Ziplining in Monteverde: which canopy tour to pick
Which parks have the longest ziplines, the Superman cable and the Tarzan swing, how ziplining compares with the hanging bridges, how intense it really is, and what to wear in the cloud forest.
See Monteverde zipline tours on GetYourGuide ↗Thrill-seeker or scenery-seeker?
Decide what you're after. For maximum adrenaline, book a park with the longest cables, a horizontal 'Superman' line and a Tarzan swing — that's the big-flight Monteverde experience. If you'd rather take in the forest calmly, the hanging bridges (sometimes with a butterfly or sloth garden) are gentler. Combined tours give you a taste of both.
How scary is it, really?
You're harnessed and clipped on by guides the whole time, and the ziplines take no skill — you just glide. The heights are real and the first big cable gets the heart going, but most people relax into it quickly and finish grinning. If you have serious vertigo, weigh it up; the Tarzan swing, the most intense bit, is usually optional.
Dress for the cloud forest
This is a misty mountain rainforest, so it's cooler and damper than the coast. Bring a light rain jacket and a warm layer, wear closed shoes with grip, tie back long hair, and secure anything droppable. Mornings tend to be clearer, but flying through drifting cloud is a Monteverde experience in itself.