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Canopy in the Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Ziplining combined with the aerial tram in the Braulio Carrillo National Park is a fantastic way to experience spectacular views, getting close to nature, as well as satisfying your thirst for adventure.  

The “Rainforest Adventure Costa Rica Atlantic” in the Braulio Carrillo National Park is reachable in a day tour from San José, and it allows you to explore a versatile flora and fauna as well as to challenge your inner adrenaline junkie.

Are you looking for an adventure during your vacations, or for an adrenaline kick on a weekend? In only 50 minutes from San José, you are able to totally immerse yourself in the jungle, not using ordinary hiking paths, but aerial tram and zip line.

Journey

I had the opportunity to visit the Braulio Carrillo National Park and to go ziplining. I was a little bit anxious, although this was my third time, at the same time was hoping that the fun factor would overrun my fear this time.

 

Rainforest in the Braulio Carrillo National Park

 

My journey begins at the Aurola Holiday Inn Downtown San José Hotel, in the city centre and easy to get to. Of course, you can also be picked up in other hotels in San José

Starting our adventure at 7 am, our journey leads us through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where just the street already is a delight: green, green, and more green around us, small waterfalls and different, extraordinary plants and trees. One plant is called “poor man's umbrella” by the Ticos because the leaves are huge and allow you to use it actually as an umbrella.

Our guide is playing a “get-to-know-each-other game”, absolutely not my thing... but, also, he is telling us some interesting facts about Costa Rica. Did you know that it only takes about 50 minutes to get to the Braulio Carrillo National Park, but we are crossing 4 provinces (states)?

During the drive, I get into a conversation with my neighbour, she never was on a zip line tour. Puh, of course, I am the best person to talk to, with my own doubts... Quickly, a group of scary ones was formed, that later should be the last ones on their zip line. Like “If the other 35 people before us made it, our chances are pretty good”. After actually just 50 minutes we arrive, it’s Saturday and because of that in San José there are no traffic jams. As soon as we reach the entrance, we switch from our bus to a smaller van, because the bigger one wouldn’t be able to continue. And the adventure starts!

We’re heading for 5 more minutes into the national park before we arrive at the starting point. Here, there is a hotel, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and the zip line equipment.

Arrival

First we have breakfast, in a buffet form. Of course, there is the traditional Gallo Pinto, that’s: rice and beans mixed together, served with egg and a small piece of bread. As a vegetarian, I am not eating the bacon that would be part of it. There are also fruits, such as pineapple and papaya, as everywhere in Costa Rica delicious. On top, coffee and the day can start.

By the way, rice and beans you’ll get in Costa Rica in the morning, for lunch, and in the evenings. Such as just mentioned Gallo Pinto or Casado (married) for lunch. Different on the Casado is that beans and rice are served apart.

Read here more about Costa Rican Food: Top 5 dishes you must try!

Ziplining

After breakfast, we have to sign a waiver declaration (yes, it’s a must), lock up our personal stuff in lockers, and get into the zip line equipment. You don’t need to worry about anything, the guides are going to help you.

Aline ziplining

 

Don’t forget the helmet, straps, carabiner, and gloves, afterwards we’re off by bus to the first zip line station. But we didn’t count on a suddenly appearing tapir with its about three months old baby. The mammal with dense, short fur and a short trunk is, of course, the highlight because they’re rare. And it takes its time until everybody took a nice picture.

My tip for zip lining: Best would be you wear pants with secure closeable pockets, so you’re going to be able to take your mobile phone to take pictures and to make videos, or, you choose to attach your GoPro to your helmet. No need for a jacket, it’s too warm, and if it’s raining in the rain forest, it’s raining. It will stay warm.

After the photo session with the big and the small tapir model, the adventure now finally begins. First of all, there is an orientation about security, they’re explaining to you that you were equipped with the newest equipment and on top, you’ll have double security. Furthermore, the guide brakes for you. Fantastic! In La Fortuna, it wasn’t like that (Sky Adventures). There everybody had to brake on their own, I constantly was imagining myself crashing with full power in the next station, it gave me an unpleasant feeling. So, that can not happen here.

They also show you what to do if you’re too light or in a bad position, because of that too slow, and not reaching the next station with your own power. If you’re stuck in the middle of a line, you’d have to turn and pull yourself to the next station. “That never happens”, I am explaining to my neighbour on the bus. Obviously, it happened to both of us later! Jackpot! It wasn’t that hard though if you are know-how, and relaxed we’re continuing to the next cable.

