costa rica

Selva Armonia Jungle Lodge in Uvita, Costa Rica: Is it Worth It?

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View looking out on the ocean from up on high

My first destination after I touched down in Costa Rica was Uvita, down on the southern edge of the Pacific coast, close to the gateway to Corcovado National Park.

Many people visit Uvita for its proximity to the national park, whale watching, or epic surf breaks. Still, I was there for another reason entirely: to visit Caño Island, the best diving destination in Costa Rica you can reach without a liveaboard.

You see, Cocos Island has long been on my bucket list — but with liveaboards starting around $3,000 and taking about a week, it simply wasn’t in the cards this time. Or maybe ever.

beach on cano island with turquoise waters
Caño Island was why I came to Uvita… but I ended up loving it for many other reasons!

But Caño Island, called a “Cocos in miniature,” was — and the most accessible departure point was from Uvita. And the more I learned about Uvita, the more I liked it.

Uvita has some unique claims to fame: powerful waterfalls tucked away in jungle nooks, one of the cleanest and most impressive stretches of coastline, and, most interestingly to me, a selection of stunning and immersive jungle lodges that blend Costa Rica’s nature with a relaxed luxury stay.

✈️ Planning your Uvita trip in a hurry? Here are my quick tips!

🐋 Best Things to Do
1. Two-Stop Snorkel Tour of Caño Island (great if you don’t dive)
2. Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour (perfect for non-swimmers!)
3. Waterfall & National Park Adventure Tour (for land-based fun)

🌺 Best Places to Stay
1. Selva Armonia Immersive Jungle Lodge (reviewed below)
2. Oxygen Jungle Villas & Spa (even more luxurious!)
3. Seren Glamping (beachfront glamping in canvas tents)

🚙 Renting a Car? Be sure it can handle Uvita’s uneven roads (SUV or similar). I book via Discover Cars for rentals and insurance.

I did a little research and ended up settling on Selva Armonia Immersive Jungle Lodge, a beautiful eco-friendly (and vegan!) resort about a 25-minute drive from the main town of Uvita. 

This post is my honest review of my three-night stay at Selva Armonia (not sponsored — I paid out of pocket!) and whether or not I think it’s worth it (spoiler alert… I do!)

The Property

The nets for lounging at the property with beautiful pacific ocean
The ultimate lounge area, overlooking Marino Ballena National Park!

I’m a pretty pragmatic traveler. A room is more of a place to sleep for me, and I don’t need luxury—just peace and quiet, air conditioning when I’m in hot places, and an en-suite bathroom.

So when I book a luxury hotel, it’s because something is impressive about the property itself, not just because I think the room looks nice (though the rooms here are quite lovely, and I will go into that later).

View of the pool at Selva Armonia Jungle Lodge
The pool at Selva Armonia

What immediately struck me about Selva Armonia was just how gorgeous every corner of the property was! It’s an Instagrammer’s dream.

From its infinity-like pool that overlooked the jungle below with sweeping views of Pacific sunsets to its large netted hammocks you could lounge for even more up-close-and-personal views to the actually-infinity pool style hot tub, there was no shortage of photogenic places to lounge.

Allison in a hot tub surrounded by tiki torches
Hot tub, tiki torches, and the last of the sunset light
Pool cabana lounge
What better place to lounge?

And I’m not even mentioning the jungle-esque pool cabanas, which are this plant nerd’s absolute dream and made lounging by the pool in the shade with a book all the more enjoyable!

At night, they added even more coziness by lighting tiki torches around the jacuzzi and catamaran-net-style hammocks, which made lingering there even after the sun had set all the more appealing. 

One night, they even set up a screen in front of the infinity pool so you could watch movies there! The staff also organized other activities, like a bonfire night, which was really cool.

Allison on the nets at sunset
Taking in the sunset over the Pacific
Infinity style hot tub
Infinity hot tub at sunrise

The one downside of this property is that it is a little far from town, so there isn’t anything to do nearby that isn’t directly on the property—so having things like a movie night really helps. 

In addition to the pool, hammocks, hot tubs, and cabana area, there are other public areas for all the guests to enjoy.

Library area in the restaurant
Library area for dry lounging
Empty yoga shala with views of the Pacific ocean
A yoga shala to practice yoga whenever you like!

There’s a library area where you can sit with a book and look out at the ocean on comfortable couches if you don’t feel like getting a bit damp sitting out by the pool. 

