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If you’re looking for the best ziplining experience in Monteverde, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve spent a lot of time in Monteverde, and we love ziplining tours here. There are lots of different courses and it’s an amazing way to explore the forest and see wildlife. It truly is one of the best places to zipline in all of Costa Rica!
With so many options, picking a tour can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve narrowed down the best ones to help you choose the right one.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is the Original Canopy Tour in Monteverde. After a short hike in the cloud forest, you soar amongst the trees, rappel down, and try out the Tarzan swing for an added thrill!
Plus, it’s also one of the more affordable ziplining tours in Monteverde!
Check out the 1,000+ 5-star reviews and book your spot HERE!
Tip: This tour is likely to sell out – reserve your spot now and access FREE cancellation.
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- The Best Ziplining Tours in Monteverde
- 1. The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde With Transport (Our Top Pick!)
- 2. Monteverde Cloud Forest Ziplining & Hanging Bridges Tour (with Transport)
- 3. Selvatura Park Combo Tour From Monteverde
- 4. Half-Day Zipline, Gondola, and Hanging Bridges Tour (with Transport)
- 5. Extreme Monteverde Ziplinging Tour (with Transport)
- Do you need to book your Monteverde ziplining tour in advance?
- Is ziplining in Monteverde worth it?
- Other EPIC Activities to do in Monteverde
- Where to Stay in Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
The Best Ziplining Tours in Monteverde
1. The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde With Transport (Our Top Pick!)
The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde is a well-loved and popular tour that’s great for all travelers – even kids! It takes you on a thrilling 2.5-hour adventure that includes free pickup and drop-off from Santa Elena hotels.
We really like the fact that the zipline course is set up to showcase old-growth and new-growth sections of the cloud forest. As well as ziplining, you can enjoy rappelling 150 feet (46 meters) down to the forest floor, climbing inside an enormous hollowed-out tree, and soaring through the air on the Tarzan swing!
This tour has multiple start times available, making it super easy to fit into your busy schedule. Personally, I recommend going in the morning so you avoid the heat that comes later in the day. You’ll have an expert guide with you to teach you all the secrets of the mysterious cloud forest and help you spot animals. They’ll also take photos which you can purchase at the end of the tour for an additional $25 USD.
The tour costs $68 USD per person and kids as young as 5 can participate! It’s so much fun and the company behind it is super reputable, with almost 1,000 5-star reviews under their belt so far (check out the reviews here)!
Book the most popular ziplining tour in Monteverde here before it sells out!
2. Monteverde Cloud Forest Ziplining & Hanging Bridges Tour (with Transport)
This full-day combo tour takes you to an adventure park nestled inside the Monteverde Cloud Forest to enjoy a 15-cable zipline course (including a huge Superman zipline!), a Tarzan swing, and a tree top walk along 8 hanging bridges!
The tour starts with pick-up from your hotel in Monteverde or Guanacaste where you will be transported to the cloud forest. We had so much fun soaring through the rainforest, especially on the “Superman” zipline, which was a half-mile (1 km) long and 590 feet (180 meters) above the forest floor!
After the zipline course, we enjoyed a delicious included lunch in the park before slowing things down and taking a scenic walk along the tree tops crossing over 8 hanging bridges. We even spotted a sloth on our walk!
We love that this tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off not only from Monteverde but also from hotels in Guanacaste, which is 2.5 hours away. This means that you don’t need to miss out on this tour, even if you’re not planning on staying in Monteverde during your trip.
The tour costs $160 USD if you’re staying in the Monteverde region.
Check out the 5-star reviews and book your combo tour online here!
3. Selvatura Park Combo Tour From Monteverde
This Selvatura Park combo tour from Monteverde not only includes access to the park’s excellent zipline course and Tarzan swing, but you also get to explore the park’s incredible hanging bridges.
The views are just beautiful and you’ll spot lots of wildlife along the way.
My favorite part of the tour is that it includes a visit to a butterfly garden, which is home to 30 different species of butterflies. It’s one of the biggest butterfly gardens in Costa Rica, so it’s really cool to visit.
We think that this tour is convenient for those who want a fun ziplining experience as well as time to explore the cloud forest independently, as only the zipline course is guided. The guides will make you feel safe and point out wildlife from the observation towers between cables, and then you’ll have time to take this at your own pace as you navigate the network of hanging bridges.
This experience costs $133 USD per person, which includes hotel pickup and dropoff.
Book this combo tour here to get FREE cancellation!
4. Half-Day Zipline, Gondola, and Hanging Bridges Tour (with Transport)
We love this half-day adventure tour from Monteverde because it delivers such a well-rounded experience!
Our morning started with pick-up from our hotel in Sana Elena, and before we knew it we were at the park ready to go on a relaxing canopy walk. The guided walk is a great way to observe the cloud forest’s incredible flora and fauna. Monteverde is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, so this is a must-do experience while in the area. We got to cross several hanging bridges and spotted lots of wildlife including monkeys, birds, and sloths.
Next up was one of the highlights of the tour, we got to ride on the “Sky Tram”, which is an open-air gondola that took us up through the forest canopy where we had views of the famous Arenal volcano in the distance, as well as Lake Arenal and the Tenorio, Miravalles, and Orosi volcanoes.
Once at the top of the mountain, we got to zoom back down on a 7-cable zipline course that spanned 2.5 miles (4 km). It was an exhilarating way to end the morning – we were wide awake afterward that’s for sure!
