Costa Rica Zip Line – Adventure Guide

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Just imagine soaring above lush jungle canopies filled with wildlife or looking out over stunning ocean views in the distance. A Costa Rica zip line adventure is not only a thrilling activity, it is also the perfect way to see the landscape of the country from a different perspective. 

It is possible to enjoy zip lining throughout the country. We created this guide to give you insight to the absolute best places as well as provide you information to ensure you have the absolute best experience possible. 

Zip Line Terminology

Before we get in to the best places to zipline, I wanted to give you some words and phrases that you should know in order to pick the best tour for your personal adventure level.

Tarzan Swing

A Tarzan swing is where you stand on a platform and you are attached to a cable which is attached in front of you. 

You then jump and swing like a pendulum until you slow down and reach the ground. 

It’s basically a rope swing from a high platform. 

The initial drop may take your breath away, but then it is very exhilarating!

Superman Swing

A Superman swing is when you do normal zip ling but while lying down and looking out over the jungle below. 

It may seem a bit scary, but the view is definitely amazing! 

In the picture above you can see my dad being daring and trying out the Superman in Monteverde….yes when our family visits we send them out on cables suspended over the jungle. 😉 

Rappelling

Rappelling is when you are attached to a cable and go down the side of a cliff face. Rappelling in Costa Rica is usually done down the side of a waterfall. It is a thrilling activity and a fun way to get up close to the strong rush of water coming down a cliff face. 

Hanging Bridges

Hanging bridges consist of nature trails and suspension bridges that you can walk over. These bridges vary in length and height but they can guarantee a great view! If you aren’t sure if zip lining is for you, a hanging bridge park could be a good way to enjoy overhead views of the jungle.

Canopy Tour

A canopy tour is just what zip lining tours in Costa Rica are often called. After all, you are getting an overhead tour of the canopy!

Popular Zip Lining Destinations

It is possible to enjoy a canopy tour all over the country, but there are a few destinations that are especially popular for this activity.

Monteverde 

Monteverde is a small cloud forest town located in the Northern Mountain region of Costa Rica. It also happens to be the most popular zip lining destination in the country. 

The main zip lining appeal here is that the landscape is so different from any other place.

Just make sure to pack warm clothes and bring a rain jacket for your adventure! It gets cold and wet here.

Suggested Tours

• We suggest ziplining at Selvatura Park if you have small kids or aren’t feeling overly adventurous. Their park is great (it’s actually our favorite) but it doesn’t have the more crazy adventure aspects like rappelling and crazy free fall swings. If you would like to book a tour that includes lunch and hanging bridges, click here.
• Sky Adventures is a great place for the whole family. They also have a gondola ride option which is perfect for snapping all the cloud forest pictures you want.
• The Original Canopy Tour is the place to go if you want to have rappelling included in your adventure. Here you can rappell down 150ft to the canopy floor. There is also a Tarzan Swing included in the rate.
• Monteverde 100% Adventure Park is another great option that has 10 cables, 2 Superman swings, rappelling, and a mega Tarzan swing

We created a full Monteverde zip lining guide to give you all the details on soaring over canopies in this part of the country. 

La Fortuna (Arenal)

La Fortuna is a popular jungle adventure lovers town also located in the Northern Mountain area. It is home to the majestic Arenal Volcano and the La Fortuna waterfall. 

We love ziplining here because there are multiple companies which offer this activity and you can take your pick of volcano or waterfall views.

Suggested Tours

Sky Adventures – We suggest this tour to families and people who aren’t feeling super adventurous. This trip includes a gondola ride with amazing views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. You will then soar over the jungle on a series of seven different cables.

Pure Trek – For all you daredevils. This tour combines a rock climb, ziplining and four waterfall rappelling descents. Lunch is also included in this tour.

Rincon de la Vieja

Rincon de la Vieja national park is a volcano destination located in the Guanacaste region between the Liberia International Airport and the Nicaragua border.

This is a great place to zipline if you are interested in participating in multiple adventure activities in one day. It is also possible to go whitewater rafting, hike at the active volcano, and soak in hot springs at Rincon de la Vieja. 

For more info, check out our Rincon de la Vieja guide. 

Suggested Tours

Guachipelin Adventure – This tour combines ziplining, horseback riding, and tubing. The tour also includes a visit to natural hot springs, a volcanic mud bath, and a full buffet lunch. It’s a full day of fun and great memories!