There’s also a yoga shala where you can practice yoga independently any time you want, or join one of the morning classes that they have a few times a week. And there’s also an on-site restaurant, which I’ll get into now!

Convinced already? You can check room availability here!

The Restaurant

Views from the restaurant
Epic views at the restaurant terrace

I didn’t realize when I booked my stay, but Selva Armonia is a vegan property, meaning that all the food at their restaurant is wholly plant-based. 

I’m not vegan, but I appreciate good food no matter what diet it follows or what country it comes from. And I quite loved the food at Selva Armonia, especially the breakfast!

My vegan breakfast at the Selva Armonia jungle lodge - rice, fruit, onions
A delicious vegan breakfast!

When you have so much tropical fruit at your disposal, it hardly feels like a sacrifice not to have meat or eggs on your breakfast plate. 

I loved my breakfast with lots of fresh fruit, gallo pinto (a Costa Rican rice and bean staple), caramelized onions, and a delicious vegan dip to accompany the gallo pinto.

I honestly feel like I could eat it every day for a month and not get sick of it.

The veggie burger with fries and salad
My incredible veggie burger!

I also ate two dinners at the restaurant and enjoyed them quite a bit. One night, I had their veggie burger, which was delicious with a homemade bean-based patty, tons of fresh veggies, and some perfectly cooked French fries. 

The other night, I enjoyed a fantastic veggie-coconut curry (which did not photograph nearly as well as it tasted, so I didn’t include a photo here).

The Rooms

View of one of the rooms from the front view
Garden in front of the one-bedroom bungalow where I stayed

Now, while I said I don’t travel for the rooms, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate good design! I stayed in one of the one-bedroom bungalows, which was an excellent choice.

I had sweeping views over the jungle from my balcony, and this certified night owl got up before sunrise every morning just to enjoy a cup of coffee (they provide a French press and delicious local Costa Rican beans!) with that view.

The room was large and spacious, with a giant king-size bed and another twin-sized daybed that another person could comfortably sleep on (which, since I was traveling alone, became my overflow catch-all area).

The large bed and daybed in the main bedroom
The interior of the one-bedroom bungalow room — forgive the bad photo, my phone camera lens is broken and refracts light oddly!

Behind the bed area was the indoor portion of the bathroom, which included sinks and a separate room with an indoor toilet. And for the shower? There was a lovely outdoor shower, which was magical at night when the frogs were croaking and singing loudly!

I didn’t get a chance to stay in their top room category, the two-story Bali villas, which have an outdoor bathtub on the terrace overlooking the entire property and the Pacific… but I’m sure nothing beats that! 

Bali villa on the hill
Next time I want to stay in one of the Balinese villas!

These bungalows are located quite high up on the hill, so you’ll be higher than everyone else; no one can look in so it is still very private.For those on a budget, lodge rooms offer the same property amenities for a much lower nightly price tag.

Note that these rooms do not have A/C (just a ceiling fan) or an en-suite bathroom; rather, they have shared facilities. 

Check out different room types and respective prices here!

The Downsides

View looking out on the ocean from up on high
The beautiful views at Selva Armonia are hard-earned from a long drive!

Overall, I thought my stay at Selva Armonia was absolutely fantastic. The property itself and the rooms were excellent, and I can’t fault anything.

I can only say that it is quite a trek to get to Selva Armonia if you have not rented the right type of car for your trip to Costa Rica… such as was my case.

I had booked the cheapest car category, a standard sedan, because I had read that 4×4 cars in Costa Rica are extremely expensive (true) and largely unnecessary (debatable). 

However, I think I would have been fine driving the bumpy road to Selva Armonia if I had rented an SUV or a similar style car with higher clearance.

Be sure to check the vehicle category type (and transmission type) when booking! I suggest a high clearance SUV or similar, since 4x4s are so expensive. I use Discover Cars for the cheapest price on my rental and the best full-coverage insurance.

A lot of the anxiety of driving came from me worrying I was going to hurt the car’s undercarriage on the rocky, uneven road. 

So, as long as you’ve booked the right car and packed a spirit of adventure, staying at Selva Armonia is absolutely worth it — especially with how beautiful the property is.

Garden detail at Selva Armonia
I could have walked around for hours in the garden taking photos

Just know that it is far from the town itself — about a 25-minute drive, and one that you won’t want to make at night — so this is better for the type of vacation where you stay and enjoy all the resort amenities.