Overall you’ll find 14 platforms and 10 cables in the Braulio Carrillo National Park, we were using 7 of them. One, a 700m long cable, is the longest zip line cable on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

In Monteverde and La Fortuna, you’ll find way longer ones, for the extreme adrenaline junkies among you. We start with short cables to get used to it, but soon cables get longer, and the speed gets higher. The landscape is beautiful, you’re in the middle of the jungle or above, enjoying nature, and on top, you’re enjoying an adventure.

Guides are highly professional and they’re securing you on the platforms every time you get there. You also don’t wait long until you can continue. At half the time you’ll get time to breathe and refresh on a larger location with a nice view. For me, it’s not surprising that right now a team of National Geographic is here to take some drone shots of the area.

After near getting used to the height and the zip lining combined with an awesome view, I think to myself: “Wasn’t that bad...” I forgot the last cable, which is, as mentioned above, 700 meters long, and high. Really high. This time we are not in the jungle but above it.

Meanwhile, the group is getting on the next platform, we spot one of the beautiful frogs you find here, a really small one, with an incredible blue with red. Again, I am frustrated that my camera is absent, locked in a locker that I mentioned earlier. Since here frogs aren’t just green like in your neighbour’s garden, but really colourful, I became a fan of those amphibians.

Being on top of the platform, I have to be honest, I am afraid. The platform is really high and you can’t see the next one from here, a voyage into uncertainty. As it’s my turn, I just want to be done with it. The distance of 700 meters at the end is so long to overcome, that I suddenly have time to check my surroundings, and enjoy it. How happy I can be living that close to such a paradise, I can only recommend you to spend a day here. After about four hours, according to the size of the group it might be longer or shorter, the tour is over. I am happy to take off my helmet, it’s pretty hot here. 

Aerial Tram

I am getting my camera and the tour continues with the next highlight of the day. Our guide, five others, and I are getting in an aerial tram that is open towards all sides. Guide, five others, and I are in one gondola, so there is space for 7 people.

The aerial tram takes you on a ride through the jungle on two levels; On one way you’ll be near the ground and see ground vegetation while going back you’ll be some meters higher and see all levels of the forest.

Aerial Tram Braulio Carrillo

 

The ride takes about an hour and our guide explains a lot of details. Why are some trees “hugging” each other so inmost that you can’t even tell anymore which is which, or why is it that some roots are growing from up to down?

Rainforest, Braulio Carrillo

 

Two snakes greet us during the ride, they are wound around trees and leaves, without a guide we wouldn’t have noticed them. Besides the many different species of insects, as well as huge spiders, we also see toucans, which impress me every time with their nice colours.

Aerial Tram, Braulio Carrillo

 

The aerial tram ride was an amazing experience, I enjoyed it a lot. Now I am ravenously hungry, good for me that our lunch comes next, again in the form of a buffet. Again they offer rice and beans in the form of "casado" with meat, vegetables, and plátano (cooked, sweet banana), very delicious. Furthermore, they offer salads and fruits, nothing is missing.

Learn more about our Costa Rican Food: Top 5 dishes you must try!

Toucan

 

Snake and frog terrarium

After lunch, we’re heading to an orchid farm as well as to a terrarium right next to it. I am very pleased to hear that none of the animals was caught to show them to tourists, like in a zoo, but they were rescued.

Some of them were held illegally in households and aren’t able anymore to survive in the wilderness. Therefore, they found a new adequate animal housing here. The guide explains to us a lot of things about the animals, for example; how do you know a coral snake is poisonous? It’s a poisonous one if the colours are ordered red, yellow, black, yellow.

We also get to see hummingbirds, always a highlight with their vibrant colours. They’re the only birds that are able to fly backward, and don’t have to turn around, unlike other birds. They demonstrate it each time they’re departing from a flower, impressive!

Hummingbird

 

Accommodation

We’re having a look at the Tapirus Lodge and our guide tells us who should not come. That I call an unusual sales strategy, but it’s needed. People who aren’t able to live without a TV, a network, or even WiFi for a while, shouldn’t think of coming here. Let me put it in a positive way: Nature lovers who want to enjoy the rainforest, explore, go on a night hike, and hear the sounds of the jungle while getting to bed, you are very welcome!

Furthermore, it’s recommended to not be afraid of snakes. In case of doubt, you can always cancel the night hike.

The rooms are super nice, simple, but clean and with all you need. Food also is included. More than a night I wouldn’t recommend, Costa Rica, in general, has so much more to offer.

