Come wearing your best footwear and prepared to watch your footing as you hike. The Skywalk 0 Comments This blog may contain affiliate links. (Ample free parking is available on-site). They are experts in the area so having a guide with us made the experience so much better. While Mistico is certainly cheaper than Sky Adventures, it is important to consider whether you are looking for a guided experience or not. As a follow-up to our post Best Ziplines In Costa Rica: Comparing 6 In Arenal And Monteverde, we are delving into the question "which Costa Rica hanging bridges are the best?" by taking a look at some of Costa Rica's most popular hanging bridges attractions. Shortly into your hike, youll have a chance to turn off to the left and explore the Rufous Hummingbird Garden, a quiet little reserve with tropical flowers, plants and water features. Ideal for senior travelers or mobility-challenged individuals, the accessible trail is the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Parks shortest trail. All of the opinions, recommendations, and advice expressed on Costa Rica Travel Blog are our own. For more in-depth info, check out our blog onwhere to stay in La Fortuna, or read below for our top picks for a range of budgets. The highlight for me, though, was seeing a sloth sleeping in a tree. There is also a twilight tour offered at 4:30 pm and a nighttime tour at 6 pm. La Fortuna has two different companies offering hanging bridge experiences. Read our disclosure policy for more info. The hanging bridges are BEAUTIFUL! Get the Costa Rica info you need by browsing our article's TABLE OF CONTENTS: Of the many, many tours and activities that La Fortuna has to offer, few are visited more than the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, formerly known as the Arenal Hanging Bridges. The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is one of the top things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica. La Fortuna Waterfall, Volcano and Hanging Bridges Combo. (See our photos below for a comparison of the parks old signage compared to its new signage.) We love this photogeni, Swim at the base of a waterfall! Our thoughts are influenced by our own travel experiences for the sole purpose of contributing feedback to the greater travel community. For budget travelers, Selinais an excellent option. Best Coffee Though well maintained, the parks flat trail paths are slippery when wet, which can make hiking inclines and declines a bit tricky for some folks. As you can see Mistico and Skywalk are different, but regardless of which one you choose, you will have a great time. Related read: If youre exploring this part of Costa Rica, make sure to take a dip in the hot springs around La Fortuna! Guided bird-watching tours, which include stops along the way for instruction and bird-spotting, run for longer, typically 2-3 hours. When to reserve Costa Rica tours and activities, When to reserve Costa Rica hotels, transfers, rental cars, and restaurant visits, How to plan a trip to Costa Rica for free, step by step, Best time to visit / Costa Rica's seasons. We loved that this tour was guided! Then take things up a notch with their treetop obstacle course. You can show up anytime and explore the park on your own. Both experiences had us up in the treetops spotting a ton of wildlife and walking amongst the Costa Rican jungle. The first is Mistico Park Arenal Hanging Bridges which is the larger of the two parks. Sky Adventures is an adventurers paradise. Round-trip transportation can also be booked through the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park directly. We know the Arenal Sky Walk hanging bridges well because we've been exploring them for years. We support our comments with evidence, however we welcome opposing comments. Our hike through the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park was one of the highlights of our amazing trip to Costa Rica! You can also find some of the best tours in Costa Rica in these parks. The hanging bridges can certainly be visited without a guide. If you are planning on taking a guided tour, the entry fee will be included in the total cost. Thank Nikki here. Click on the button above to donate through PayPal. Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket There are, Lounge around on secret beaches! If so, watch Nikki Solano on the Costa Rica-themed Rick Steves Monday Night Travel Show! From the Waterfall Bridge, youll be able to peer over the treetop canopy into the depths of the rainforest below and really appreciate the natural beauty that Costa Rica is blessed with. Check out our other Costa Rica-related projects, too: Tagged:arenal, arenal hanging bridges, costa rica, costa rica travel, costa rica travel tips, flora, hanging bridges, hiking, la fortuna, mistico arenal hanging bridges park, mistico park, nature, nikki, pura vida! ), you will take a guided 2.5-hour trek through the hanging bridges at Mistico Park. The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is easily accessible by hikers of all abilities, including toddlers. The hanging bridges extends 3,1 kilometers long, crossing fourteen bridges, 8 stationary and 6 in suspension, going from 8 to 98 meters length and getting till 60 meters height, where you have the possibility to appreciate the admirable flora and fauna characteristic of the place. Not only are guided tours and unguided visits to the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park popular activities on their own, theyre also popular components of combo tours sold in La Fortuna. For an after-hours experience, I cant say enough good things about this night walk through Mistico. Best Place To See Crocodiles Not only do you get to experience the rainforest canopy from above on a zip-line cable or hanging bridge, you can also get amazing volcano and lake views. Arenal Sky Walk Hanging Bridges: Everything You Need To Know When deciding which hanging bridge to go to, you may want to first consider their location and how you are going to get there. