Ziplining is the easiest way to get a real dose of adrenaline in La Fortuna without any skill or training. You clip in, step off a platform, and fly over the rainforest canopy with Arenal Volcano popping in and out of view. It's also one of the most family-friendly adventures around. Kids from age 7 can ride, and on our canopy-only tour the guides do the braking for you. The hard part is choosing, because almost every tour in town seems to bolt a zipline onto something. Here's what La Fortuna ziplining is really like, how our Arenal zipline tours compare, and which one fits your group.
What is ziplining like in La Fortuna?
A typical Arenal zipline tour goes like this: you're picked up at your hotel, get fitted with a harness, helmet and gloves, sit through a short safety briefing, and then work your way through a circuit of cables strung between platforms in the trees. On the Arenal Canopy Zipline, a tractor-wagon ride takes you up to the first platform, and there are fruit and water stops along the way.
What surprises most first-timers:
- It's more scenic than scary. The first line is the nervous one. By the third, people are asking to go again.
- You don't steer or brake. On the canopy-only tour, guides brake every landing. You just hold on and look around.
- The views change with the weather. On a clear morning you'll see Arenal's cone between the trees. On a misty one, you get the full cloud-forest feeling instead.
If you've tried ziplining in Costa Rica before, La Fortuna's big draw is the setting: rainforest and pasture right at the foot of the volcano.
How do the different zipline experiences compare?
Which La Fortuna Zipline Tour Is Right for You?
Every tour below is run by Arenal Mundo Aventura. Each one includes round-trip transport from La Fortuna hotels, full safety gear and a certified bilingual guide, and the price is the same for adults and kids. Prices are per person in US$ from our catalogue (checked October 2026).
| Tour | Price | Time | Min age | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arenal Canopy Zipline | $49 | ~2 hrs | 7 | First-timers, tight schedules |
| Canopy + La Fortuna Waterfall | $87 | ~5 hrs | 7 | Two highlights, half a day |
| Canopy + Sloth Tour | $97 | ~4 hrs | 7 | Families, wildlife fans |
| Canopy + Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane | $97 | ~4 hrs | 7 | Foodies, a gentler pace |
| Canopy + Rainforest Night Walk | $97 | ~4 hrs | 7 | Afternoon zip, frogs after dark |
| Canopy, Volcano Hike, Lunch & Hot Springs | $97 | ~9 hrs | 7 | Full day, best value |
| Canopy + Balsa River Rafting | $119 | ~8.5 hrs | 8 | Adrenaline seekers (must swim) |
| Canopy, Volcano Hike, Lunch & Hanging Bridges | $148 | ~10 hrs | 7 | One big Arenal day |
Weight limit: 250 lb / 113 kg on the canopy-only and sloth tours. For the others, check with us.
Explore La Fortuna Zipline Tours → See all zipline tours
Which is best for families and beginners?
For family-friendly ziplining in La Fortuna, start with one of these two:
- Arenal Canopy Zipline, US$49, about 2 hours. Short enough for short attention spans, and the guides do all the braking. Departures run at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, so it fits around naps and pool time.
- Canopy + Sloth Tour, US$97, about 4 hours. Zip first, then a flat walk with telescopes and binoculars to find sloths. Guides average four to six sloths per walk, though wild animals never come with a guarantee.
Good to know with kids: the minimum age is 7, and the operator charges the same price for every participant. If your child is nervous, the canopy-only tour is the lower-stakes way to try it. More ideas are in our guide to La Fortuna with kids.
Which is best for adventurous travellers?
If one activity won't cut it, stack them:
- Canopy + Balsa River Rafting, US$119, about 8.5 hours. Zipline in the morning, then whitewater on the Balsa River with certified river guides and a safety kayaker. You need to be 8 or older, comfortable in the water and able to swim.
- Canopy, Volcano Hike, Lunch & Hot Springs, US$97, about 9 hours. Ziplining, a guided hike on Arenal's old lava flows, lunch and a soak at the end. It's the best value in the lineup if you want one full Arenal day.
- Canopy, Volcano Hike, Lunch & Hanging Bridges, US$148, about 10 hours. Everything above plus the hanging bridges. Expect roughly 6 km of walking across the day.
Age, weight and safety requirements
From our tour listings (checked October 2026):
- Minimum age: 7 on every zipline tour we sell, and 8 for the rafting combo.
