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Ziplining is a must-do activity in Costa Rica, and La Fortuna is one of the best places to do it. Here, you can soar above rainforests, canyons, and waterfalls and enjoy aerial views of the landscape alongside an adrenaline rush!
We lived in La Fortuna (and come back whenever we can), so naturally, we’ve taken advantage of all of the fantastic ziplining opportunities here! There are some excellent options available and you can even combine ziplining with other adventurous activities, like horseback riding, hiking, and rappelling down canyons.
So if you’re thinking about going ziplining in La Fortuna, keep on reading because this blog contains everything you need to know before booking your experience.
Don’t have time to read the full article? Our personal FAVORITE zipline experience in La Fortuna is this 12-zipline tour over La Fortuna waterfall. Not only was the tour super exciting (and safe!), but visiting the Maleku Cultural Rescue Center at the end was a huge plus! We can easily recommend this tour to anyone. You can book the exact same tour that we did and LOVED online here with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour!
What are the best ziplining tours in La Fortuna?
1. Arenal Best 12 Zipline cables (our personal favorite!)
With 12 ziplines, this tour allows you to see the best of La Fortuna’s incredible landscape. As you zoom along, you’ll get beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano, Cerro Chato, and La Fortuna Waterfall. Plus, it’s a great chance to spot wildlife and learn about the area’s unique landscape.
I love that this tour is exciting, but still great if it’s your first time ziplining. It’s super safe and the staff are great at explaining the ropes (no pun intended!) so even if it’s your first time, you’ll feel comfortable. In fact, we think that this is one of the best tours in La Fortuna overall!
You can book this tour for 8 am, 10:30 am, or 1 pm, and it includes hotel pickup and dropoff. After you’ve finished enjoying your zipline adventure, you’ll get to visit the Maleku Cultural Resource Center to learn about Costa Rica’s Indigenous culture. You’ll learn about the beliefs, cultures, traditions, and even the medicinal plants of the local Indigenous population.
The tour costs $96 USD per person and lasts for around 2.5 hours. You need to book for at least two people at a time, and you’ll have the opportunity to purchase food and drink or souvenir photos along the way if you like.
For a fun morning or afternoon of ziplining and enjoying the beautiful scenery, book this Arenal Best 12 Zipline tour here with 24 hour FREE cancellation before the tour starts.
Book our FAVORITE Zipline Tour in La Fortuna here!
2. AMA Extreme 7 Zipline Cables in Arenal above La Fortuna Waterfall
The extreme zipline course in the Arenal Canopy Adventure Park is perfect for those seeking a big adrenaline rush! Plus, you get awesome views of the La Fortuna Waterfall, which is one of Costa Rica’s best natural attractions.
You’ll start off on an 18-meter (54-foot) tall tower above a canyon and then begin zooming along the series of 7 different ziplines, one of which is 980 meters (0.6 miles) long. You can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph) so this is the perfect choice for thrill seekers.
We also love this tour because you get such beautiful views. You’ll be able to see the Pino Blanco waterfall, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, Cerro Chato, and the town of La Fortuna itself.
The 2.5-hour tour costs $78 USD and includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central La Fortuna. For an extreme adrenaline rush, book your tour in advance here.
3. Unmatched Zipline Course and Aerial Tram
With this tour, you get to go on a 2.5-hour aerial adventure in the Sky Adventures Park. You not only get to enjoy the park’s seven zipline course, but also an open-air gondola ride over the Costa Rican rainforest. It’s a fantastic opportunity to spot wildlife and enjoy beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano. Your guide will also teach you about the flora and fauna you see along the way.
This is an especially great option for families as kids love the gondola ride as well as the ziplines. The tour costs $106 USD per person, and there are multiple departure times to choose from. You can contact the tour operator after booking to arrange hotel pickup and drop-off for an additional fee. You can also rent souvenir photos or a GoPro if you want to capture your own footage!
To enjoy a family-friendly zipline experience, you can reserve a spot for the Sky Adventures Park Zipline Course and Aerial Tram here.