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - La Fortuna Costa Rica We booked on their website as a part of our tour. As an avid birder, Ricky loves the thrill of spotting a bird species he hasnt yet seen in La Fortuna, which is always a challenge given that hes seen and tracked more birds in the region than I could ever begin to count. From the main trail, after a downhill hike following the Waterfall Bridge, youll cross the non-suspension Keel-Billed/Rainbow-Beaked Toucan Bridge before spotting a set of rainforest steps that branch off the main trail to the right. Depending the typr of tour. About the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Today's the day! We were surprised to learn that over 400 species of birds in Costa Rica are found in this area from stunning toucans to many different types of parrots. Other hanging bridges (the Arenal Sky Walk Hanging Bridges) sit closer to the Main Sector of the Arenal Volcano National Park, but the drive to those takes 5-10 minutes so walking still wouldnt be recommended. Alternatively, you can book a taxi but it will likely be pretty pricey- approximately $30 one-way. The other is Sky Adventures (Arenal Park). On a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall, you will see why more than 100,000 visitors make the trip to the pristine jungle waterfall each year. Entrance fees to the park include the cost of the tour guide. 2020-11-25 22:32:23 Melissa Bruecher. Some less popular animals that you can expect to see along your trip include spiders and snakes. Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike. 75 photos that will make you want to go to Costa Rica ASAP! Both hanging bridges in La Fortuna are open rain or shine, meaning you can visit anytime. Rega, Witness a rainforest phenomenon! For even more luxury, The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal is arguably the fanciest hotel in La Fortuna. While I admit that Ive enjoyed seeing beautiful, long-tailed motmots every time Ive visited the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, I love everything else the park has to offer beyond great bird-watching. Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. Once you arrive at the park, youll pick up your tickets from the main office and then head towards the park entry to the left. Best Post-Meal Treat, Best Vacation Rental Property Pura vida, amigos! But given how well-maintained and gorgeous the trail is, as well as the really unique perspectives the hanging bridges provide, I ultimately think its worth it for travelers that arent on a super tight budget. The parks, while very similar, have their own charm and offer different amenities. Best Street Vendor Purchase Its a quiet and relaxing retreat set back from the parks reception where the natural sounds of the rainforest can be appreciated. A taxi fare is approximately $20-$25 each way. You must book your visit in advance (even if you dont plan on taking a guided tour) in order to ensure youll be allowed to enter the park when you arrive. if there werent signs counting the bridges, I probably wouldnt have noticed they were any different than the rest of the trail), whereas some of them, primarily the hanging bridges, offer jaw-dropping views of the rainforest canopy and jungle floor below. Cold coconut water is just as del, Relax on a secluded beach! The tour we did was fantastic, and I highly recommend it to those who want to challenge themselves and see a side of La Fortuna almost none do! Planning a trip to Costa Rica? Your chances of seeing wildlife in Mistico are honestly a bit hit-or-miss, given how highly trafficked this area is and how noisy it can be during the day. This is where the main trail meets the accessible trail. If you dont have a rental car, several tour operators in La Fortuna run guided tours to the attraction complete with round-trip transportation between the park and La Fortuna hotels. Edited by Lisa Chow. Copyright 2022 - There and Back Again Travel / Shanna Schultz, Essential Tips for Visiting the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, A Diamond in the Rough A Review of Our Stay at Arenal Xilopalo. But we say, go for the full experience! Browse our Costa Rica blogs to discover other things about Costa Rica not included in other categories. This guided bird-watching tour is $51 USD and includes transportation from La Fortuna. We recommend getting there as early as you can in the morning to beat the crowds. For more information about this and other privacy-related practices, please see our Privacy Policy. The second edition of my #CostaRi, Marvel at the nations beautiful landscape! Is hiking at the national park worth it? ). Both of these hanging bridges in La Fortuna require paying an entry fee. There are many different species of birds on the surroundings, such as the White Hawk, Great Curassow; reptiles like the Boa, Basiliscos Lizards, variety of species of monkeys and a great diversity of insects. Of course, guided tours will come with an additional fee, starting around $40 per adult. Our company is inclusive. