There is fun in the fear of trying new things. I knew that there is a hook attached to my waist. Still, when I looked down from the platform, I could feel a bit of chill rushing through my spine. I was suspended from the cable with the head down but with the chin up, ready to take off. The last cable of the zip lining tour over the cloud forests of Monteverde was a Superman line, a canopy tour in an upside down lying position. Just like Superman! But when I took the plunge from the platform, a captivating delight triumphed over my feeling of fear. I watched the canopies pass below and the world seemed to move slower. I thanked myself for taking the ride.
The canopy tours are among the top adventure activities in Costa Rica and the Monteverde zip lines have a unique offering, the rides being over the cloud forests and if weather concurs, through the clouds. The hanging bridges of Monteverde bring the actions near the canopies at your eye level, while the zip lines takes it further, soaring over the canopy.
There are quite a few choices of tours in the area. Here is a guide to pick a tour based on your interests and convenience. The zip lining tours that we have personally experienced in Monteverde are the ones offered at Selvatura Park and Sky Adventures. Additionally, in this post, we will also compare the features of 100% Aventura and Extremo Park, which are on our wish list.
Note: All the photos in this post are clicked by the photographers of Selvatura Park or Sky Adventures Monteverde. We had purchased the photo packs at both the parks.
What to expect from the Zip line Tours in Monteverde?
The canopy tours fly you over the forests while you have a bird’s eye view, an entirely new perspective. There are several tour companies in Monteverde that offer zip lining tours with options of other activities in their respective adventure parks.
The zip line tours, whichever you choose, have the following common steps to keep in mind.
Booking
All the tour companies accept online booking, which is also a better way to secure a spot at a preferred hour as it can get busy during holidays and weekends. Also, due to COVID 19, the companies restrict the number of visitors.
Gearing Up
As you reach the tour office at the stipulated time, the person at the counter will confirm the booking and provide the necessary details about the tour. You can purchase the package of your zip line tour photos or additional activities as well from the counter.
After the initial formalities, you will be directed to the equipment room. The guides help you gear up for the tour. With the harnesses, heavy metallic hooks, gloves and helmets, it feels as if we are ready for a war!
Instructions
The tours happen in batches. The tour guide assembles all the participants and demonstrates the routine. It will include how to position your body while zip lining, safety instructions and braking methods (this may be different for different companies). The last one is important, so clarify the instructions with the guide, in case you have a problem understanding.
Do not get overwhelmed with the instructions. The important part of the tour is to enjoy the views from a unique perspective.
The Flights
Here we go. Time for the real deal. Each time you will be on a platform, where a guide will help you tie the hook on your waist to the zip line cable. Get in the posture as instructed in the previous step and the platform guide will help you get on the cable and cruise to the next platform.
This drill to flying from one platform to another will continue till the end of the tour. Easy, huh?
You will get a hang of it after 1 or 2 flights, if you are a first-timer. Do not forget to check out the surrounding mountains and canopies below. If the weather is cloudy, chances are that you will fly through the clouds.
Bonus Activities
Superman Cables: Most tour companies offer zip line cables suited for the Superman experience. Here you will ride, suspended from the cable, in a lying down posture. These cables, if available, are either added for an extra free or included in the cost of the zip line tour.
Tarzan Swing: It is exactly what the name is, a Tarzan swing. You will jump from a high platform holding a rope, of course with additional ropes hooked to your waist for safety. The first part feels like a free fall then rising high in the air oscillating like a pendulum. The guides will help reduce the speed of oscillation but let you swing a few rounds.
Canopy Tour: Zip Lining at Selvatura Park
Location
The Selvatura Park is a 15-20 minutes drive from the Santa Elena town center. It is located just a few hundred meters before the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. The zip lines, being close to the lush green cloud forest reserve make it more thrilling.
Experience
We had a great experience zip lining at the Selvatura Park. The entire process was smooth starting from the online booking confirmation to the last cable. It was not our first time but still the first cable always gives you a bit of nervousness. However, we were at ease soon after and concentrated on the sights. In couple of cables, we had the aerial view of the hanging bridges as well.
They have lots of other activities which can be added as a combo tour or can be purchased separately. These include hanging bridges, hummingbird and butterfly gardens, sloth sanctuary, reptiles and amphibians exhibition. We did some of the other activities as well.
No. of cables: 13
Total Cable Length: 3.5 km / 2.2 miles
Range of Length of the Cables: 70 meters to 1 km
Additionals:
- Convert the last 1 km cable into a Superman for 10 USD extra.
- There is an optional Tarzan Swing for no extra cost.
- You can buy your zip lining photos for extra fees, at the time of booking. You will also have the option to decide and purchase the photos after the tour.
Cost
- Foreign Adults: 55 USD
- Foreign Children (4 years -12 years): 38.50 USD
- Students under 18: 49.50 USD
- CR Nationals and Residents: 38.50 USD
Time
Selvatura Park offers 4 slots daily for their Canopy Tour: 8.30 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 2.30pm.
Sky Trek: Zip Lining at Sky Adventures
Location
The Sky Adventures Park in Monteverde is located 4 km / 2.5 miles from the town center on the same road that leads to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Experience
Sky Adventures zip lining tour stands out for their braking system. They offer an automatic braking system which does not require you to hold or press the cable for braking. Instead you just need to hold on to a pulley unlike the other zip line tours, where you hold the cable in a certain way described by the guides. So if you are looking for an automatic system, Sky Trek can be a better option. Honestly, this was not a deal breaker for us, we just wanted to have fun!