4. Tour 4-in-1 (Rappel, zipline, pool jumping, and hike)
This 3-hour tour is an awesome way to explore the Arenal River Canyon. You not only get to zipline over the canyon (twice!), but you also get to rappel down the canyon walls and jump over natural pools. It’s a really beautiful place to explore and this tour allows you to immerse yourself into the wild beauty of La Fortuna.
What we love about this tour is that it’s beginner-friendly. Going canyoning for the first time can be intimidating but this tour doesn’t require any experience. The guides will help you to learn how to use the safety equipment and they’ll be with you the entire way.
You also get lunch included with your adventure. After you’ve worked up an appetite exploring the Arenal River Canyon, you’ll enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest to a local restaurant where you’ll get a traditional meal of a casado buffet for lunch.
The tour costs $83 USD per person, and you can request hotel pickup and drop-off for an extra fee or drive yourself to the meeting point which is about 40 minutes outside of town. It lasts for around 3 hours and we think that this is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-round adventure!
If combining ziplining with even more rainforest adventures sounds like your kind of fun, book this 4-in-1 tour online here.
5. Congo Combo (Hanging Bridges and Zipline Adventure)
We love ziplining in La Fortuna, but exploring the hanging bridges in the rainforest is also a really cool experience! This combo tour allows you to explore the Arenal Canopy Adventure Park via a series of ziplines and suspension bridges.
Ziplining is awesome but being able to walk more slowly along the suspension bridges also gives you time to take in the rainforest views and spot wildlife. You’ll have a guide to lead you around and help you point out all the creatures. This is a small group tour with a maximum of 15 people so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, too.
You’ll walk across 16 suspension bridges and fly across 8 different ziplines, so this is a super in-depth exploration of the rainforest. You’ll reach speeds of up to 56 km/h (35 mph), and the longest zipline is 600 meters (1,970 ft).
We love the variety of this tour. You not only get to go deep into the rainforest, but you also get gorgeous views of the surrounding canyons, mountains, farmlands, and the Arenal Volcano.
This tour costs $126 USD and includes hotel pickup and dropoff, as well as fruit snacks and bottled water along the way. Or, if you prefer, there’s also a private tour for $189 USD per person.
To combine zipline adventure with spotting wildlife in the rainforest, book this La Fortuna Small-Group Zipline and Hanging Bridges tour here.
6. Mid-day Ziplines, Rappel, Horseback Riding, Maleku Villa, Shuttle
If you’re looking for an all-round adventure, this tour offers you the chance to zipline, rappel down a waterfall, take a horseback ride through the rainforest, and visit the Maleku Cultural Village.
You start with rappelling down the side of an 80-meter/262-foot waterfall, but if you don’t feel comfortable with this, you can take a guided hike down instead. Then, you’ll tackle the 7-cable zipline course and fly through the rainforest before taking a guided horseback ride through the trees. Finally, you’ll head to the Maleku Cultural Village to discover Indigenous Costa Rican culture.
The tour lasts for around 3.5 hours and you can leave at 8 am or 10:30 am. It costs $149 USD per person, which we think is pretty good value for money since the tour includes so many different activities, and pickup and dropoff in central La Fortuna.
For a morning filled with ziplining, horseback riding, and learning about Indigenous culture, you can book this tour online here.
Do you need to book your La Fortuna ziplining tour in advance?
Yes, it’s definitely best to book in advance. La Fortuna is a really popular place to go ziplining in Costa Rica, and the tours are usually in small groups. This means that families and larger groups who want to go together should book well ahead of time.
The tours that we’ve mentioned offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, so you can reserve your spot without risking losing your money. That’s part of why they’re such great options!
Book our FAVORITE Zipline Tour in La Fortuna here (with 24-hour FREE cancellation!)
Is ziplining in La Fortuna suitable for children?
Yes, kids as young as 5 can go ziplining in La Fortuna, although some tours do have a slightly older age limit of 7. There’s also usually a minimum weight limit of 40 kilograms (88 lbs).
