Best Ziplines in Costa Rica: Comparing 6 in Arenal and Monteverde

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Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

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Do you want to know our pick for the BEST ZIPLINE TOUR and the BEST ZIPLINE CABLE? They are featured on DIY Costa Rica!

Want to save money in Costa Rica?

Our sister site, Pura Vida! eh? Inc., has canopy zipline tour discounts. Con mucho gusto (you’re welcome) and pura vida!

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click on a photo in the gallery above for discount and tour information

Have a question about ziplining in Costa Rica?

We answer 20+ of the most popular Costa Rica ziplining questions and provide important information to know before you visit. Don’t miss our related blog post:

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The best ziplines in Costa Rica: Narrowing down the choices

One of Costa Rica’s best qualities is its variety of adventures. You can experience active volcanoes, explore the rainforest, lounge on beautiful beaches, hike through national parks and cloud forests, soak in hot springs, and even experience the best ziplines in Costa Rica with only a short amount of time to spend in this tiny country. However, with variety comes choice, and choice can be a difficult thing, especially when each adventure is worth having.

Travelers like you often turn to us for assistance with their Costa Rica trip planning and there’s no activity we’re asked about more than ziplining. Ziplining (or “canopy tours”; see our related blog post Ziplining And Canopy Tours In Costa Rica: The Difference Between The Two for definitions of each) is one of Costa Rica’s most popular adventures. It can be experienced in just about every area of the country, but the best ziplines in Costa Rica are located in Arenal and Monteverde. The lush, green, natural settings that these two destinations provide make for magnificent canopy tour backdrops. Both Arenal and Monteverde are home to several zipline tour providers; in the true spirit of competition, each company argues its zipline tour is the best in Costa Rica.

Sorting through the various options, especially if you’re in search of the best Arenal canopy tour or the best Monteverde canopy tour, can be time consuming. But, we can help. Here’s what you should know about the top six zipline tour options located in the Arenal and Monteverde areas of Costa Rica:

• The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park
• The Big AMA Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park
• The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park
• The Canopy Tour run at the Selvatura Park
• The Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park
• The Canopy Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park

Arenal and Monteverde Ziplines Map

We created the above map to showcase where each Arenal (La Fortuna) and Monteverde zipline attraction is located. Included on the map are the following sites (each of which we detail in this blog post):

• Arenal Sky Adventures Park (marked by a tree icon)
• Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park (marked by a tree icon)
• Monteverde Sky Adventures Park (marked by a tree icon)
• Selvatura Park (marked by a tree icon)
• Monteverde Extremo Park (marked by a tree icon)
• 100% Aventura Adventure Park (marked by a tree icon)

Arenal Sky Adventures Park

Don’t miss our discounts for activities run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park, including the Sky Trek Canopy Tour:

Click here to access the FREE Arenal Sky Adventures Park discounts!

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Sky Trek Canopy Tour (Ziplining) at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park?

The Arenal Sky Adventures Park is located just west of La Fortuna (an approximate twenty-five-minute drive from the town center), around the community known as El Castillo. The park’s on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the Sky Trek Canopy Tour, offers an approximate two-hour tour across a series of zipline cables. It is the only canopy ziplining tour in the La Fortuna/Arenal area to automatically include a complimentary aerial tram ride with purchase of the ziplining tour. The Sky Trek Canopy Tour may also be combined with Sky Adventures’ Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride and/or the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges, two activities that also take place on-site at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park. To learn more about our experiences participating in the Sky Trek Canopy Tour at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park, don’t miss our related blog post Sky Adventures Arenal: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, And Tram Rides In La Fortuna.

• Number of cables: 10 zipline cables in total
• Cable length span: 200 to 750 meters
• Braking system utilized: automatic braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride and Sky Trek Canopy Tour (La Fortuna/Arenal) option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? yes; breakfast and lunch served
• Special features: the Sky Trek Canopy Tour includes a complimentary Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride; visitors may purchase a “Sky Picture” and/or a “Sky Movie” at the park as tour souvenirs
• Minimum age for participation: 1.2 meters tall (Sky Adventures does not enforce a minimum age limit; instead they enforce a minimum height limit)
• Transportation to/from La Fortuna/Arenal hotels available? yes; however Sky Adventures does not automatically include round-trip transportation in their tour rates (round-trip transportation may be added to any reservation for an extra fee)

View more free trail maps on our Costa Rica maps Pinterest board.

Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park

Don’t miss our discounts for activities run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, including the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour:

Click here to access the FREE Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park discounts!

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Big AMA Canopy Tour at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park?

The Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park is located an approximate five-minute drive south of downtown La Fortuna. The park’s on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the “Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour, offers an approximate three-hour tour across a series of zipline cables and is the only canopy ziplining tour in La Fortuna/Arenal to include both a zipline over the La Fortuna Waterfall. It also provides a view of another waterfall, the Pino Blanco Waterfall, as well as a brief visit to the on-site Maleku Cultural Rescue Center. The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour may also be combined with a Rappel Tour, which takes place on-site at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, or the park’s La Fortuna Waterfall Tour, which leads either a horseback riding or tractor tour from the park to the La Fortuna Waterfall. To learn more about our experiences participating in the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, don’t miss our related blog post Arenal Mundo Aventura: La Fortuna Canopy Ziplining Tour.

