4 BEST Hanging Bridges Tours in Monteverde
If you’re looking to visit some of Costa Rica’s best hanging bridges, you’ve come to the right place!
The suspension bridges in Monteverde are incredible as you’re up in the rainforest canopy surrounded by wildlife.
I’ve lived in Costa Rica for quite some time, so take it from me when I say that the best way to visit these hanging bridges is on a guided tour. You’re guaranteed to see more wildlife, plus some tours combine multiple fun activities into one convenient package (did somebody say ziplining?!).
To help you decide, I’ve narrowed it down to the very best Monteverde hanging bridge tours!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our FAVORITE Monteverde hanging bridge experience is this half-day tour. You’ll go on a guided walk across 6 hanging bridges, take a scenic gondola ride through the tree canopy, and zoom through the rainforest on a 7-cable zipline course!
Mistico Hanging Bridges
- Our Top Choice
- The BEST Hanging Bridges Tours in Monteverde
- Book this combo tour here and get FREE 24-hour cancellation!
- Check out the 5-star reviews and book your combo tour here!
- Reserve your spot on this guided canopy walk here!
- Secure your spot on this guided nature walk in advance here!
- Do you need to book hanging bridge tours in advance?
- Learn more about our favorite hanging bridges tour here!
- Other EPIC Activities to do in Monteverde
- Where to Stay in Monteverde
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
The BEST Hanging Bridges Tours in Monteverde
1. Half-Day Hanging Bridges, Zipline, and Gondola Tour
Tour Details
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. We even 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!
The tour lasts for 5 hours in total and includes pick up and drop off in Monteverde for $156 USD.
2. Full-Day Monteverde Cloud Forest Hanging Bridges & Ziplining Tour
Tour Details
This full-day hanging bridges combo tour is perfect for adventurous travelers! You will head to an adventure park nestled inside the Monteverde Cloud Forest to enjoy a 15-cable zipline course (including a half-mile (1 km) long 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 to start your adventure with the ziplines. 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 lunch in the park before slowing things down and taking a scenic guided walk along the tree tops, crossing over 8 hanging bridges. The cloud forest is such a unique ecosystem – we even spotted a sloth on our walk!
Please note that some of the areas here get really steep, so this tour is recommended for travelers with a moderate physical fitness level. And it can get muddy, so make sure you wear good shoes!
The tour costs $149 USD if you plan on driving yourself or you’re staying in the Monteverde region.
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:
3. Guided Hanging Bridges Nature Walk
Tour Details
Sure, some people choose to visit the hanging bridges on their own, but we highly recommend going with a guide instead. Trust me, I’ve done it with and without a guide before, and without a guide, I didn’t really see any wildlife.
But when I went on this 2-hour guided canopy walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest I saw heaps of animals! Our guide knew exactly where to look to find sloths, and told us tons of interesting information about the flora and fauna around us. He also helped to identify all of the birds we saw. It definitely made the walk across the hanging bridges more memorable!
This guided tour will take you across 6 hanging bridges, including the longest hanging bridge in Costa Rica. The bridges have been designed to fit into nature while disturbing it as little as possible, which we appreciated. It was so neat walking high up through the canopy of trees!
We think this tour is perfect for people who want to enjoy the hanging bridges and surrounding nature in a leisurely way. The pathways here aren’t steep and are well defined so most travelers can participate. Also, any age can participate and children under 5 are free, making this a great activity for the whole family.
The tour costs $80 USD, which includes the guided hanging bridges walk, hotel pick-up/drop-off from Monteverde, and the park entrance fee. Make sure you book in advance because this tour tends to book up quickly!
Related Read: Looking for even more epic activities in Monteverde? Then check out my list of the 10 best things to do!
4. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Walk
Tour Details
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to a lot of wildlife, but keep in mind that all of these animals have perfected their camouflage and can be hard to spot without a tour guide. That’s why we recommend going on this guided cloud forest walk to really make the most out of your visit.
You’ll have a local guide explain the area and point out wildlife. You’ll also get a special spotting scope to look for birds like the stunning resplendent quetzal, plus you’ll get to see the beautiful hummingbird gardens.
One thing to note is that there is only one hanging bridge in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This experience is more about hiking and taking in the beauty of the cloud forest as opposed to walking across multiple hanging bridges (like the others are). But it’s still a wonderful experience – just look at the 300+ 5-star reviews here!