I did do two excursions while staying at Selva Armonia—a one-day trip to Caño Island and a self-guided trip to the Nauyuca Waterfalls—and I wished I had spent one day just fully enjoying the property and not leaving at all!

Best Manuel Antonio Night Tour: My Experience, Tips, & Tour Recommendations!

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The area around Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most ecologically diverse regions, with lush humid rainforests, pristine beaches, and an uncountable number of species of animals who call this area home.

But if you only visit the rainforests by daylight, you’ll be missing out on all the incredible nocturnal animals who also call this part of the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica home!

At night, the landscape of Costa Rica takes on a totally different character, with a loud chorus of chirps, squeaks, and creaks from the noisy nocturnal creatures enjoying their natural habitat.

An adorable red-eyed tree frog clinging to a wet leaf
You’ll almost certainly see Costa Rica’s famed red-eyed tree frogs on a night walk!

From the pocket-sized red-eyed tree frog to the two-toed sloth, many of most iconic residents of the Costa Rican rainforest only come out at night… 

… which is why taking a Manuel Antonio night tour is a must-do if you want to fully understand just how much biodiversity Costa Rica has to offer!

In this post, I’ll talk about what it’s like to go on a jungle night walk in the Manuel Antonio park area, what you should know before you go, and what night tours in Manuel Antonio I recommend.

What It’s Like to Go on a Manuel Antonio Night Tour?

the tour bus as we entered the costa rican night walk
Arriving at the conservation park just as the sun set, ready for our Manuel Antonio night tour!

My night tour started with a hotel pickup, bringing us about 30 minutes outside of the Manuel Antonio & Quepos area to a place in the hills around Manuel Antonio called Rainmaker Park.

Note that none of the tours actually take place in Manuel Antonio National Park, even the tour listed on the park’s official website. The park closes at 4 PM every day, so there’s no tours there during the night time.

Rainmaker Conservation Park is one of the best places besides the national park itself to see wildlife, with well-kept trails and a diverse ecosystem that is a huge magnet for all sorts of tree frogs, lizards, and other nocturnal creatures!

Once we arrived at Rainmaker Conservation Park, which is a private reserve that is the perfect habitat for all sorts of nocturnal life. 

a bullfrog seen in rainmaker conservation park
An adorable frilled tree frog, look at the colors on its belly!

We dutifully followed our certified tour guide as he showed us all sorts of species of frogs around the pond area during the first hours of the night.

Note that for safety purposes, your guide should always lead the group, as sometimes there are snakes or other creatures on the ground, as well as tripping hazards that they might need to alert you to.

With his expert eye, we immediately spotted one of the famous basiliscos, also known as Jesus Christ lizards for their ability to scamper across the surface of water!

We continued on as he listened for the calls of the frogs, which he knew well, one which was nicknamed a “whiny tree frog” as all it seemed to do was lament “why” loudly through the lush green forest. 

the giant throat of a ribbeting tree frog in a cute orange color sitting on a leaf at night on a night tour of manuel antonio
An adorable (and loud) tree frog — I love their adorable, bubble-like vocal sacs!

I’m not sure which exact frog it was that made that call (I think it was a snouted tree frog) but we found so many!

According to my notes, which I dutifully kept like a nerd conducting serious research, we spotted: two leopard frogs in the water, several bullfrogs (both female which is more green and male which is more orange in color), a frilled tree frog, and a yellow cricket tree frog.

Some other cool amphibian sightings include an hourglass tree frog with beautiful markings on its back, a green climbing toad, a reticulated glass frog (very rare to spot — our guide was elated!), and of course, Costa Rica’s trademark red-eyed tree frog.

I’m sure there are some others that I missed, too!

The cool markings of a tree frog in costa rica
I loved learning all about the different markings and ways to tell the different frogs apart!

After exploring the pond area and seeing a truly unfathomable number of frogs, we headed into the forested area to try to spot some other nocturnal creatures.

This is the part where arachnophobes and people scared of insects and snakes may want to look away!

We spotted so many cool creepy-crawlies, including a jewel-colored turquoise stink bug, a poisonous centipede, a sac spider, a millipede, and a bark scorpion (whose sting is painful but not fatal, don’t worry — and they bioluminesce under a UV light, which is pretty cool to see!). 