• Number of cables: 12 zipline cables in total (Big AMA canopy ziplining tour option)
• Cable length span: 200 to 800 meters
• Braking system utilized: manual (hand) braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? yes; lunch served
• Special features: the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour includes a zipline over the La Fortuna Waterfall and a brief presentation performed at the park’s Maleku Cultural Rescue Center; tour participants may opt to participate in part of the tour via tractor ride or horseback ride; visitors may purchase a photo CD at the park as a tour souvenir
• Minimum age for participation: at least seven years old, at least three feet ten inches tall, and at least fifty-one pounds to participate (the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park enforces minimum ages, height, and weight limits)
• Transportation to/from La Fortuna/Arenal hotels available? yes; the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park automatically includes round-trip transportation in their tour rates

View more free trail maps on our Costa Rica maps Pinterest board.

Monteverde Sky Adventures Park

Don’t miss our discounts for activities run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park, including the Sky Trek Canopy Tour:

Click here to access the FREE Monteverde Sky Adventures Park discounts!

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Sky Trek Canopy Tour at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park?

The Monteverde Sky Adventures Park is located in of Costa Rica’s Monteverde region, an approximate ten-minute drive north of downtown Santa Elena. The park’s on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the Sky Trek Canopy Tour, offers an approximate two-hour tour across a series of zipline cables and includes a complimentary free-fall activity known as the Vertigo Drop. It is the only canopy ziplining tour in the Monteverde area to automatically include a complimentary aerial tram ride with purchase of the ziplining tour. The Sky Trek Canopy Tour may also be combined with Sky Adventures’ Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride and/or the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges, two activities that also take place on-site at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park. The park’s off-site herpetarium (which is located closer to downtown Santa Elena) provides a Herpetarium Tour which can also be combined with the park’s other adventure activities. To learn more about our experiences participating in the Sky Trek Canopy Tour at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park, don’t miss our related blog post Sky Adventures Monteverde: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, And Tram Rides In The Cloud Forest.

• Number of cables: 10 zipline cables in total
• Cable length span: 100 to 750 meters
• Braking system utilized: automatic braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride and Sky Trek Canopy Tour (Monteverde) option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? yes; lunch served
• Special features: the Sky Trek Canopy Tour includes a complimentary Sky Tram Aerial Tram Ride, a complimentary free-fall activity known as the Vertigo Drop, and a free tarzan swing (optional)
• visitors may purchase a “Sky Picture” and/or a “Sky Movie” at the park as tour souvenirs
• Minimum age for participation: 1.2 meters tall (Sky Adventures does not enforce a minimum age limit; instead they enforce a minimum height limit)
• Transportation to/from Monteverde hotels available? yes; however Sky Adventures does not automatically include round-trip transportation in their tour rates (round-trip transportation may be added to any reservation for an extra fee)

View more free trail maps on our Costa Rica maps Pinterest board.

Selvatura Park

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Canopy Ziplining Tour at the Selvatura Park?

The Selvatura Park is located in the Monteverde region, an approximate ten-minute drive north of downtown Santa Elena. The park’s on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the Canopy Ziplining Tour, offers an approximate two-hour tour across a series of zipline cables. The Canopy Ziplining Tour may also be combined with Selvatura’s Treetop Walkways Hanging Bridges Tour (Monteverde), a Herpetarium Tour (Monteverde), a Butterfly Garden Tour (Monteverde), and/or a Hummingbird Garden Visit (Monteverde), four activities that also take place on-site at the Selvatura Park. To learn more about our experiences participating in the Canopy Ziplining Tour at the Selvatura Park, don’t miss our related blog post Selvatura Monteverde: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, Butterfly / Hummingbird Gardens, And A Reptile / Amphibian Exhibit In The Cloud Forest.

• Number of cables: 15 zipline cables in total
• Cable length span: 70 to 1000 meters
• Braking system utilized: manual (hand) braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Canopy Ziplining Tour (Monteverde) option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? yes; lunch served
• Special features: the Canopy Ziplining Tour features a free tarzan swing (optional) and a superman cable (optional; charged at an extra cost); visitors may purchase a photo CD as a tour souvenir at the park
• Minimum age for participation: at least four years old
• Transportation to/from Monteverde hotels available? yes; Selvatura automatically includes round-trip transportation in their tour rates

Monteverde Extremo Park

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Canopy Ziplining Tour at the Monteverde Extremo Park?

The Monteverde Extremo Park is located in the Monteverde region, an approximate fifteen-minute drive north of downtown Santa Elena. The on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the “Canopy Ziplining Tour“, offers an approximate two-hour tour across a series of zipline cables. The Canopy Ziplining Tour may also be combined with Monteverde Extremo’s Super Swing (Monteverde) and/or Bungee Jump (Monteverde), two activities that also take place on-site at the Monteverde Extremo Park.