If you’re living in the city, this is a perfect getaway with a short distance to drive, or you visit on a one-day tour. Also, with some flights leaving as late as 10 pm from San José, you could combine this trip on your last day. 

Tapirus Lodge, Braulio Carrillo

Tapirus Lodge, Braulio Carrillo

 

My day ends after a coffee and a delicious banana cake, and I have to say: I couldn’t have spent my weekend better. Perhaps I’ll not be afraid anymore the next time I’m going on a zip line tour.

I’ll know soon because I won an entrance ticket for the Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Pacific Park on the way back. I again will be on a zip line, furthermore, I’ll be climbing a waterfall. I am able to use the voucher within the next five weeks, therefore, I am already looking forward to it.

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  • Janaina & Dieter, Brazil

    The trip was wonderful! Your help was invaluable and without your choices it would not have been so good! I am very very satisfied and very happy with the choices you made!

    Thank you very much for everything!

    Janaina & Dieter, Brazil
  • Kathrin, Ines, Matthias & Ingo, Germany

    Hello dear Aline, many thanks to you for the great compilation and organization of the trip. We were able to spend eventful, interesting and wonderful days in Costa Rica and will keep them in good memory. A thank you also goes to the ARA Tours team, which was available 24/7 for problems and questions, which were solved and answered quickly and reliably. The punctuality of the transfers offered should also be emphasized. In summary, it was a wonderful holiday.

    Kind regards

    Kathrin, Ines, Matthias & Ingo, Germany
  • Carina & Thomas, Germany

    Hello dear Aline,
    Now we have arrived back at San Jose Airport after a great trip. Everything worked out great and the tour was just perfectly planned and organized. Thank you very much. We take a lot of positive memories with us.
    Best regards.

    Carina & Thomas, Germany
  • Yvonne, Switzerland

    The Costa Rica trip together with my family is already behind us - it was wonderful!!! Everything went smoothly from A to Z, we had a wonderful time, no incidents and wonderful experiences.
    We all enjoyed it very much; the nature is enormous, but also the warm-hearted people, the cleanliness, the food - we are very enthusiastic!
    At this point I would like to thank you very much for your support in the preparation, for all the bookings, clarifications and enquiries!!!
    We visited the waterfall in La Fortuna and had a great view of the Arenal. In Monteverde we did a Hanging Bridges and Zipline tour and in Nosara a surf course. In Finca Rosa Bianca we did the coffee tour, it was all great, fun and interesting 😊. All in all, we saw lots of animals, always ate well, enjoyed the beaches....even in rainy weather 😊. Often we were even glad that it was overcast, otherwise it would have been almost toouuu hot for us.
    So THANK YOU again so much for everything!!!!

    Yvonne, Switzerland
  • Christina, Switzerland

    Many thanks for the extensive support (before, during and after the trip) and the professional handling of our concerns. With your support we had a smooth and unforgettable vacation in Costa Rica! Our favorite hotels: Hotel Plaza Yara and the Poas Volcano Lodge - a dream!
    All the best
    Christina

    Christina, Switzerland
  • Jeanne, Bernd & Bill, USA

    Yay! I´m glad we are back on track. Thank you again for helping us with all these changes.
    I´m glad we choose ARA-you are amazing! Thanks for all your help! It made it a very memorable visit!

    Jeanne, Bernd & Bill, USA
  • Janka, The Netherlands

    Hi Eli & ARA Team,
    We have spoken to the guest and they are super enthusiastic about their Costa Rica roundtrip! Everything was well organized, nice hotels, nice mix of activities & beach and they have big compliments for you guys!!
    Many thanks for all the good work!! The guest highly appreciate it!!
    They had lunch nearby in Ara Ambigua Lodge, and they loved this place. Friendly staff and good food!
    Do you work with this accommodation? If so, we would love hear 😊
    Once again, heads off for this amazing trip!
    With warm regards

    Janka, The Netherlands
  • Thomas, Deborah, Eva & Paula, Switzerland

    Dear Priska
    Happily I write some words to you in English, so you can easily forward them also to Ara Tours, please. Thank you all, we spent a magic time in Costa Rica! Baumeler's and Ara Tours organisation and logistics were perfect, everything worked out even better than we expected. The tours were brilliant, we really enjoyed everything very very much!
    All the accomodation was absolutely wonderful... the setting, the quality, the food, with happy helpful friendly staff everywhere. It was a wonderful way to experience this beautiful country the way we did, on a private tour with personal guide and drivers. We saw and learnt sooo much - it would have been impossible to do so on our own.
    Especially we praise our brilliant guide Fernando Perez, we benefited so much from his truly wide knowledge and deep love for his Country which he passed on in lovely encouraging way. We even became friends and we will meet in Switzerland coming September! Also our driver Carlos Sandi was great, not only as a driver but also as a compagnion, animal spotter and photographer. Thank you!
    So.... now we just enjoy our last day...
    Sunny greetings, pura vida