We also spotted a wolf spider (also poisonous but not fatal), a horned katydid, a walking stick bug, and a surprising runner-up when it came to most toxic creature of the night.

one of the most venomous spiders out there, the banana spider!
The banana spider, the most dangerous creature of the night! Our guide made sure he took all the photos to keep us all safe.

That honor goes to a fluffy looking white blob, which is actually a puss moth caterpillar, high up in the treetops….

… that was, until we saw the actual most deadly creature, the banana spider (also known as a Brazilian wandering spider) shown above!

When it comes to local reptiles, we spotted a few besides the Jesus Christ lizard, including a harmless cat-eyed snake and a tropical night lizard.

But what I found the most cute was this adorable sleeping smooth-helmeted iguana who clung to the same patch of tree trunk for our entire night tour.

a lizard hanging upside down on a tree with reddish and green coloration in the night time in manuel antonio area
This sleepy, lazy smooth-helmeted iguana didn’t move all night!

After the night tour came to an end, we had a hearty meal of chicken and rice back at the park’s kitchen, which was included in the price of the tour (as was the entrance fee to the reserve), before we got driven back to our hotels.

I absolutely loved my night tour in Manuel Antonio: it was a wonderful experience.

It’s definitely my favorite thing I did in Manuel Antonio (and my second-favorite thing in did in all of Costa Rica, after diving Caño Island — and ziplining in Monteverde is a close third).

If it sounds up your alley, this is the exact night tour that I booked.

What to Know Before Going on a Night Tour in Manuel Antonio

​Weather conditions may not be your friend — wear a rain jacket!

Allison Green sitting on a blue boat, with a jacket on, long pants, black sneakers, and a red hat
Always in my trusty Patagonia jacket, here on a mangrove boat tour (also near Manuel Antonio, in Islas Damas)

Whether you visit in the rainy season or the dry season, rain is a common occurrence in Costa Rica, and it’s more likely in the late afternoon and into the evening.

It rained for pretty much the entirety of my night tour, but it wasn’t that much of a downer because I was well-dressed for the occasion with a proper waterproof rain jacket (I wore my one from Patagonia).

Don’t forget long pants and closed-toe shoes.

a snake crossing the path at night
You’ll be happy for closed-toe shoes if any snakes cross your path, like this cat-eyed snake!

​Under a rain jacket layer, you’ll want to wear comfortable clothes that are breathable and easy to move in, as well as long pants to avoid insect bites.

If you’re prone to bug bites, you’ll also want to wear some mosquito repellent.

You’ll also want the right footwear, like a closed toe sneaker or hiking shoe.

You don’t need any special equipment for a night tour.

A scorpion shining blue in the UV light
Your guide will have all the equipment you need to see things like this!

Since you’re going with professional guides, they’ll bring all the needed equipment for the group tours.

For example, your guide will bring things like a spotting scope if needed (we didn’t end up using it, as we didn’t see anything in the canopy), UV light, flashlights, etc.

What you will need is the proper clothing I mentioned above (rain jacket, closed-toe shoes, long pants) and an excited attitude for all the cool wildlife you’re about to see!

You don’t need special camera gear, either.

a red-eyed tree frog looking directly at the camera while perched on a leaf at night
I still can’t believe this Photo was taken on an iPhone!

When it comes to photography, your guide will be your best pal — they’re simply amazing at getting incredible shots of these wonderful creatures even in low-light conditions with a simple iPhone.

Every single photo in this post was taken with my iPhone, most with the assistance of my tour guide in getting the lighting and focus right.

If you’re a huge wildlife photography geek, like two people on my tour were, you may want to have all the fancy gear (external flash, a mirrorless or DSLR camera, etc.) but it’s really not necessary if you just want photos for your own memory and use!

There are dangerous creatures, but you’ll be safe.

A see-through looking sac spider
This sac spider may look creepy, but it’s pretty harmless to people.

As I mentioned above, we spotted several poisonous and venomous creatures on our hike — but I never once felt like I was in any danger, as we kept a respectful distance.

Plus, the guide handled all the photography when it came to some of the more dangerous creatures that you don’t want to touch, like the bark scorpion, the puss caterpillar, the wolf spider, and the banana spider. 

I don’t love insects, spiders, and bugs, but I also don’t hate them — at least, not when I’m outside and they’re not inside my house, which is a different story altogether!

The reality is that most of these creatures don’t actually want to be around us: shy snakes want to avoid humans rather than see them, and spiders mind their own business unless you threaten them — they’ve got webs to tend, and humans don’t exactly make a snack they can eat.