• Number of cables: 14 zipline cables in total
• Cable length span: up to 685 meters
• Braking system utilized: manual (hand) braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Canopy Ziplining Tour option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? no
• Special features: complimentary tarzan swing; complimentary rappel; complimentary superman cable; visitors may purchase a photo CD at the park as a tour souvenir
• Minimum age for participation: at least five years old
• Transportation to/from Monteverde hotels available? yes; Monteverde Extremo automatically includes round-trip transportation in their tour rates

100% Aventura Adventure Park

Are the best ziplines in Costa Rica part of the Canopy Ziplining Tour at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park?

The 100% Aventura Adventure Park is located in the Monteverde region, an approximate ten-minute drive north of downtown Santa Elena. The on-site canopy ziplining tour, called the Canopy Ziplining Tour, offers an approximate two-hour tour across a series of zipline cables. The Canopy Ziplining Tour may also be combined with 100% Aventura’s ATV Tour (Monteverde), an activity that also takes place on-site at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

• Number of cables: 12 zipline cables in total
• Cable length span: 20 to 1590 meters
• Braking system utilized: manual (hand) braking system
• Guided tour option available? yes; see the Canopy Ziplining Tour option
• Self-guided tour option available? no; it is not possible to participate in the tour without a guide
• Night tour option available? no
• Private tour option available? yes
• Restaurant on-site? yes; lunch served
• Special features: complimentary superman cable; complimentary rappel; complimentary tarzan swing; visitors may purchase a photo CD at the park as a tour souvenir
• Minimum age for participation: at least five years old
• Transportation to/from Monteverde hotels available? yes; 100% Aventura automatically includes round-trip transportation in their tour rates

Arenal and Monteverde canopy tour comparison: Which ziplines in Costa Rica are the best?

As we’ve touched on in previous posts (The Best River For Rafting In Costa Rica, Which Costa Rica Hanging Bridges Are The Best? Comparing 4 Popular Hanging Bridge Sites In Arenal And Monteverde, and Best Hot Springs In Arenal: We Compare All 12 La Fortuna Hot Springs), it’s impossible for us to pick “the best” of anything without imposing our own biases on you. We realize that you may not like, prefer, and prioritize the same zipline tour features that we do, so instead of picking favorites that may or may not tickle your fancy, we’ll help you choose the best Arenal or Monteverde canopy tour option for you based on your own interests, needs, and budget. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive from travelers about La Fortuna and Monteverde canopy tours. Use the information to narrow down the various ziplining adventures and determine which is most deserving of your time and money.

Location

Which zipline tours are in La Fortuna or Arenal?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park.

Which zipline tours are in Monteverde or Santa Elena?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Park.

Zipline quantity

Which zipline tour offers the most zipline cables?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park (in the Monteverde area) and the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park (in the La Fortuna / Arenal area).

Zipline length

Which zipline tour offers the longest zipline cable?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park (in the Monteverde area) and the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park (in the La Fortuna / Arenal area).

Zipline braking system

Which zipline tours utilize the traditional hand-braking system?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Which zipline tours utilize the modern automatic z-braking system?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park.

Tours and self-guided access

Which zipline tours require a guided tour?

All zipline Costa Rica tours are required to be run with a guide.

Which zipline tours offer self-guided tours?

None; zipline Costa Rica tours are not permitted to be run without a guide.

Which zipline tours offer the option to reserve a private ziplining experience?

All zipline Costa Rica tours offer the option to reserve a private ziplining experience (if desired, and at significantly higher tour rates) for group travel.

Restaurants

Which zipline tour parks feature a restaurant for dining on-site?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park, the Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, the Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Transportation

Which zipline tours automatically include round-trip transportation to/from nearby hotels in their tour rates?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Which zipline tour operators offer round-trip transportation to/from nearby hotels at an extra cost?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park.

Add-on experiences

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) an aerial tram ride?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a tarzan swing?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a horseback ride?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a butterfly garden visit?

The Sky Trek Canopy Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a hummingbird garden visit?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a sloth sanctuary visit?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a superman cable?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a visit to the La Fortuna Waterfall?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a super swing?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a snake/reptile exhibit visit?

The Sky Trek Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Selvatura Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a free-fall/vertigo drop?

The Sky Trek Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a rappel?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park, the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park, and the Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a visit to an Indigenous reserve and brief Indigenous presentation?

The Big AMA Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Mundo Aventura Ecological Park.

Which zipline tours include (or offer the option to add) a bungee jump?

The Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Extremo Park.

Which zipline tours offer the option to rent a GoPro camera for use during the tour?

The Sky Trek Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Arenal Sky Adventures Park and the Sky Trek Canopy Ziplining Tour run at the Monteverde Sky Adventures Park.

Prefer to participate in a zipline Costa Rica tour elsewhere in the country (i.e., not in the La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde region)? Don’t miss our discounts for Costa Rica canopy tours countrywide:

Click here to access the FREE canopy tour / ziplining discounts!

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you experienced one of the canopy tours we list above? What did you think about the experience?

Pura vida!

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