Forget the Road — We’re Flying Through Costa Rica’s Rainforest

There are plenty of places around the world where you can go ziplining these days, but Costa Rica has a fairly decent claim to being the place that turned flying through trees into an actual tourist attraction.

And tucked into the cloud forest near Santa Elena in Monteverde is The Original Canopy Tour, which has been sending people through the treetops since 1994. The company describes it as the world’s first canopy tour — so if you're going to throw yourself off a platform attached to a cable, you may as well do it where the whole idea began.

Ten Ziplines and One Bloody Big Forest

This isn't one enormous zipline followed by a souvenir photo and a bus ride home.

The experience runs for around two to two-and-a-half hours and includes 10 ziplines, ranging from relatively gentle 60-metre runs to an 800-metre flight above the canopy. Rather than relying on big artificial towers, the course travels tree-to-tree through the forest.

And that’s important, because half the attraction is where you are.

Monteverde is famous for its cloud forest — damp, misty, ridiculously green and alive with wildlife. Guides may point out howler monkeys, blue morpho butterflies and, if you're particularly lucky, a resplendent quetzal. Wildlife doesn't work to a roster, of course, so no demanding your money back because Gary the monkey had the afternoon off.

Then Things Get Slightly Mad

The ziplines aren't actually the strangest part.

There’s an optional Tarzan Swing, where you step off into a free-fall before swinging through the forest. There’s also a rappel down towards the forest floor.

Then comes my favourite bit.

You climb back towards the canopy through the hollow interior of a giant strangler fig tree.

Not around it. Not beside it.

Inside the bloody tree.

That's exactly the sort of travel experience you remember years later.

Who's It For?

You don't need to be a 22-year-old adrenaline junkie with a GoPro permanently attached to your forehead.

The minimum age is five, no previous ziplining experience is required and groups are kept to a maximum of 10. Families, couples, teenagers and adventurous older travellers can all have a crack, although there are weight and health restrictions worth checking before booking. And importantly, the Tarzan Swing and rappel aren't compulsory.

Make It Part of the Drive

Monteverde is made for a Costa Rican road trip. The tour is only minutes from Santa Elena, there's free parking and, according to the operator, you don't need a 4WD to reach it.

So park the hire car, swap four wheels for a harness and spend a couple of hours seeing Costa Rica from somewhere completely different.

DSP PRO TIPS: Wear long pants and closed shoes, take a rain layer — this is a cloud forest, after all — and don't plaster yourself in sunscreen or insect repellent once you've got the harness on. Apply it beforehand. Most importantly, occasionally stop looking for the next platform and look around. You're flying through one of the most extraordinary forests on the planet. Want to add to your adventure in Costa Rica? Check out this awesome hotel in a Boeing 727 HERE (opens in a new tab)

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