As long as your kids meet the minimum age and weight limits, it’s totally safe for them to go ziplining with you. Safety in Costa Rica is taken seriously and there are strict rules in place for these kinds of adventurous activities. All of the tours we’ve mentioned are run by reputable operators with great reviews. Plus, kids love zooming through the trees on a zipline!
Is ziplining in La Fortuna safe?
No adventure activity is 100% risk-free, but you can feel reasonably confident going ziplining in La Fortuna. The staff are well trained and have lots of experience, and they give you a safety briefing before you gear up. Plus, safety gear is provided for you, and the tour companies have high safety standards.
So overall, yes, it is safe!
Related Read: Another great adrenaline-filled experience is going whitewater rafting in La Fortuna.
When is the best time to go ziplining in La Fortuna?
When you’re figuring out the best time to visit Costa Rica, it’s good to know that ziplining in La Fortuna is a year-round activity. The weather is drier between December and April, which might mean a more comfortable experience. Plus, you’ll be able to see much further on clearer days.
However, going ziplining during the rainy season means that the rainforest will be at its greenest. This also means you’ll see even more wildlife and the rivers and waterfalls will look even more dramatic.
What should you wear ziplining in La Fortuna?
You need to wear comfy clothes you can move around in while ziplining, so activewear is a good plan. if it’s raining, you may want a light waterproof layer. I personally wear my hiking gear when it’s raining and even wear my hiking boots because they are waterproof.
Don’t wear anything too loose that can get caught in the ziplines. Mosquito repellent and sun protection are also a must!
In terms of footwear, you’ll need comfy, closed-toe shoes for ziplining. Obviously, you want to be comfortable, as there’s some walking involved for most of the tours. Plus, you have to wear closed-toe shoes for safety reasons to prevent injuries
Is ziplining in La Fortuna worth it?
Yes! La Fortuna is one of the best places to go ziplining in Costa Rica. The zipline courses around here offer beautiful views as well as a really fun experience
Book our FAVORITE Zipline Tour in La Fortuna here!
Other Things to do While You’re in La Fortuna
Of course, going ziplining is one of the best experiences, but there are so many other things to do in La Fortuna you won’t want to miss! These are just a few of our top picks:
- Hot springs – One of the best free activities in La Fortuna is the natural hot springs! The Free Natural Hot Spring River is a public river running through the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. It’s only 15 minutes outside La Fortuna and feels amazing after a day of hiking! If you don’t mind paying for a soak, there are tons of other amazing hot springs in La Fortuna to choose from too.
- Go on a night walk – Since ziplining is a daytime thing, go on this night walk and dinner tour for a fun evening experience. Guides lead you on an easy hike through the rainforest, spotting all the critters that come out after dark. To finish it off, you’ll enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove.
- Drink great coffee – It’s no secret some of the best coffee in the world comes from Costa Rica! You can grab a cup of coffee at one of the restaurants in La Fortuna or take it a step further with a coffee tour. We had the freshest cup of coffee and tasted amazing homemade chocolate on this Costa Rican coffee and chocolate experience that takes place on a small family-owned plantation.
- Visit a rope swing – El Salto, or “the rope swing,” is a hidden paradise with a swimming hole, waterfalls, and a local vibe. You can easily walk to El Salto and swing into the refreshing waters – or ask the locals where it’s safe to jump!
- Arenal Volcano – Arenal Volcano is the centerpiece of La Fortuna! You can wander the trails at Arenal Volcano National Park on your own or as part of a hiking tour. For more unique volcano views, take to the sky aboard the Sky Tram, fly by on an ATV ride, or take a leisurely sunset cruise on Lake Arenal.
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.
Pura Vida!
Going ziplining in La Fortuna is such a fun adventure and a great way to see lots of beautiful scenery. Because ziplining is so popular in La Fortuna, it’s best to make plans in advance, especially if your schedule doesn’t have much flexibility.
Hopefully, you found a tour that sounds just right for you! We always have an amazing time ziplining in Costa Rica, and we want you to as well. Before your visit, make sure to check out our full blog on Costa Rica. We have lots of tips and advice to make your vacation the best one yet.
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