Which canopy tour is the best? We get this question all the time.
There are 5 companies that operate in Monteverde. They are Original Canopy Tour, Aventura Canopy Tour, Extreme Canopy Tour, Selvatura Canopy Tour and Sky Trek Canopy Tour.
Only Aventura, Extreme, Selvatura and Sky Trek are Costa Rican owned and operated. Original Canopy Tour is the smallest, most expensive and is Canadian owned. For this reason we do not typically recommend Original Canopy tour.
There are 2 different systems of zip lines in the Monteverde area and all the companies have 3km of cables:
System 1: is the typical system you find virtually everywhere in Costa Rica. A climbing harness, a padded glove used for breaking, a safety cable and a pulley. These systems go from platforms in trees. From tree to tree. All the tours are professionally guided and everything is explained before you begin. The main thing is that you are responsible for breaking and these systems go from tree to tree. Aventura Canopy, Extreme Canopy and Selvatura Canopy all use this system and have 3 km of cables with 14 to 15 cables.
THE TARZAN SWING! All three companies that use system 1 have a Tarzan Swing. Super crazy, Super Fun and Terrifying. A Tarzan Swing basically is a high tower and a tree with a rope tied from it. Hook the rope in to your climbing harness and jump off the tower. Free fall and then swing out over the valley. It is voluntary but you paid for it, So go for it!
System 2: Sky Trek uses a system that includes a climbing harness and safety cable but they use a pulley that you hold on to with both hands. NO BREAKING. The breaking is done for you and is completely mechanical. They also have only 2 cables that are from platforms in the trees. After the the first 2 the cables go from platforms on the ground or from large towers. Sky Trek has 3km of cables but they only have 11 cables, so instead of making 14 or 15 short cables, Sky Trek made 11 big ones.
Sky Trek does not have a Tarzan Swing but they do have the fastest, the longest and the highest cables in the area. There longest cable is 770mts long! 150mts High! 55kph fast! The last few cables on Sky Trek are CRAZY BIG!
Sky Trek, Selvatura and Aventura also have a series of suspension bridges that suspend you over the forest canopy. All three companies have 8 suspension bridges in a 3km loop. ONLY Sky Trek and Selvatura have bridges and zip lines in PRIMARY Cloud Forest. So which one is the best? Well that depends on what kind of experience you are interested in.
Selvatura Canopy Tour: Great cables, Costa Rican owned and operated, super Tarzan swing. The suspension bridges are large and the best in the area. Both the cables and bridges are entirely in PRIMARY CLOUD FOREST. Cons: large groups and touristy feel.
$30 student $40 Adult or $40 Student $55 Adult for both cables and bridges
Sky Trek Canopy Tour: Out of this world Cables! Crazy long cables with outstanding views of both the Caribbean and pacific slopes. Easy breaking system. Costa Rican owned and operated. Good bridges but more like hanging bridges. Both the cables and bridges are entirely in PRIMARY CLOUD FOREST. Cons: NO TARZAN SWING, Disney feeling, the most expensive.
$37 students $44 Adults $42 Students $52 Adults for both cables and bridges.
Extreme Canopy tour: Great Cables, big Tarzan swing. Costa Rican owned and operated. Small groups and the cheapest in the area. Cons: No bridges, not in primary forest but still nice forest.
$27 students $37 Adults
Aventura Canopy Tour: Great Cables and fantastic Tarzan swing. Costa Rican owned and operated. Guided ATV tours are also available. Cons: Bridges and cables are not in primary cloud forest. Farms houses and roads.
$30 Students $40 Adults $40 Students $55 Adults for cables and bridges.
At the hotel we work with all the companies in the area and everyone has their favorite. Most of our guests choose between Selvatura, Sky Trek or Extreme. As for me, I think they are all great fun but I prefer the companies that are located in Primary forest. Please feel free to post your opinions we would love to hear from you.
Happy Trails,
The PSE Gang
