide pointed out at least one of three different kinds of tree frogs, a red one, a green one, and a yellow one. Those were pretty cool to see and I can now give up hope of seeing them in the wild not that I know how well-camoflauged they are.
At Mundo Aventura, you also have the opportunity to rappel down a waterfall (I think that is $30 more).
So they weren't the cheapest option in town, but we were satisfied with our day with them. Our canopy ziplining group was fairly small, about 15. We heard of other groups being much larger. A small group is nice because you don't have to wait too long.
Lots of people seem to want to go on horseback rides through the forest, so this is a nice way to experience that, too. It wouldn't have been the first choice for my wife and I, but our daughters had fun being on the horses. Other groups seemed to come there just for the horseback rides through the forest.
During the canopy tour, a photographer took a lot of photos of everyone ziplining and got some very nice professional-quality shots. They sell a CD at the end for $20 or so, but we decided not to buy. But if you don't want to bother with a camera, it would be a good option.
They also had a student discount price ($45 instead of $60) which you need a student ID for, so bring your ID, even if you are in grade school!
From journal Arenal Volcano, Center of Costa Rica Adventures