​Actually, on the tour, I grew to appreciate the colorful insects and spiders more — again, so long as they stay out of my house!

That said, it’s not for people with extreme phobias.

A snake seen on the night walk
This cat-eyed snake was rather shy, and it’s harmless to humans!

While I do maintain that the Manuel Antonio night walk is totally safe to do, it’s a different story altogether if you have an actual phobia of snakes, spiders, or insects. 

Not liking these creatures vs. having an a true phobia is an entirely different story.

I almost guarantee you will see some sort of snake or spider along the tour, so if that’s a dealbreaker for you, a jungle night walk in Manuel Antonio is really not the tour for you!

​It’s a bit of a long excursion, but it’s absolutely worth it!

A cool bug seen on the night walk
An interesting insect seen on the night walk (I forget what this one is called, but I think it’s a katydid)

I was definitely a bit knackered from the night tour, but I had the best time and it was absolutely worth it.

Just keep in mind that you will be walking in a pitch black forest, with only a flashlight to guide you, and the weather conditions may be cold and damp!

You’ll keep to keep your wits about you as you walk, since there may be obstacles on the ground that are hard to spot unless you’re shining your light on it.

There isn’t any heavy-duty hiking, but it is easy to moderate in terms of effort required to walk around for about 2 or 3 hours in the jungle.

The 5 Best Night Tours in Manuel Antonio

​Rainmaker Conservation Park Night Tour — What I Did — Book Here!

an adorable glass frog, a rare sighting on a costa rica night tour
This reticulated glass frog is a rare and special find that my guide made!

​I already talked in detail about my experience taking this Manuel Antonio night tour above, so I won’t fully repeat myself here.

​This tour is just excellent — the tour operators really know what they’re doing, and everything is run like a well-oiled machine.

Communication regulation pickup location and time was excellent, the transportation was smooth and easy, the tour guide was an amazing nature interpreter, and he was passionate about helping us get epic photography.

He also was very tolerant of my constant questions and note-taking of all the different species of animals we saw.

Truly, shoutout to his patience as I asked him to repeat the names of the different species we saw so I could take notes for this blog.

I don’t have much more to say — I think this is a great option for a night tour of Manuel Antonio, and I’d happily do it again — I had such a great time.

Book your Rainmaker Conservation Park night tour here!

Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with Pick Up – Book Here!

A small yellow tree frog on a leaf
You might see creatures like this cute yellow cricket tree frog!

​Another great opportunity to explore the jungles of Manuel Antonio by night is with this tour.

On its face, the tour appears to be cheaper than the above tour. 

However, note that the $10 entrance fee to the nature area is not included… 

… Nor is there a meal included, which in Manuel Antonio will definitely run you well over $10.

When you add that all up, the tours are the same cost, but the first tour is an hour longer, so you have way more chances to see incredible creatures.

However, the fact that this is a shorter tour may be a good thing if you don’t like to stay up too late or you don’t want to walk for as long.

Book your 2-hour jungle night tour here!

Quepos Jungle Night Tour – Book Here!

Another tree frog
I loved the orange feet and bright red eyes of this adorable tree frog!

Another option is this three hour night tour of the Manuel Antonio area, including pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Manuel Antonio or Quepos.

This tour lasts two hours and includes transportation, a guide, equipment, and all entrance fees, but it doesn’t include dinner.

To me, that lessens its value compared to the tour I took, which was the same price but had an hour longer in the tour as well as diner included.

Still, it has excellent reviews — on Viator, it has 150 reviews with an average of around 5 stars, indicating it’s w crowd pleaser!

If you want a shorter tour and to choose your own dinner spot after the tour time is up, this is a good choice.

Personally, I was quite tired after my tour and was happy that dinner — even if not the most exciting dinner — was there and waiting for me, as I wouldn’t have wanted to deal with finding a restaurant after the tour.

However, if you have dietary restrictions and prefer more control over your food choices, one of the two tours above that does not include a meal is probably a better alternative.

Book your 3-hour jungle night tour here!

Combination Chocolate Tour & Jungle Night Walk Tour — Book Here!

The markings of the hourglass tree frog
The markings of an hourglass tree frog are astounding!

​If you want to tick off two things on your Costa Rican bucket list in one easy combination tour — this is the one for you!