Sky has a short cable ride which works like a trial or practice ride before the longer cables start. This helps you to get comfortable with the gears and systems.
There is a Sky Tram ride after the first short cable which takes you to the platform from where the other cable rides begin. This ride is included in the cost. Also, there is a free fall activity included in the tour, which they have named – Vertigo Drop.
There are other interesting activities offered by Sky Adventures. They are hanging bridges called Sky Walk, a cable car ride called Sky Tram and a Herpetarium.
No. of cables: 10
Total Cable Length: 3.7 km / 2.3 miles
Range of Length of the Cables: 40 meters to 750 meters
Additionals:
- Sky Tram Ride is added in the cost.
- Vertigo Drop is added in the cost.
- You can buy your zip lining photos for extra fees, at the time of booking. You will also have the option to decide and purchase the photos after the tour.
Cost
- Foreign Adults: 84 USD
- Foreign Children: 58 USD
- Students under 18: 70 USD
- CR Nationals and Residents: 50 USD
Time
Sky Adventures Monteverde the Sky Trek tour daily at 7 different time slots, at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10.30 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm.
Canopy: Zip Line Tour at Extremo Park
Location
The Extremo Park in Monteverde is located 7 km / 4.3 miles from the town center.
Experience
This canopy tour is among the longest in terms of distance covered in cables. They have 2 Superman cables (one of them inside a tunnel!) and a Tarzan Swing added in the cost.
As the name suggests, they have other extreme activities apart from the zip lining tour, such as extreme bungee jumping and extreme Tarzan Swing. Also, you can opt exclusively for their 2 Superman cables if you are just interested in flying like a bird on their 1+ km cable.
No. of cables: 16
Total Cable Length: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Range of Length of the Cables: Up to 1 km
Additionals:
- 2 Superman Cables added in the cost, one of them through a tunnel.
- Tarzan Swing added in the cost.
- 1 Rappel included in the cost.
Cost
- Foreign Adults: 50 USD
- CR Nationals and Residents: 30 USD
Time
Extremo Park offers 3 time slots daily for the canopy tour, at 8:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Monteverde Zip Line Canopy Tour at 100% Aventura Adveture Park
Location
The 100% Aventura Adventure Park in Monteverde is located 4 km / 2.5 miles from the town center, roughly 10 minutes ride.
Experience
100% Aventura boasts of the longest zip lining cable in Monteverde. One of their 2 Superman cables is 1.59 km / 1 mile long! They also include a rappeling, hammock bridge and a tarzan swing.
Also, they have other activities in the park like hanging bridges and ATV tours.
No. of cables: 11
Total Cable Length: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Range of Length of the Cables: Up to 1.59 km / 1 mile – longest zip lining cable in Monteverde
Additionals:
- 2 Superman Cables added in the cost.
- 1 Rappeling.
- 1 Hammock Bridge.
- Tarzan Swing added in the cost.
Cost
- Foreign Adults: 50 USD
- Foreign Children: 40 USD
- CR Nationals and Residents: 30 USD
Time
There are 4 options of slots that are available daily at 8:00 am, 11:00 noon, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm.
COVID measures for the Zip Line Tours in Monteverde
These are difficult times due to COVID but these adventure tour operators are maintaining the required protocols as prescribed by the local Government.
Social distancing is maintained in the office areas and in queues, in addition to mandatory usage of masks even during the rides.
The ticket centers of all the parks have washbasins installed outside the entrance and utmost care is taken to ensure that visitors follow the rules. The number of people at the counters are restricted and the queues are handled in a way such that social distancing can be maintained.
Which Zipline Monteverde Tour to choose in Monteverde?
As we described above, each of the 4 parks has something to offer. It goes down to personal interests and decision-making tick marks. Here are some of our key pointers which we feel can be important in the decision making process.
Go for Selvatura Park for the views due to the proximity to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and the loads of other activities and Costa Rican wildlife experience you can combine with the tour.
The Sky Adventures have the automatic braking system unlike others. Also, they are the only park to have a Sky Tram, a ride that is included in the cost.
The Extremo Park covers the most in terms of cable distance and the only one to offer a Superman cable through a tunnel included in the cost. Also, as the name suggests, they have other extreme activities that can be combined at additional costs, a good deal for extreme adventure seekers.
The 100% Aventura is value for money package having the longest Superman cable in the area.
Final Thoughts
Are the options making it difficult to choose? Now, whether you found your pick easily or debate on the deal-breakers, relax and enjoy the rides over one of the most bio-diverse areas of the world. Monteverde is a land of activities and rich flora and fauna. Zip lining over the cloud forest canopy here makes it full by adding the aerial perspective to the other ones through hikes and hanging bridges.
Plan your Monteverde trip:
Monteverde: The Complete Travel Guide
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Children’s Eternal Rainforest: Bajo del Tigre sector in Monteverde
Best Restaurants in Monteverde
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Elaborate description of Zip Lining leaves no space for the reader to be in dark about the thrilling adventure, so nicely described.
Photographs virtually complement the canopy. The entire vividly described trip must be lucrative to the off beat travel aspirants.
I stupendously enjoyed the complete episode myself.