Ziplining in Costa Rica is the easiest way to see the rainforest from above and needs no experience to do it. Most first-timers feel nervous on the first platform and calmer within a cable or two. A certified guide clips you in, checks your gear and stays with you the whole way.
If you have ever watched a zipline video and thought “I could never,” this guide is for you. We are a local team from La Fortuna, at the foot of Arenal Volcano, and most of the guests we take out on the cables have never done this before. Here is what the day really feels like, how the guiding works, and how to choose an operator you trust.
What ziplining in Costa Rica actually feels like
The waiting is harder than the riding. Once you leave the platform, the forest takes over and the nerves usually fade.
Here is how a first tour with us goes, step by step.
Getting there
We pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna. Our park is about 20 minutes from downtown, on the road to the volcano. If you drive, there is parking on site.
The Rainforest Limo
Before the first cable, you ride up through the forest on a tractor we call the “Rainforest Limo.” It is slow, a little bumpy and a good moment to settle in.
The briefing and your gear
Every activity starts with a briefing. Your guide fits your harness, explains what will happen on each platform and answers every question, even the ones you feel silly asking. All safety equipment is included, and the guide checks it on you before you move.
The first cable
This is the moment most people remember. You stand on the platform, your guide clips you to the cable and tells you when to go. Then you lift your feet and let the harness hold you. The first few seconds feel strange. After that, most guests say it feels more like floating than falling.
The rest of the course
Our course has 7 cables and 10 platforms. By the third or fourth cable, people start looking around instead of looking down. That is when the canopy and the volcano views show up. At the end there is an optional 50-meter rappel into the Arenal River canyon. You can skip it with no explanation needed.
The cables cross part of the 30 hectares (about 74 acres) of protected rainforest on our property. Watch the branches for three kinds of monkeys, toucans, hummingbirds and sloths. Nothing is guaranteed, but this is where many guests end up talking more about a toucan than about the cable.
Beyond the cables
The zipline is only part of the day. Every departure includes a Maleku cultural experience, told by members of the community themselves. Then you can rest in the warm-water pools and try the volcanic mud bath before the ride back to your hotel.
Is ziplining safe? How the guiding works
Yes, when you go with a trained team on a well-kept commercial course. The lead researcher on a 2015 Nationwide Children’s Hospital study of US zipline injuries called the injury rate while ziplining is relatively low.
On our tours, safety is a daily practice, not a promise. In practice that means:
- A briefing before every activity. No one goes up without knowing what to expect.
- A guide with you on every cable. They clip you in each time and check your harness before you go.
- Gear we would trust with our own people. Harness, helmet and gloves are part of the equipment.
- Clear health guidelines. Each tour page lists them, so you know before you book.
- Weather calls made by the team. Rain is normal in the rainforest and most tours run as scheduled. If we cancel for weather or safety, you can reschedule or get a full refund.
The guides are certified, bilingual and from the La Fortuna area. Your job is simple: listen, ask, and follow their instructions.
Nervous? You will have our full support
If ziplining in Costa Rica makes you nervous, you are in good company, and our team is there to help you feel at ease. Our guides take you through the tour step by step, and you can ask them anything before you start. There is no pressure to do it all at once.
A few other things help first-timers:
- Take it at your own pace. Tell your guide how you are feeling, and they will help from there.
- The rappel is your call. It is part of the tour, and the price stays the same if you choose not to do it.
- Bring someone along. Couples and friends often cheer each other across.
One guest wrote on Tripadvisor that the guides made her “scared 7 year old feel so relaxed,” and that by the end she was smiling. That is the kind of day we work for.
Who can zipline: ages, weight and health
Most people who can walk comfortably can zipline with us. There is a minimum age, but no upper age limit. These are the guidelines published on our zipline tour page, as of October 2026:
| Guideline | What it means |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 6 years old for the zipline, 10 for our other adventures |
| Maximum age | No upper age limit |
| Maximum weight | 254 lbs (115 kg) |
| Fitness | If you can walk comfortably, you can do this |
| Pregnancy | Pregnant women cannot join |
| Recent injuries | Not suitable after recent surgery, fractures, casts, or with mobility limitations or difficulty walking |
Good to know: kids ride only if the safety equipment fits them, and a guide accompanies them.