    Thomas, Deborah, Eva & Paula, Switzerland
  • Yvonne & Andrea, Switzerland

    Hello all
    Unfortunately, our wonderful trip is already over and everyday life has caught up with us again. We would like to thank you very much for everything. The trip was planned exactly according to our wishes and we have seen so many beautiful places.
    Thank you Stefanie!
    We have felt completely comfortable and top cared for by you. Via Whats App we got immediate answers to our questions, with the car everything worked out great. In all locations we were treated very warmly and nicely. It was just so indescribably beautiful, we will dream of the beautiful experiences for a long time. In any case, we will warmly recommend you and hope for a next time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    Best regards.

    Yvonne & Andrea, Switzerland
  • Anita, Switzerland

    We have arrived safely in Switzerland and have already returned to work.
    It was a wonderful trip you put together for us.
    Your excellent service, as well as the 24 hour support service from ARA Tours, was truly outstanding.
    I have already recommended you several times and would book with you again and again. Thank you very much and keep me informed if there are any interesting offers.
    Best wishes.

    Anita, Switzerland
  • Lukas & Isabelle, Switzerland

    Hello Pedro, our time in CR is coming to an end and we wanted to say "thank you very much for organizing a phenomenal week". Everything has been well organized and we have seen many beauties of nature. Thanks!

    Lukas & Isabelle, Switzerland
  • Reinout & Yvonne, The Netherlands

    Thanks Jenny for the clear answer. We will make an appointment via the link you gave us.
    Today we visited National Parc Cabo Blanco. What an amazing park, so quiet for tourists, so full of animals, really lovely and therefore together with Monte Verde, Cahuita and Corcovado the park today, Cabo Blanco, scores high in our ranking of most beautiful parks of CR.These parks give us reason, together with the Pura Vida in CR, to come back soon. We'll keep in contact.

    Reinout & Yvonne, The Netherlands
  • Dominik, Germany

    Good day Jennifer
    As we have already told Simone, the stay at Lapa Rios is extremely enriching, thanks to the well planned planting and the untouched environment we see a lot of animals. Contrary to the plans before the stay, we do not want to visit more animals in captivity at the end. We will have a look at the few hours before we leave.
    We thank you and your team very much for the excellent advice and the permanent support! We can only recommend Ara Tours.
    Best regards.

    Dominik, Germany
  • Daniel, Jana & Theo, Germany

    A big thank to you, you saved our vacation!
    Communication already worked very well in Germany. The help from you, especially through Aline, should be mentioned here. This was fantastic from the first WhatsApp message to the last. We already know Costa Rica, so we knew what we wanted and what not. Ara Tours was an important point of contact for us. We are very grateful to Aline precisely because our actual travel agent cancelled our trip 36 hours before departure. She immediately organized everything for us. Whether the hotel in beautiful Punta Leona, the tours to the national parks, even the shuttle service with the great driver Guillerno Ortega has to be mentioned here. We are very grateful to you, dear Aline, but also to the entire Ara Tours team. You too made our almost 3-week trip to Costa Rica unforgettable again. We would love to come back and of course we will book through Ara Tours again.

    Daniel, Jana & Theo, Germany
  • Alexander & family, Switzerland

    Thank you, everything really worked out great. Super organization and at any time quick info / help / support from you!
    We liked it very much. The conclusion in Quepos was crowning. We liked the beach in the National Park Manuel Antonio very much. We would have liked to stay longer, but we take home many wonderful, unforgettable impressions. PURA VIDA!
    Many thanks to you Aline! We will gladly recommend you to others.

    Alexander & family, Switzerland
  • Neumann Family, Germany

    - The route was super planned, first on the beach time to arrive and then only from Monteverde with excursions inland etc. and at the end again beach - perfect!
    - Support from Ara Tours was VERY good!!! Through Whatsapp reachability the service was great, very quick answers / very flexible, good suggestions etc. Also with the doctor Ara Tours helped with translations by phone - that was really very, very good!
    - The home stay day was an absolute highlight - very authentic - so we got to know the locals REAL, the family was super friendly and very open and have talked about everything. Not at all touristy perceived.