- Weight: a maximum of 250 lb / 113 kg on the Arenal Canopy Zipline and the Canopy + Sloth Tour. Ask us about the other combos before booking.
- Health: not suitable during pregnancy or with recent back, neck or heart problems.
- Equipment: inspected daily and certified to international canopy standards.
- Braking: on the canopy-only tour, guides brake every landing.
- Weather: the circuit closes during electrical storms and reopens when it's safe.
What to wear and bring
- Closed-toe shoes. These are required on every zipline tour. Sneakers or trail shoes work best.
- Comfortable shorts or trousers that sit well under a harness, plus a quick-dry shirt.
- A light rain jacket in the green season (May to November).
- Sunscreen and bug spray.
- A phone with a secure strap or zip pocket, or nothing at all. Anything that can fall out of a pocket eventually will.
- Extras for combos: a swimsuit and towel for the waterfall or hot springs, and long trousers for the night walk.
- Skip loose jewellery and hats, which come off under your helmet anyway.
Transportation and practical planning tips
- Transport is included. Every zipline tour we sell has round-trip pickup from La Fortuna hotels, so you don't need a car. Driving yourself? Parking is free at the canopy-only tour.
- Go early if you can. Morning departures tend to be cooler and clearer, with better odds of seeing the volcano. Afternoons in the green season are more likely to see showers.
- Pair it smartly. A 2-hour zip leaves the afternoon free for the hot springs or the waterfall on your own. A combo saves you a second pickup and a second booking.
- Book a few days ahead in high season (December to April), and earlier if you need a specific time slot.
- Pick your month: see what January is like in our January guide.
Recommended tours + Adventure Planner
If we had to pick three:
- Best first zipline: Arenal Canopy Zipline, US$49. Two hours, guides brake for you, pickup included.
- Best half day: Canopy + La Fortuna Waterfall, US$87. Zip, then swim at the base of the waterfall (about 500 steps down and back up). Lunch is included.
- Best full day: Canopy, Volcano Hike, Lunch & Hot Springs, US$97. The most Arenal you can fit into one ticket.
Explore La Fortuna Zipline Tours → Compare all zipline tours
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Prices and tour details last checked October 2026.
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Tours you can book
- Arenal Canopy Zipline — About 2 hours, from $49 per adult, ages 7 and up, hotel pickup included. La Fortuna.
- Canopy + Sloth Tour — About 4 hours, from $97 per adult, ages 7 and up, hotel pickup included. La Fortuna.
Common questions
Which La Fortuna zipline can I book here?+
Arenal Canopy Zipline is $49 per adult and takes About 2 hours, ages 7 and up. Canopy + Sloth Tour is $97 per adult and takes About 4 hours, ages 7 and up. Compare the full list on the La Fortuna tours page.
What is the best zipline in La Fortuna?+
It depends on your group. For a first time or a tight budget, the Arenal Canopy Zipline (US$49, about 2 hours) is the simplest pick. If you want more from your day, the Canopy + La Fortuna Waterfall combo (US$87) covers two highlights in about 5 hours.
How much does ziplining in La Fortuna cost?+
Our zipline tours run from US$49 for the canopy on its own to US$148 for a full day with a volcano hike, lunch and hanging bridges. Prices are per person, and the operator charges the same rate for adults and kids.
What is the minimum age for ziplining in La Fortuna?+
7 on all of our zipline tours, and 8 on the Canopy + Balsa River Rafting combo.
Is there a weight limit?+
The Arenal Canopy Zipline and the Canopy + Sloth Tour list a maximum of 250 lb / 113 kg. For the other combos, check with us before booking.
Is ziplining in La Fortuna safe for beginners?+
Yes, for most healthy people. Equipment is inspected daily, and on the canopy-only tour the guides brake every landing for you. It isn't suitable during pregnancy or with recent back, neck or heart problems.
Do I need a car to go ziplining?+
No. Every zipline tour we sell includes round-trip transport from La Fortuna hotels. If you drive yourself to the canopy-only tour, parking is free.
Does ziplining run in the rain?+
Light rain usually doesn't stop it. The circuit closes during electrical storms and reopens when it's safe.
What should I wear for ziplining?+
Closed-toe shoes (required), comfortable shorts or trousers, and a quick-dry shirt. Leave loose jewellery and hats behind, and bring a light rain jacket in the green season.