Note that transportation is included from most hotels in Tamarindo, Flamingo, Playas del Coco, Hermosa, and Papagayo areas.

Jaco

Jaco is the nearest beach town from the San Jose International Airport. This busy town is located on the Pacific coast.

Zip lining here is fun because you can often enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific coast. 

Suggested Tours

Ocean Park Ranch – They offer a super fun tour which combines zip lining, an ATV tour, and rappelling.

Los Suenos Adventure Park – Los Suenos has multiple combination packages. You can always opt to just do their zip lining course. This is a good option for those of you with children. The other tour option they have that I suggest is a combo tour of zip lining and a three hour ATV tour to a jungle waterfall.

Guanacaste Coast

One of the best places in the country to zip line with Pacific coast views, is Diamante Eco Adventure Park. This is the perfect place to combine multiple fun adventures in one day.

We suggest the All-Day Adventure pass that combines zip lining, hanging bridges, nature trails, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, admission to the animal sanctuary, butterfly garden, and botanical garden. Lunch, coffee, and fruit drinks are also included.

This park is easily accessible from Playa Flamingo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, and the Papagayo area.

Combo Tours

We are big fans of combo tours as a way of packing tons of fun in one day. 

Many of the Costa Rican zip line companies have built their own parks which have other activities such as butterfly gardens, hanging bridges, rappelling, and more. 

Usually you can save money by combining zip lining with other activities instead of booking multiple things separately.

FAQ About Zip Lining in Costa Rica

Q: Is there a weight limit for zip lining?

A: Most places will not allow people over 300 pounds (136 kilos) to participate. However, if you are concerned just contact the zip line company you are considering. They will be able to let you know their exact weight limit. 

Q: Is there an age limit for zip lining in Costa Rica?

A: Different places have different age limits. However, most places allow children as young as age four to participate. 

Q: Is it safe to zip line in Costa Rica?

A: In general, yes. There are strict safety qualifications that all zip line parks needs to uphold for certification in Costa Rica. 

That being said, there is never any shame in bowing out of the activity if you don’t feel safe for whatever reason. 

Q: What should I wear for this activity?

A: I suggest wearing loose-fitting or exercise pants, a comfortable t-shirt and sneakers. Don’t wear short shorts because the harness will not be fun with those.

If you don’t plan to rent a locker, leave your hat at home for the day because you will need to wear a helmet. 

Also, you will need to wear close toed shoes. 

Q: What should I bring for this activity?

A: Most places offer free lockers or lockers you can rent for a small fee. If you would like a locker I suggest bringing a water bottle, a snack for after, sunglasses, sunblock, bug spray, and a change of clothes or bathing suit if you plan to participate in other activities after your zipline experience. 

Q: Do zip lining ours include transportation?

A: Some of the tours we listed above include transportation, but not all of them. If you need a way to get around during your travels in Costa Rica we suggest renting a car from Adobe (our go-to rental car company that has a 10% discount for our readers).

Our Experiences Zip Lining

We have always had very positive experiences zip lining in Costa Rica. 

We have noticed that typically the more popular zip lining companies are popular for a reason. They tend to have the absolute best service.

The places we listed above all have amazing views, multiple platforms, long cable distances, and experienced guides.

I am not an overly adventurous person and was definitely a bit scared the first time I went zip lining, but I quickly realized it is so fun! 

If you are not a thrill seeker, opt for places that allow you to skip things like the Tarzan swing.

Other Activities You Might Enjoy

Costa Rica is filled with fun outdoor activities for a variety of thrill levels. Here are some other nice ways to experience nature and wildlife in the country.

Visiting National Parks

Costa Rica is home to 30 national parks located throughout the country. Some of these national parks are open to the public with an admission fee and some can only be visited with a guided tour. 

The perk of going on a guided tour is that you are guaranteed to see tons of wildlife with an expert who knows the area.

The most popular national parks for nature lovers are; Manuel Antonio National Park, Corcovado National Park, Cahuita National Park, and Poas Volcano National Park. 

White Water Rafting

There are numerous rivers in Costa Rica that are perfect for white water rafting for a variety of skill levels. Discover more with our white water rafting guide.

Bird Watching

Do you enjoy the peaceful experience of walking through dense forests in search of magnificent birds? Costa Rica is the place for you! Learn more with our full bird watching guide.

Do you have any questions about zip lining in Costa Rica? Leave them in the comment section below and we will help you out. Also, if you have any canopy tour tips for other travelers we would love to hear them!

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