It also doesn’t include transportation from Monteverde hotels or the park entrance fee like the other tours do, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The guided group walk costs $35 USD per person and starts at either 7:30 am or 1 pm. We recommend going early so that you can beat the crowds! You can also opt for a private tour instead for $100 USD.
Do you need to book hanging bridge tours in advance?
The hanging bridges in Monteverde are one of the most popular experiences in all of Costa Rica. Especially in peak seasons, they can get quite busy and the most popular tours (such as the ones we mentioned above) tend to book up quickly!
For this reason, we highly recommend booking in advance so that you can secure a spot on the tour of your choice.
All of the tours on our list have a 24-hour cancellation policy meaning that you can cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours before your departure time! One of our favorite parts of booking with Viator, and why we always recommend Viator tours, is because they have a buy now, pay later option. You can reserve your spot on tours ahead of time and pay closer to your trip time.
Related Read: Another activity that Monteverde is known for is birdwatching. Check out some of my favorite birdwatching tours here!
Other EPIC Activities to do in Monteverde
While exploring the bridges suspended over the jungle is definitely a must-do, don’t forget to see the rest of this area. There are so many fun activities in Monteverde, that you could spend your entire vacation here! These are just a few of our favorites:
- Night walk – There are some animals you can only see at night! Guided Night Walks in Monteverde are a great way to (safely!) explore the jungle after dark. This night tour is a small group of up to 8 and you’ll have a naturalist guide to help you spot all the nocturnal creatures. It’s also super affordable at only $33 USD including round-trip transport.
- 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!
- Drink amazing coffee – There are some fantastic coffee tours in Monteverde if you fancy seeing where all this delicious Costa Rican coffee gets its start. The one that tops our list is the Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour. Not only do you get to see the whole bean-to-cup experience, but the tastings are out of this world good!
- Horseback riding – This is a great way to give your feet a break and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest! This Monteverde Cloud Forest horseback riding tour lets you cover a lot of ground as you trek through farmland and the surrounding landscape in Monteverde. Keep an eye out for toucans, parrots, monkeys, and other critters as you experience the rural side of Costa Rica, far from any crowds or traffic.
Where to Stay in Monteverde
With so much to see in Monteverde, you’ll need a place to stay! We recommend staying in Santa Elena, which is the most popular hub in the region for amenities and tours. It may be a small tourist town, but there are a surprisingly large number of great hotels in all budget ranges. Have a look at our favorites below!
Chira Glamping Monteverde – $$$
If you’re a luxury traveler, I highly suggest choosing what we call a “destination hotel”. These hotels are an attraction in themselves because of the unique experience they offer. In Monteverde, one of the best is Chira Glamping Monteverde which offers luxury camping with the option to have your own private hot tub surrounded by nature. Now that’s what I call glamping!
The view from the property is incredible! Rates begin at $375 USD/night. You can check availability and book a spot on Booking.com.
Camino Verde B&B Monteverde – $$
If you’re looking for something in the mid-range category, 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 begin at $176 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room on Booking.com.
Cabañas La Pradera – $
If you’re looking for an affordable stay tucked just outside the buzz of Santa Elena, Cabañas La Pradera is a top pick. These charming cabin‑style accommodations are surrounded by rainforest gardens with a pool, nature trails, and plenty of wildlife sightings. Inside each cabin, you’ll find a kitchenette, hot water, free Wi‑Fi, and free parking—amenities that are hard to find at this price point!
Two-person cabins start as low as $90 USD per night, and they have cabin options for up to 8 adults if you are traveling with a group. Check availability here and pricing for your travel dates here!
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.
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We’ve tested a bunch of eSIMs in North America, and after a few frustrating experiences, we’ve found our favorite — Airalo. It’s fast, reliable, and incredibly easy to use. You can set it up in minutes (even my mom managed it solo on her first try!), and the prices are some of the best out there.
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Pura Vida!
Monteverde was one of our favorite areas in Costa Rica to explore. And the hanging bridges make exploring so much more fun! No matter which of the 4 tours above you end up choosing, we know you’ll have a great time!
I hope we’ve helped you plan a bit more of your itinerary, but if you need any more help make sure you check out our other in-depth Costa Rica guides including:
BEST beaches in Costa Rica that you’ll love
3 Best Coffee Tours in Monteverde
Ultimate guide to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and fun things to do