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to accept the policy again. This trail partially overlaps with the main trail and will take you over 1 of the hanging bridges. With that being said, which park you should add to your Costa Rica itinerary depends on what you are looking to get out of the experience. It includes all your fees, water, transport, and a great guide. When we visit the bridges on our own, we typically walk through in about 1.5-2 hours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The BEST Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna: Mistico vs. Some of the bridges are rather small and nondescript (i.e. He pointed out so much wildlife we would have completely missed from tiny frogs to monkeys in the trees. It comes with fantastic views, luxury rooms, a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a swim-up bar, hot tubs, and a spa and wellness center. At first, I was a bit shocked how expensive tickets were here and wasnt really sure whether my husband, Justin, and I should visit. Mistico hanging bridges are open daily between 6 am and 3:50 pm. If you find our content valuable, and you'd like to thank us for making the trip-planning process easier and your Costa Rica vacation more enjoyable, please consider making a small donation ($1, $2, $3, or an amount of your choosing) to our blog. And we met other travelers who even went with a professional guide and still saw no wildlife. eh? Best Place For Black Sand There are also electric scooters available for rent here. Entrance fees to Sky Adventures Skywalk hanging bridges are $41 USD for adults and $28 USD for kids (5-12 years old). One of my favorite parts of visiting the hanging bridges was the animals we saw. While youre planning your trip here, check out our travel inspiration blogs so you can fill up your Costa Rica bucket list! Weirdest Drink To Order We booked tours when we went and found them to be really beneficial. If you arent traveling with a rental vehicle, I recommend booking a guided tour. Reservations are required regardless of whether you would like to tour the bridges with or without a tour guide. You MIGHT see some animals during your hike, but I guarantee that you will not see the huge variety of animals that we did. If you leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference. Is the value of your Costa Rica trip worth $5.99? You will make a right hand turn just after crossing the dam and follow the signs to the park. One of the more unique things to do in La Fortuna is exploring the Venado Caves. Although the volcano doesn't erupt anymore, it's an impressive site to see. Unfortunately, several of our websites features, including our Questions and Answers Forum, rely on cookies to operate. DIY Costa Rica provides 100+ unique experience recommendations, each written as a chapter in a book, complete with photo galleries, Costa Rica field notes, experience details, Spanish pronunciation help, links to additional resources, and maps. Best Aerial Tram Ride Just curious. Mistico Hanging Bridges: A Treetop Rainforest Experience RecommendedOutdoor ActivitiesTours & SightseeingWalking & Biking ToursDay Trips & Excursions. The rainforest, wildlife, waterfall and the . There are several options: It should come as no surprise thatLa Fortuna Waterfallis one of the top attractions in La Fortuna. Best Swimming Lagoon, Most Common Dining Expression Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike - Viator I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. For the self-guided tour option, visitors still must pay the entrance fee to the park in order to access the bridges and walk the trails on their own. In full transparency, I dont think a guided tour here is necessary, given the trail is very straightforward and well-marked. Children 10 and under are free to enter the hanging bridges. If you are looking for a combo tour through the Skywalk hanging bridges at Sky Adventues, this short 2.5-hour combo tour will give you many different perspectives of the Costa Rica jungle. I stayed here on my first visit to La Fortuna and loved it. So what kind of alternative trails are there? It is an easy 3.1 km trail that goes all around the the forest so is the perfect length for visitors to see many animals and plants. Best Historical Site Do you know that your spam-free reading experience is most important to us? Coolest Animal To See Up Close, Best Volcano To Visit The entrance fee to Mistico allows for a self-guided experience in which you can tour the park on your own and at your own pace. Their paths are smooth and wide and they even have a fully accessible trail. During our time here, Justin and I saw a coati (a racoon-like creature) in the parking lot and a handful of birds in the park itself and not much else; in fact, we saw a lot more wildlife when we were just simply relaxing in the Ecotermales Hot Spring. Walking the Skywalk, you can expect to spend around 3 hours exploring. Mistico is also located about 30 minutes away and is more on the northern side of the lake. Many species of Costa Rican wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and frogs live up in the trees, so these suspended walkways give you a bird's-eye perspective of Arenal's amazing ecosystem. See you there, amigos! Arenal Volcano is one of thetop national parks in Costa Rica. Best Surf Town The tour includes transportation from La Fortuna. Love our blog? The bridges are connected by two miles of smooth, well maintained trails. We strive for quality, not quantity, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere. 812 Reviews La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica Share Save to Wishlist From $162.70 Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Secure your spot while staying flexible Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. Best