Kids as young as 7 can join this tour, and it’s great for families! It costs $156 USD per person and includes pickup and dropoff in Santa Elena, or close by in the Monteverde region.
Book this fun combo tour here and don’t pay a cent until just before you depart!
5. Extreme Monteverde Ziplinging Tour (with Transport)
This 3-hour tour takes you to Monteverde Extremo Park, where you’ll zoom along some of the highest ziplines in the country. There’s a 14-cable course, and the lines range between 75 m (246 ft) to 150 m (492 ft) above the forest floor. You can also ride on the Tarzan swing, which is an exhilarating experience – it almost feels like a bungee jump!
This tour is perfect for those who are seeking a super exciting experience. This adventure park has some of the longest and highest ziplines in the whole country, so it doesn’t get more thrilling than this!
Plus, the guides are reassuring and have a great sense of humor, so if you’re nervous they’ll be able to put you at ease.
The tour costs $80 USD per person and lasts for 3 hours which includes private transportation from your hotel if you need it. The experience is definitely aimed at adventure-seekers 7 years and older, but it would also make a fun addition to a Costa Rican honeymoon!
Book this ziplining tour here for the ultimate thrill!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Do you need to book your Monteverde ziplining tour in advance?
Yes, it’s definitely best to book in advance. Monteverde ziplining tours usually only take small groups, so they can fill up quickly. This is especially true during the peak time to visit, which is from December to April.
We also strongly recommend that families or larger groups who want to zipline together should book in advance. All of the tours we’ve mentioned have free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand when you book on Viator, so you can book with confidence knowing that if your plans change, it’s easy to cancel and rebook!
Is ziplining in Monteverde worth it?
Yes! In fact, Monteverde is one of the best places in the whole of Costa Rica to go ziplining. You get to see so much wildlife as you zoom through the trees! Plus, it’s home to the longest zipline cable in the entire country.
Learn more about our favorite Monteverde ziplining tour here!
Related Read: To spot even more animals while you’re in Monteverde, take a tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest to see quetzals, frogs, capybaras, hummingbirds, and more!
Other EPIC Activities to do in Monteverde
While going ziplining in Monteverde is definitely a must-do, don’t forget to explore the rest of this area. There are so many fun activities in Monteverde! These are just a few of our favorites:
- Take a coffee tour – Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, and Monteverde is actually one of the best places to do a coffee tour. The Don Juan plantation is our favorite spot to learn about the coffee-making process and taste loads of samples, and you can book their coffee tour easily online.
- Night walk – There are some great night tours in Monteverde, including some in the Cloud Forest! One of the best ways to experience the wildlife nightlife is with this Monteverde Rain Forest Night Walk. Almost 80% of the animals in Monteverde are nocturnal, so night is the perfect time to spot them.
- Go bungee jumping – Bungee jumping is one of the fun Monteverde attractions you have to try … if you’re brave enough! The Extreme Bungee Jumping in Monteverde Tour has a daring jump from over 460 feet/140 meters. That’s the highest in Costa Rica and all of Central America!
- Enjoy local cuisine – We love Costa Rican food and were happy to learn that Monteverde has some great restaurants! Our personal favorite restaurant in Monteverde/Santa Elena is Taco Taco Taqueria. And the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience reminds me of a fancy treehouse paired with an amazing meal.
- Horseback riding – This is a great way to give your feet a break and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest on horseback! This Monteverde Cloud Forest horseback riding tour lets you cover a lot of ground as you trek through the farmland and surrounding landscape in Monteverde. Keep an eye out for toucans, parrots, monkeys, and other critters as you experience the rural side of Costa Rica.
Where to Stay in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Monteverde may be a small tourist town, but there are a surprisingly large amount of great hotels in all budget ranges. To help you pick a favorite, here are our top recommendations:
Chira Glamping Monteverde – $$$
If you’re a luxury traveler, I highly suggest choosing what we call a “destination hotel”. These hotels are an attraction in themselves because of the unique experience they offer. In Monteverde one of the best is Chira Glamping Monteverde which offers luxury camping with the option to have your own private hot tub surrounded by nature.
The view from the property is incredible! Rates begin at $439 USD/night. You can check availability and book online with Booking.com.
Camino Verde B&B Monteverde – $$
For those well past their backpacking days who can spend a little more, I love Camino Verde B&B Monteverde Costa Rica. This boutique hotel has beautiful rooms, a deck with magnificent views, and includes breakfast. It’s a comfortable hotel that comes at a great price.
Rates dip as low as under $100 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room online here.
Selina Monteverde – $
If you’re a budget traveler or backpacker, there are lots of nice hostels in Monteverde. If you like modern features and outstanding facilities, Selina Monteverde is the best option. The hostel is beautiful, has great reviews, and lots of activities including yoga.
Prices begin at $97 USD for a private room or $25 USD for a bunk in a dorm. You can book Selina on Booking.com or here on Hostelworld.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
Going ziplining in Monteverde is such a fun experience and a great way to see some cool scenery and wildlife. We love going ziplining here and hope this article has helped you decide which tour to take!
Before your visit, make sure to check out our entire blog on Costa Rica. We have tons of tips and advice based on our own experiences to make your vacation the best one possible!
COMPLETE Guide to Visiting La Leona Waterfall
22 BEST Tours in Costa Rica that You Don’t Want to Miss
7 Day Costa Rica Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Costa Rica