Costa Rica Hanging Bridges – Where to Visit

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Have you ever experienced the thrill of walking over a bridge suspended high in the air with amazing views on all sides? The hanging bridges in Costa Rica are located throughout the country at hanging bridge parks and sometimes as standalone walkable bridges. This is a unique and fun experience for people of all ages.

What Is a Hanging Bridge?

Although it is called a hanging bridge in Costa Rica, the bridges you will experience here are technically suspension bridges. These are created by placing the deck of the bridge on two parallel load-bearing cables which are anchored at each end.

These bridges will often sway as you cross them, but rest assured, they are very secure. Although, please follow all regulations. There is often a sign at the beginning of each bridge which states how many people are allowed on at one time.

In Costa Rica, it is possible to visit hanging bridge parks which include many bridges with trails throughout. These are a great way to experience the flora and fauna of the area while enjoying a fun walk.

The two most popular areas for hanging bridge parks in the country are Monteverde and La Fortuna.

La Fortuna Hanging Bridges

La Fortuna Costa Rica is a popular jungle destination and home to the beautiful Arenal Volcano. We highly suggest visiting this area during your Costa Rica vacation because there is just so much to do here! Whatever your level of adventure you will find something to entertain you in La Fortuna.

One of the most popular activities to do here is to go zip lining. Many zip lining parks offer combo tours which include zip lining, a hanging bridge walk, and sometimes another fun activity. This is a great way to experience a lot in one day. Plus, these combo tours are often pretty cost-effective.

If you would like to just visit a hanging bridge park, the best one is Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges. They offer guided walks, night tours, twilight tours, bird watching tours, or you can do the walk on your own.

The park includes two miles of trails with 16 bridges, one tunnel, and a waterfall. The walk does include some stairs and hills, but it is not overly strenuous. Anyone in semi-decent physical health should be fine here.

There is also a restaurant on the property and some really amazing viewpoints with views of the Arenal Volcano. Here is Thomas and I enjoying the Mistico Park views. 🙂

If you would like to book your tour to a hanging bridge in La Fortuna, here are some excellent options….

Monteverde Hanging Bridges

The cloud forest town of Monteverde, located in the northern central part of the country, is an excellent place for experiencing unique hanging bridges. Here you can get overhead views of a cloudy forest environment.

There are not any properties that are solely dedicated to hanging bridges in Monteverde, but there are several parks that offer hanging bridge walks which you can also combine with ziplining, rappelling, etc. if you would like. Our personal top choice here Selvatura, but we also have not visited every park so we can’t say for sure that their trails are the best.

In all honesty, you will probably enjoy all of the hanging bridge options in town. All the places that offer hanging bridges have excellent reputations.

Hanging Bridges Throughout the Rest of the Country

Although Monteverde and La Fortuna are the most popular hanging bridge destinations, that does not mean they are the only places to experience a bridge in the country. Here are some other places we have discovered….

Sun Trails in Montezuma – Sun Trails owns some property next to the Montezuma waterfall. If you enter the waterfall through their property you get the chance to cross over one long bridge with amazing views. You can find out more on the Sun Trails website.

Tirimbina– Tirimbina is located in the central part of the country in Heredia Province. It is a remote jungle destination, but if you find yourself in this area the reserve here is excellent. It is possible to pay the general entrance fee and walk the hanging bridges and property for only $18 per person. There is also a nice hotel on-site if you would like to stay here.

Here is a map so you can see where all of these places are located:

Our Tips for Visiting Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica

-One of the best ways to experience a suspension bridge is by taking a combo tour. A combo tour is a tour that combines multiple activities in one day. Typically these hanging bridge combo tours will also include zip-lining (a canopy tour) and the option of experience wildlife in some capacity.

-At most hanging bridge sights it is possible to take a guided tour. These tours are more expensive than walking the trails on your own, but they are a great way to learn about the flora and fauna in the area. Most tour guides also carry a telescopic lens for closeup animal viewing.

-If you are looking for a thrilling/ adventure type of activity, hanging bridges are probably not it. However, if you are traveling with a family, or just looking for a nice walk, the hanging bridges are an excellent activity option.

-We suggest wearing plenty of sunscreen and bringing a full water bottle on your hanging bridge adventure. It can get really hot and sunny in Costa Rica!

-Please comply with all regulations set up by the hanging bridge company. These rules are there for your safety.

If you have any questions about visiting hanging bridges in Costa Rica, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out! Also, we welcome any tips that you would like to pass on to other travelers.

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