Starting at 5 PM, you’ll start the trip at a cacao plantation where you’ll learn all about the art and science of making chocolate — as well as chocolate’s significance in the history and culture of Costa Rica.

You’ll get the chance to sample local artisan chocolate where it was made, from bean to bar!

That chocolate buzz should keep you going as you continue onwards to a nighttime walking tour in the jungle, looking for diverse wildlife like rain forest frogs, nocturnal reptiles, snakes, and insects. 

You can also start the tour at 8 AM, visit the cacao plantation for your chocolate tour, then get picked up later in the day to go on your night tour.

​Book your chocolate and night walk tour here!

​Combination Day & Night Tour of Manuel Antonio — Book Here!

A bright turquoise and orange beetle
You might see colorful insects at night like this turquoise stink beetle!

​Another cool way to experience the full range of Manuel Antonio’s biodiversity is to compare and contrast it by day and by night on a combination tour.

This small group tour starts bright and early at 7 AM, so you can be there as the jungle wakes up, spotting creatures that are extra playful at this time of day like capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys.

Keep an eye out for the three-toed sloth, which aren’t strictly nocturnal like their two-toed brothers. 

They’re hard to find on your own, but luckily, your guide will have a spotting scope and a well-trained eye to help you! 

You’ll be returned back to your hotel where you can unwind or enjoy some of the beaches in the area until you get picked up again for your night tour around sunset-time.

Then, you can return to a similar environment and see how it comes to life in a totally different way, with the morning bird calls turning into a raucous symphony of dozens of frogs vying for attention!

Book your day and night tour of Manuel Antonio here!

​

Ziplining in Monteverde: 7 Best Monteverde Canopy Tours (+ My Tips!)

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cloudy view in monteverde canopy tour

One of the most popular activities in the Monteverde Cloud Forest area is taking one of the many Monteverde zipline tours through the mist-shrouded canopy.

Why wouldn’t it be? Costa Rica is one of the best places to zip line in the world (this country invented it, after all!).

And ziplining in Monteverde is especially magical: with wisps of mists curling through the the canopy, the bird’s eye view of the stunning cloud forest ecosystem is like nowhere else.

allison green smiling in monteverde in the cloud forest going ziplining on a monteverde canopy tour

After all, cloud forests only make up 1% of the world’s forest area, since the conditions required are quite rare and hard to line up!

There are a few places you can take zip line tours in Monteverde, since it’s a big hot spot for ziplining in Costa Rica.

I’ll go over the options in this post, as well as walking you through which Monteverde canopy tour I chose (and why!) and what my experience was like.

My Personal Experience Ziplining on a Monteverde Canopy Tour

allison green holding her selvatura ticket with butterfly garden ticket and map of the park

I ended up choosing to go ziplining in Monteverde at Selvatura Adventure Park, right near the Santa Elena cloud forest, as part of this combined canopy tour and hanging bridge walk.

I picked Selvatura Park because it has a big of everything that I wanted to experience in Monteverde, all in one place.

Not only did I get to go ziplining, but I also got to go on a walk through its famous hanging bridges (puentes colgantes) as well as check out their nature exhibits, including a butterfly garden, a reptile and amphibian area, and even a sloth habitat.

I’ll cover the ziplining portion of the tour here, and in another post, I’ll write more about the other parts of Selvatura that you can experience.

Selvatura’s Monteverde canopy tour takes about two hours to complete, as you soar across 13 ziplines, with the optional (free) Tarzan swing in addition.

For an additional cost of $13 added on at the counter, you can tackle the longest zipline in a unique way: aerial Superman style! 

Personally, I didn’t try it this way, but it did look like a lot of fun.

I’ll admit that I thought the canopy tour was a little expensive at first. And in general, yes, Costa Rica is an expensive place to travel, especially in the Central America region.

canopy tour safety briefing with helmets and people guiding

But when I realized how many people it took for one canopy tour to run like a well-oiled machine, I realized it was worth the price.

For our tour group size of 28 people, it took 5 friendly bilingual guides to keep us running smoothly and safely, without waiting too long between ziplines and always having someone double- and triple-checking our safety gear.

Personally, I feel like the zipline cost is worth it, and the hanging bridges by themselves are a little overpriced — when combined, it’s a pretty good deal.

I would only pick the hanging bridges as a solo option if I was too afraid to go ziplining, but honestly, ziplining is super safe and exciting, so unless you have an actual phobia of heights, you should go for it!

