
moderate
2.5–7 hours (2.5 hours on-site; transfers vary)
Moderate fitness—comfortable with stairs, a short scramble, and heights; not suitable for poor cardiovascular health.
Fly through a river canyon and over 11 cascades on 18 ziplines just two hours from San José. This half-day canopy tour mixes fast lines, rappels, a Tibetan bridge and a natural plunge pool for a rainforest adventure with a practical focus on safety and conservation.
You step out of the air-conditioned van and the rainforest swallows the city noise. The first platform perches on a ridge that looks down toward the Gulf of Nicoya; humidity beads on your forearms and the canyon below seems alive, the river daring you to cross it in pursuit of the next fall. For the next few hours you'll trade pavement for a 4x4 ride, a series of stepped platforms, and 18 zipline cables that thread you straight through a watershed where water and wind have been carving the land for millennia.

Sturdy sneakers or light hiking shoes protect your feet on platforms, during short hikes, and for the natural pool approach.
Phones and cameras should be tethered or kept in watertight pouches—spray and sudden wind gusts are common on long zips.
Carry at least 1 liter of water; the canopy is humid and you'll appreciate drinking between platforms.
Allow roughly two hours each way from San José and arrive 15–30 minutes early if meeting at the park instead of using pickup.
The canyon and surrounding slopes have long been used by local communities for small-scale farming and as travel corridors connecting coastal settlements around the Gulf of Nicoya.
Operators work with landowners to minimize trail erosion and limit plastic waste—follow guide instructions and carry out any trash to help protect fragile waterways.
Grip and protection for platforms, short approaches, and wet rocks at pool entry.
Light showers are common in the green season; a packable jacket keeps you comfortable between zips.
fall specific
Wear under your clothes to take advantage of the natural pool at the base of a waterfall.
summer specific
Stay hydrated in humid conditions—refill options are available at the base camp.