August 5, 2019
Why Ziplining in Costa Rica is a Must! (Even if You’re Afraid of Heights)
So, how was the first World Cup tour?
“I saw the platform recede and felt a sense of ecstatic joy as I glided over the tips of the branches below, where only the lightest of jungle animals could venture, and into the airways of butterflies and birds.” – Donald Perry
When you think of Costa Rica, what’s the first image that comes to mind? You’ll likely easily imagine an adventurous traveler flying through the lush canopy of the tropical rainforest, seeing everything from a bird’s-eye view. An adventure once reserved for a select group of researchers and photographers, ziplining above the canopy is indeed, in many ways, synonymous with Costa Rica. If you haven’t done it yet, this is your chance to go for it. Gliding from tree to tree in a tropical rainforest, cloud forest, or even a dry forest, allows you to soar over a waterfall, towards a volcano, or out to sea. So start packing and send your request to any of our associated travel agencies such as Bella Aventura, Costa Rica for All, ARA Tours, Viajes TAM, Reparto de Costa Rica, and Swiss Travel.
Originally introduced during the 1970s, ziplines are made of steel cables and platforms adapted to different heights between the trees, offering travelers unique access to beautiful and remote natural areas. If there’s a must-do activity in Costa Rica, it’s ziplining. You can enjoy different canopy tours throughout the country, easily accessible by driving a comfortable 4×4 vehicle. Get a rental car with Europcar or Solid Car Rental and start revving up!
But hey! Have you heard the history of ziplining? Are you a little curious about how ziplines have become one of the country’s most popular and widespread activities? Let’s rewind to where it all began, and you might be surprised to find out that this fantastic adventure was indeed born in Costa Rica.
Donald Perry, a student from California, fascinated by the mysteries of the rainforest, was dedicated to studying new methods for climbing and moving around it. In his book “Life Above the Jungle Floor,” published in 1986, now biologist Dr. Donald Perry, narrated his adventures in the 1970s as the first man to study the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests from the canopy of trees. It was discovered that an essential percentage of the species inhabiting the forest lived there, in the canopy. Through the pages of the book, he described how the idea of ziplining and the construction of observation platforms in the trees came about. The book soon caught Hollywood’s attention, as he ended up as the lead consultant for the film “Curandero” (1992), starring Sean Connery, which depicted gathering plant specimens to cure cancer, roping through the canopy on ziplines. This media exposure marked a milestone in the history of ziplining and began rolling the ball for the creation of this unusual activity as we know it today.
On the other hand, while the movie was in theaters that same year, Darren Hreniuk, a Canadian ecologist, was traveling to Costa Rica. He arrived with a concrete project to create a unique adventure tour, an exciting and tropical experience in the Costa Rican rainforest. To cut the story short, in 1995, Mr. Hreniuk came up with a fun, thrilling, and undoubtedly innovative tour. This would allow tourists to access the jungle canopy and zip down to the forest floor safely. Once this was nailed down, he patented the idea in Costa Rica as a human transportation system. Hreniuk’s Original Canopy Tour, as he called it, was born as the first zipline canopy tour open to the public.
Although, as we know it, he didn’t invent ziplines, he certainly developed the activity and adapted it for tourism. As the years went by, and the trees grew taller, more and more places throughout the country saw this new activity as a way to attract tourists to remote areas. Today, there are many canopy tours in Costa Rica, but not all of them are the same. There are ziplines for all levels of adventure! Some that are not very high or long become perfect for beginners. On some ziplines, you can go in pairs, feel like Superman, go backward, and do other fun tricks for your enjoyment. Some people even zipline in the darkness of the night!
A fantastic source of adventure, where you can feel the adrenaline as you soar through the treetops on zip lines, is Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica. They offer two different parks: one in the heart of a tropical jungle, nestled in the magnificent Braulio Carrillo Park on the Atlantic side, and the other located in a transition forest, home to beautiful red macaws, on the Central Pacific side, just minutes from the beach.
If you want to try as many zip lines as possible in a few days, and want to shorten distances from one point to another, fly with Aerobell without further ado. They operate 11 daily domestic destinations.
As mentioned before, each canopy tour is, indeed, different. Once you’ve overcome the primal fear, you may want to do it again and again without hesitation. Ziplines not only boost riders’ adrenaline, but they also allow them to catch a glimpse of some hidden gems in the treetops.