Not sure if a condition applies to you? Message us before you book.
What to wear and bring
Dress for a day outside in the rainforest. You will move around, you may get muddy, and the day ends in warm-water pools.
- Closed-toe shoes are required, sandals are not allowed.
- Comfortable clothes you do not mind getting dirty
- A swimsuit for the warm-water pools and the volcanic mud bath
- A change of clothes for the ride back
- Biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent
- A small fanny pack if you need to carry something
- A refillable water bottle
Leave valuables at your hotel. If you carry your phone, keep it zipped in a pocket on the cables.
How to choose a Costa Rica zipline operator
To choose a Costa Rica zipline operator, ask about the briefing, guides, gear checks, health rules and weather policy. Then read recent reviews. A good team answers plainly and without hurrying you. These questions work with any operator, including us.
- How long is the briefing, and what does it cover? Look for a real explanation on the ground before you go up.
- How many guides go with each group? You want a guide with you on every cable, not just at the start.
- Who checks my gear, and how often? The answer should be “your guide, before every cable.”
- What are the age, weight and health rules? Clear rules show a team that takes them seriously.
- Can I ride tandem or skip a section? Flexibility tells you they think about nervous guests.
- What happens if it rains or the weather turns? Look for a clear policy to reschedule or refund.
- Are the guides certified, and where are they from? Local guides know the forest, the weather and the wildlife.
- What do recent reviews say about the guides? Read past the stars. Look for words like patient, calm and clear.
Building a Costa Rica zipline family day around the cables
The zipline is a great start to a family day, especially with teens. From there you can add the river, the horses or a full day with lunch. Every tour includes a Maleku cultural experience, where members of the Maleku community share their culture in their own words.
| Tour | Duration | From age | Regular price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arenal Zipline + Rappel | About 2 hours | 6 | $65 |
| Zipline + River Tubing + Maleku Village | About 4 hours | 10 | $113 |
| Zipline + Horseback Ride + Maleku Village | About 6 hours | 10 | $128 |
| Full-Day La Fortuna Adventure with Lunch | About 7 hours | 10 | $195 |
Prices are per person as of October 2026 and can change, so check the tour page when you book.
A few tips for families:
- Kids aged 6 to 9 can do the Arenal Zipline + Rappel. It has four departures a day: 8:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
- Families with teens often pick the half-day zipline and river tubing. It fits in a morning and leaves the afternoon free.
- Only one day in La Fortuna? The full day with lunch puts the zipline, the river and the Maleku visit in one guided day.
Most options close with warm-water pools and a volcanic mud bath. And grandparents are welcome too. Compare everything on our adventures page.
FAQ
Is ziplining safe?
Yes, on a commercial course with trained guides. A 2015 US study found the injury rate while ziplining is relatively low. Choose an operator with a full briefing, a guide with you on every cable and clear health rules.
What is the minimum age for ziplining in La Fortuna?
Kids can join our Arenal Zipline + Rappel tour from age 6 if the safety equipment fits them. Tours that add tubing or horseback start at age 10.
Is there a maximum age or weight limit?
There is no upper age limit. If you can walk comfortably, you can join. The maximum weight is 254 lbs (115 kg).
Can I zipline tandem with a guide?
Yes. We offer a tandem zipline option, so your guide rides the cable with you if you would like company.
What should I wear for ziplining in Costa Rica?
Closed-toe shoes (required), comfortable clothes, a swimsuit for the warm-water pools, sunscreen and insect repellent. Sandals are not allowed.
What happens if it rains?
Most tours run as scheduled, since rain is part of the rainforest. If we cancel for weather or safety, you can reschedule or receive a full refund. See all answers on our FAQ page.
Your first zipline starts here
Your first zipline can be as calm as you want it to be. Ziplining in Costa Rica with us means a certified guide beside you on every cable and a briefing before you start. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we will help you pick the right tour for your group. Everyone is welcome here.
Book your adventure on the Arenal Zipline + Rappel page. See you soon for a great adventure.
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