Book your Monteverde canopy tour and hanging bridge walk here!

The Best Canopy Tours in Monteverde

Selvatura Hanging Bridges & Monteverde Canopy Tour – MY CHOICE – Book Here

one of the ziplines in selvatura adventure park

The ultimate canopy tour in Monteverde combines both ziplining and hanging bridges, so you can experience these two distinct Costa Rican classic experiences all in one day. 

Your adventure begins with a quick yet crucial safety session. Your guides will get you suited up, strapped into your harness safely, and your gloves on and helmet secured.

Now, let’s get to the exciting part: the ziplines. Ahead of you await 13 adrenaline-pumping cables that stretch across the jungle canopy, the longest of which is a whopping kilometer (more than half a mile) — which you can take like Superman, flying above the treetops! 

Prepare for a breathtaking aerial tour of the rainforest through these cable systems, soaring over treetops and through the mist of the stunning cloud forest.

For the brave-hearted, there’s the optional Tarzan swing. Harness your inner jungle king (or queen) for a more adrenaline-pumping experience, complete with a stomach-churning free fall before you catch and swing back!

That’s also the chance to add on the Superman ziplines, for an additional $13 USD.

After you’ve finished the aerial part of your tour, you can go for a walk on its famous hanging bridges, seeing the same treetops you were soaring past from a different angle.

Enjoy a serene walk along a 3-kilometer (2-mile) circuit of hanging bridges — the peace and quiet only spoiled by the occasional squeal of an excited zipliner ahead. 

These marvels of engineering are really unique: some of these hanging bridges are as long as 510 feet and are  elevated a dizzying 180 feet above the forest floor. 

At different elevations throughout the park, these bridges offer a closer amazing views at the intricate layers of the cloud forest canopy.

allison green wearing a jacket and hat smiling in the forest walking around the hanging bridges of selvatura adventure park in monteverde canopy

You can look out for countless species of plants and trees, plus the critters who call the cloud forest home, ranging from resplendent quetzals and other bird species to slow-moving sloths. 

Keep your eyes peeled for those elusive tree-dwelling critters — they’re not easy to spot!

Tip: You can add on a naturalist guide at the reception center if you want help spotting some of these critters.

Once you’ve had your fill of the park, the ticket also includes access to the butterfly garden.

Here, a guided tour will introduce you to Costa Rica’s dazzling array of butterflies in all their iridescent glory, including the stunning Blue morpho.

For an additional thrill (and additional fee), consider adding the reptile and amphibian area, or the chance to see the park’s sloth sanctuary that houses some 20 of these adorable creatures. 

These Monteverde canopy tours include free transportation if desired (or you can drive yourself in case you want to be more in charge of when you arrive and leave).

Note: There is a maximum weight restriction of 280 pounds and children must be aged 4 and up. 

Book your Selvatura combined canopy and hanging bridge tour here!

Selvatura Park Canopy Tour Only — Book Here

monteverde canopy tour view from the platform with cloudy sky

Basically, this Monteverde canopy tour is as described above, but you don’t have access to the hanging suspension bridges or the butterfly garden after your canopy tour.

If you just want a pure ziplining experience, with or without the superman cables for the last cable, this is the better option at Selvatura, because it only includes the canopy tour.

That also makes it more budget-friendly than some of the other tours at Selvatura.

The other tours are Selvatura offer a combined zipline experience with other things like the hanging bridges, butterfly gardens, etc., so they are naturally more expensive as they’re completely different experiences.

That said, there are some cheaper tours, so it may not be the best option.

I think the main thing that Selvatura offers is the all-in-one experience of being both a great eco-tour as well as a ziplining experience.

If you want just active aerial adventure, without the eco tour or hanging bridges, some of the other tours like the one below may be a better choice as they are more economical.

Book your canopy-only zipline tour of Selvatura here!

100% Aventura Park Combo Tour — Book Here

canopy staircase in monteverde

Located at the 100% Aventura Adventure Park, this is one of the more budget-friendly zip line tours in Monteverde. 

For a heart-pounding exploration of the lush Costa Rican cloud forest, try all sorts of aerial adventure at the 3-hour combo tour offered by 100% Aventura. 

This isn’t just your average Costa Rica zip line tour; it’s a white-knuckle adrenaline rush ranging from ziplining to ATV riding to rope bridges!