Some of the best places to soar above the forests are in Guanacaste, Arenal, and Monteverde. For your first and last night in our country, and to start getting into the Pura Vida mood, it is recommended to recover from your jet lag staying at any of these beautiful properties: Barceló San José Palacio, Apartotel and Suites Villas del Río, and Palma Real Hotel & Casino.
Guanacaste is home to one of the most thrilling experiences for travelers; the longest double-threaded zip line descent in Central America and the fifth-longest zip line tour in the world: the “Superman.” The two lines allow participants to share their ride with their families and friends, side by side. This adventure offers highly trained guides and top-notch equipment. All of this for a super fun and memorable journey.
First and foremost, for a safe and great hotel in the area, if you prefer to be very close to the beach and catch stunning sunsets at Tamarindo Beach, book your room at Capitán Suizo, or if you opt to explore the Gulf of Papagayo instead, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort is the place you want to be. Moreover, if you’re more into staying at hotels with special locations that embody the essence of Costa Rica, very close to the foothills of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, make a reservation at Hacienda Guachipelín, or at Buena Vista del Rincón.
Monteverde, a highly recommended stop while in our country, is one of the seven wonders of the province of Puntarenas, a star in Costa Rican ecotourism. Here, not only can you experience an exhilarating zip line tour but also enjoy the surrounding environment, which happens to be the main attraction. However, your zip line descent will literally take you on a ride in the clouds, and if you’re lucky, you may encounter a quetzal.
So, once you’ve heard the call of the birds, and smelled the aroma of tropical flowers, we encourage you to drive all the way to one of the nearby beaches, stay at the Fiesta Resort, and soak up the sun on the volcanic dark sand beach overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean. If you desire to keep moving south to explore more beaches, this is your chance to spend some nights at the beautiful Cristal Ballena hotel, at the corner of Marino Ballena National Park.
The Northern Plains of Volcán Arenal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, with over 100 different adventure activity options, and the highest number of adventure parks. There are many ecosystems and species found in this area, such as tropical forests, waterfalls, hidden trails framed with colorful flowers, rejuvenating hot springs, and the country’s largest lake, just to name a few. This wonderful area is abundant in flora and fauna and is beautifully crowned with a perfect cone-shaped volcano. If you want to delve into an unexplored world, head to Arenal, where the zip line options are fantastic. Here, where you’ll feel mostly watched by a colossus in its current resting phase, while you do the same at the unique Hotel Los Héroes, which features a train on the property and a revolving restaurant.
Near Arenal, about an hour’s drive away, is Sarapiquí, where you’ll be thrilled to walk on one of the longest suspended bridges in Costa Rica – 262m in length and up to 22 meters in height overlooking the magnificent Sarapiquí River until you reach the majestic rainforest at Tirimbina.
Tips for ziplining in Costa Rica: Dress comfortably. Make sure you have the right clothing. You can wear shorts, but long enough to avoid chafing your legs with the safety equipment. Closed-toe shoes that fasten around the ankle (sneakers, or similar). No flip-flops or hats, please.
For long hair, pull it back into a ponytail.
If you wear glasses, use a glasses strap.
Don’t put anything in your pockets.
Follow your guide, listen to all instructions, and always follow the guidelines.
If you have a GoPro, bring it, and mount it on the helmet.
Bring your sense of adventure and don’t forget to smile!
Although the most important chapter in the ziplining history was written by biologists and scientists, today, ziplines are something of a must-do adventure for those who want to get their adrenaline pumping. Moreover, Costa Rica’s natural settings provide stunning backdrops from high above the ground.
In conclusion, we can say that Mr. Perry invented the jungle canopy zipline; Mr. Hreniuk designed the jungle canopy zip tour. And, sure, Costa Rica didn’t develop the technology for this, but it certainly discovered how to make it fun. So, while in Costa Rica, immerse yourself in something unique, soaring through the trees! Ziplining is more than being tethered to a cable and dragged to the other side. It’s about letting loose; about allowing yourself to feel the adrenaline rush through your veins. About choosing to scream, laugh, or be speechless while creating a memory that will last forever.
Once the adrenaline wears off after reaching the last platform of your journey, and before heading back home, you might want to regain your Zen state at the lovely, picturesque Casa Turire where you can sample some locally produced coffee, macadamia nuts, and sugarcane; or explore the famous archaeological monument of Guayabo.
As you can see, everyone should go ziplining in Costa Rica! Dare to boost your endorphins, the world will never be the same again.
Marcela Román López