    Neumann Family, Germany
  • Marine & Bruno, France

    Hello
    We would like to thank you personally for this beautiful trip that you organised for us and for the follow-up that you did throughout the stay. A big thank you also to Jennifer d'Ara tours! Thank you again and have a great week!

    Marine & Bruno, France
  • Walter, Switzerland

    We really appreciated your (almost) daily updates from Costa Rica on Covid and related issues. That was a highlight compared to other incoming agents worldwide! We thank you for your effort and wish you that you manage the coming time well and stay healthy.

    Walter, Switzerland
  • Ronald, Germany

    Our great compliments for keeping us informed every day on the developments. We wish you all the best and keep yourself and families in good health and mood during this unprecedented period!

    Ronald, Germany
  • Kathrin, Germany

    You are really super! It is impressive how you manage the crisis with your super flow of information and the great reversal. Hats off!

    Kathrin, Germany
  • Michael, Germany

    Hello, we were on a round trip in Costa Rica from 27.11., which was booked through BigXtra and organised by them. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much. The tour was simply amazing! The support by Carlos was just great. We have done many trips before, but this one was an unforgettable experience thanks to Carlos. Carlos speaks very good German and was able to sensitively introduce us to Costa Rica, its incomparable nature and its great, friendly inhabitants. Pura Vida became for us a term for the attitude towards life in Costa Rica. Please say hello to Carlos from us and once again a huge thank you to him in the name of the whole group of 8. We wish him only the best for his future.

    Michael, Germany
  • Evelyne, Switzerland

    Wie just did a 4 week trip in Costa Rica which was organised from ARA tours and we really liked it - well done Ara Tours! We also had a guide - his name is Enrique. His German is really good and he knows a lot about Costa Rica and he showed us a lot of animals. We had a wonderful time with hime - thank you so much Enrique!

    Evelyne, Switzerland
  • Tanja, Germany

    perfect tour perfect tour guide pablo, everything very well organised 👍👍👍👍🇨🇷🇨🇨🇷 were thrilled

    Tanja, Germany
  • Ines, Germany

    Many thanks and great praise to our tour guide Mauricio and our bus driver Adrian! We felt very comfortable during the 2 weeks in Costa Rica. The wide-ranging knowledge of Mauricio and the super driving skills of Adrian were particularly admirable. Thanks to the eagle eyes of both of them, we had the opportunity to observe a variety of animals in Costa Rica. Thank you for everything!

    Ines, Germany
  • Sabine, Germany

    I can only recommend ARA Tours. Thanks again to Nicole for the great planning of the tour and the support. Our tour guide Peter Käser was simply incredible (a walking encyclopaedia) and always had an answer to all my questions about the flora and fauna and the history of CR. Our driver Julio carried my father on his hands, for which I am very grateful. CR is also worth a trip for wheelchair users at any time (with ARA Tours, of course).

    Sabine, Germany
  • Thieme Family, Germany

    We would like to thank you once again for organizing our trip [...] through the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Our special thanks go to our tour guide Enrique, who with his extensive knowledge of flora and fauna about his country brought it very close to us and made us want to come even a second time. We were very glad and happy to travel with him, as he was also very committed to our problems on site, in addition to his competent function as a tour guide.

    Thieme Family, Germany
  • Antonia-Maria & Boris, Austria

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sensational effort! I do not know such a competent tour guide as with you really from nowhere else... and we have already traveled a lot... 🙏🏻🍀

    Antonia-Maria & Boris, Austria
  • Katja, Germany

    I wanted to thank you again for the great Costa Rica trip. We flew back home very happy and with many great impressions. A compliment for the super organisation. Everything worked out perfectly (except for the handover of the rental car, which was force majeure...). So thank you again and I have already recommended you to friends:-)!

    Katja, Germany
  • Denise & Alain, Switzerland

    Thank you very much for your email and the tickets. We really appreciate how quickly and efficiently you deal with our requests each time!

    Denise & Alain, Switzerland
  • Philippe, Switzerland

    Hello Christine Thank you very much for this information. The support is super👍 many thanks Gruss

    Philippe, Switzerland
  • Marianne & Stefan Gräub, Switzerland

    Otherwise, the planned trip was a complete success. Everything went well and the visits you organised were all very interesting. The visits you organised were all very interesting and gave us a great insight into the respective topics. The fact that the Ticos are very friendly and always ready to help was fully confirmed.

    Marianne & Stefan Gräub, Switzerland

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