100% Aventura’s canopy tour includes 11 pulse-racing zip lines, nine regular zip lines but also not one but two Superman zip lines that are included in the price (no extra fee!).

Note that these are fewer in number than at Selvatura, but these cables pack a punch, since it includes the longest zipline in all of Latin America!

The longest Superman zipline stretches a mind-boggling 1.2 miles—nearly twice the length of Selvatura’s longest cable, by comparison!

You’ll also get to traverse rope bridge suspended high above the jungle floor, enjoy a ATV buggy ride along bumpy forest trails, and perhaps the biggest adrenaline pumper of all, their signature Mega Tarzan Swing. 

With a heart-stopping drop from 45 meters (that’s 148 feet!), this swing will get your adrenaline pumping like nothing else.

Scream, laugh, or simply hold on tight as you swing out over the jungle like the king of the apes!

This tour does combine a lot of forms of aerial transportation… but ground transit is not included in the package, so you’ll need your own car to get here.

But for the affordable price of this tour, it’s quite worth it!

This tour is great for adventure-seekers on a budget, and those who really want bang for their ziplining buck with experiences like the longest zip line in Costa Rica and two Superman ziplines.

However, this tour doesn’t incorporate the eco-aspect of the tour as much as Selvatura.

For example, there isn’t a hanging bridge circuit that you can take after the canopy tour, nor are there habitats for butterflies, reptiles, and sloths like there are at Selvatura.

So keep that in mind when trying to narrow it down between the two! It’s the best zipline tour for adrenaline junkies, but for eco-geeks, other adventure parks offer a more well-rounded experience.

Note: There is a maximum weight restriction of 240 pounds and children must be aged 6 and up. For Superman, rappelling, and Tarzan swing, the maximum weight is 220 pounds.

Book your adrenaline-pumping zipline & more tour here!

The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde – Book Here  

people at a canopy in monteverde on a tour ziplining monteverde cloud forest landscape

Another option when looking for zipline tours in Monteverde is the Original Canopy Tour: true to their name, they’re the pioneer of zipline escapades in the region. 

Nestled in the heart of the Monteverde region, their section of the cloud forest is a little denser and teeming with more old-growth forest than its Santa Elena counterpart. Think Jurassic Park vibes!

This classic tour combines your traditional zipline experience with some adrenaline-popping additions, like finishing your canopy tour with a 150-feet rappel straight down to the lush forest floor — talk about a finale!

And if you haven’t had your fill of excitement, you can ascend back to the treetops through a system of ladders for the optional Tarzan swing experience. 

This 2.5-hour tour also includes transfers in the Monteverde area, so that your trip to and from the canopy is a breeze, leaving you with more time to soak up the magic of your surroundings.

Note: There is a maximum weight of 250 pounds and young kids must be aged 5 and up.

Book your Original Canopy tour here!

Sky Adventures Combo Canopy Tour – Book Here

person ziplining on a monteverde canopy tour

For a unique spin on the zipline tour, Sky Adventures Monteverde has a Combo Canopy Tour, with something new added into the mix: an aerial tram tour! 

This isn’t your ordinary day out in the cloud forest; it’s a wild journey through, over, and above the trees in three different ways, at three different speeds.

There’s the epic Sky Walk, a serene yet spine-tingling series of high-flying hanging bridge where you can meander through the lush cloud forest canopy, walking across bridges suspended high above the jungle floor. It’s like strolling through the sky!

Next up, try the Sky Tram, a heavenly gondola ride that sweeps you up and over the treetops. Glide above the lush canopy with breathtaking views over the sprawling rainforest and towards the towering mountains beyond.

Of course, what you came for: the Sky Trek ziplines!

With seven cables covering a combined distance of 2.5 miles, it’s not the longest zip line route in Monteverde but it is still quite impressive.

Their longest cable stretches a whopping 2,500 feet, nearly half a mile of pure thrill at speeds up to 40 mph.

Plus, five epic observation towers dot the park, offering breathtaking views over the cloud forest.

After the high-speed rush of the ziplines, these towers provide a moment of tranquility, a chance to pause, catch your breath, and admire the view while standing on your own two feet.

All three of these extraordinary experiences—Sky Walk, Sky Tram, and Sky Trek—are included in the ticket price.

The entire adventure takes about 5 hours, and it includes transfers to and from Monteverde or Santa Elena.

Book your zipline and aerial sky tram tour here!