Semana Santa (Easter Week) Tradition Check the Hanging Bridges activity for more details, including: A/C roundtrip transfer from La Fortuna, experienced bilingual guide, No alcoholic drinks and entrance fee. By visiting or submitting information through our website, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies, and the use of third-party cookies. If you want to get the most from the La Fortuna, a combo tour is the best way to go. What I thought would be a terrifying experience turned out to be one of the coolest experiences I had in the country. Sometimes the visit takes longer, depending on the quality of birding. As we mention in our related blog post Self-Guided Adventures: 20 Things To Do In Costa Rica Without A Guide, most hanging bridge attractions in Costa Rica, including the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, can be experienced with or without a tour guide. Sky Adventures, home of the Skywalk, is the original hanging bridge in Costa Rica. Both hanging bridges are located about a half hour away from La Fortuna towards Lake Arenal. Best Zipline Tour If you have a question or comment about our article above or Costa Rica travel in general, please post it in our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, our sister website, where you can also access our private Costa Rica recommendations, our Costa Rica Destination Tool, and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map. We saw flowers that only bloom at nighttime and learned about all the butterflies that are awake in the dark (double the amount you can see in the day). Mistico Hanging Bridges Park from La Fortuna 2023 - Viator Keep reading for my suggestions for a few tours that will offer pick-up from your hotel. Learn more 4-hour Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges tour from La Fortuna Enjoy a guided hike along a circuit of 15 specially designed bridges ), through the stunning green rainforest, before reaching the base of the mighty waterfall. Tarantulas are native to this area and are commonly seen in dark cool areas such as holes in rocks. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, La Fortuna - GetYourGuide The first two hanging bridges are the most popular in the park, so we recommend at least seeing those. The forum Costa Rica Travel Blog Forum is closed to new topics and replies. Absolutely! 1. We were lucky to see lots of birds, frogs, monkeys, butterflies, and way too many spiders! The park is located in a rain forest, which means that there is a better chance that it will be raining than not. You asked, we answered! Home What To Do In Costa Rica Hanging Bridges (Suspension Bridges) A Step-By-Step Guide To The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, Last updated on October 27th, 2022 at 03:37 pm EST, Nikki is the CEO ofPura Vida! 7:00 AM Hotel Transport Included Mobile Ticket Included Offered in English, Spanish The tour begins at 7:30 AMyou'll be picked up from your hotel and head towards the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. If you have your own vehicle, the park is approximately 30 minutes from downtown La Fortuna. July 27, 2022 The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica are one of the top hanging bridges in the country and are undoubtedly included in the list of the best things to do in La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano region as a whole. Best Beach Hostel While you can walk yourself through the park, having a guide will help you get the most out of this experience. I hope you love your time in La Fortuna as much as we did. The best combo tour option for visiting Mistico Hanging Bridges combines tours through the Arenal Volcano and the La Fortuna Waterfall. On the list is zipline, bridges, hot springs and possibly more if time allows. If you are looking for an even higher birds eye view of the jungle, the parks sky tram is a great option. Best Nature Tour Operator Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica: Where to Go for the Best Experience Day 3: Hanging bridges, La Fortuna waterfall, Volcano hike. Check out our latest stories here and follow us on Instagram (@UprootedTraveler), YouTube, or on Facebook to see what were up to next! If you long to shop or dine on-site, youll find a souvenir store and a restaurant called the Sal & Pimienta Restaurant at the parks reception. Navigating the tree stumps and wandering up steep sections make this a great option for those looking for a bit more adventure. Once you continue along the main trail, the first few bridges youll pass are not particularly interesting, but the fourth one, the Arenal View Bridge, is special. eh? Best Hummingbird Garden If so, get DIY Costa Rica access. This combo tour costs $162 USD and includes transportation from La Fortuna, lunch, and entrance fees to the hanging bridges. Mistico Park can be explored on your own without a guided tour. The rustic charm of Sky Adventures will have you weaving through narrow pathways built into the forest. Foggy, mysterious, bi, Get creative in Sarchi! Arenal Volcano Hanging Bridges Walk 2023 - La Fortuna - Viator Nikki wrote the cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Not only will you get a guided tour through the Mistico hanging bridges, but it will also take you to swim in the La Fortuna waterfall and hike the Arenal Volcano. Pssst visiting La Fortuna? Early birds may like taking a guided bird-watching tour offered at 6 am. The 16 static and hanging bridges sit on 600 acres of private land developed purely for eco-tourism and wildlife viewing.
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