Zip Lines are comprised of steel cables strung between two towers or trees, in segments of varying lengths. Most zip line tours include several. Given helmets and gloves, riders are strapped into a climbing harness that is attached to the pulley and to the cable. Gravity does the rest. Adults zip alone; children ride tandem with a trained guide. Too little or too much weight slows the rider’s speed. Depending on the rider’s weight and the cable’s angle, speeds may reach fifty miles per hour.
Southern Explorations only works with established operators who have strong safety records and provide a safety briefing. Though international standards exist, each operator sets its own rules which we rigorously vet. Anyone who is afraid of heights may wish to zip on a line that is twenty feet above the forest floor rather than a hundred feet as some are.
Some of the most popular areas for zip lining are in the vicinity of Arenal Volcano National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve northwest of the capital. On the Pacific side, visitors on Costa Rica tours will find zip lines in the vicinity of Manuel Antonio National Park and Marino Bellena National Park. The Costa Rica Eco-Adventure Fly and Drive tour is designed with the active traveler in mind.
Those who wish to enjoy a slower, quieter way to commune with nature during their travel to Costa Rica may prefer to take a guided canopy tour that travels on foot across suspension bridges and specially-built walkways connected to canopy viewing platforms or in trams.
For a complete list of trips and tours to Costa Rica click here.
