Where to find the best ziplining in La Fortuna with kids
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Ziplining in Costa Rica had been on our family bucket list for years — and once we finally planned several weeks traveling the country as part of our family gap year, there was no question that we were going to make sure we made it happen.
With two adventurous boys who actively seek out adrenaline and thrills, ziplining quickly became a priority when we started mapping out our route. Costa Rica is the birthplace of jungle ziplining, after all — but once we arrived we realised just how much choice there actually is.
If you’re a parent trying to work out the best ziplining in La Fortuna — especially with kids — this post is for you.
After doing the research, reading reviews, and actually flying through the rainforest ourselves, I can confidently say this was one of the most thrilling, memorable experiences of our entire trip.
👉 In a rush? Click here to book our top-rated ziplining tour in La Fortuna
Table of Contents
- Why Ziplining in La Fortuna Is a Must-Do
- Why We Chose Arenal Mundo Aventura
- Our Ziplining Experience (With Kids)
- How Much Does Ziplining in La Fortuna Cost?
- What should you wear on a ziplining tour?
- Our Honest Verdict: Is This the Best Ziplining in La Fortuna?
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna With Kids
- Download Our Free 3-Day La Fortuna Family Itinerary
- FAQs: Ziplining in La Fortuna With Kids
- Still searching for more Costa Rica inspiration?
Why Ziplining in La Fortuna Is a Must-Do
La Fortuna is one of the best places in Costa Rica for adventure travel — and it’s especially well suited to families who want excitement without sacrificing comfort or safety.
This region sits at the base of Arenal Volcano and offers an incredible concentration of iconic Costa Rican experiences, including:
- Rainforest hikes
- Hanging bridges
- Waterfalls
- Volcano trails
- Hot springs
- Whitewater rafting
- Horseback riding
And so much more. Ziplining fits perfectly into this mix — it’s adventurous, immersive, and gives you a totally different perspective of the rainforest canopy. Yes, you can hike the forest floor and walk across a hanging bridge or two – but wouldn’t it be SO MUCH MORE FUN to fly through it at high speed??
Easy to Add to Any Costa Rica Itinerary
As a destination, La Fortuna is also very easy to reach so it’s a great option – however much time you have in Costa Rica.
- It’s a straightforward drive from San José on good-sized, paved highways
- There are regular shuttle connections (both private and shared) to destinations across Costa Rica
- Even in a short stay here you can fit in a ton of different activities, all from just one base.
Once you’re there, you’ll find several La Fortuna ziplining options scattered around the Arenal region — which is great, but also overwhelming when you’re trying to choose the right one with kids. We spent hours reading reviews and speaking to fellow travellers about their experiences before trying some of the ziplines out for ourselves.
You can read our perfect three day itinerary for a family trip to La Fortuna here (and download our freebie too!).
Why We Chose Arenal Mundo Aventura
After comparing multiple operators, we booked the Big AMA Tour at Arenal Mundo Aventura. We wanted to really maximise the number of ziplines we could do in one go but all in a family-friendly environment.
And there were loads of reasons why this particular zipline tour worked so well for us. Here’s why it stood out for us as a family:
What the Tour Includes
- 12 zip lines in total
- The longest zipline in La Fortuna at 960 metres
- Lines that pass directly over La Fortuna Waterfall
- Excellent guides that have a strong reputation for safety and professionalism
It felt like the perfect balance: big enough to deliver serious adrenaline, but clearly designed with families in mind.
Plus it’s right outside La Fortuna so easy to reach from wherever you’re staying. You don’t *have* to have a hire car in La Fortuna but it can make life much easier (check out all our experiences of driving in Costa Rica here).
Tip: If you book through your accommodation they can also often arrange pick up if you don’t have a hire car
Our Ziplining Experience (With Kids)
From the moment we arrived, the staff put us at ease. Everything was well-organised and professional right from the get-go.
There are lockers at reception where you can store your belongings if you’re brought anything that you can’t take on the ziplines with you.
Friendly Guides & Clear Safety Briefings
The guides were upbeat, patient, and fantastic with kids — explaining everything clearly and taking their time to help everyone get their harnesses on correctly. Even when some of us got in a bit of a tangle!
They went through what to expect, how to brake using your hand, what to do if you got stuck and everything else in-between. Even before we left the ground, it was obvious safety was taken seriously.
The Adventure Begins
The experience starts with a tractor ride along bumpy jungle trails, which our kids loved almost as much as the ziplining itself. It built anticipation and helped ease initial nerves. From the drop off point it is a short hike of about 0.3km (mostly uphill on uneven trails) through the forest. This takes around 15-20mins before you reach the first platform.
I thought our boys would be a bit cautious at first, but nope, they were STRAIGHT to the front of the queue for the first zipline.
Flying Through the Rainforest
So we’d read loads about the ziplining experience, and ziplined in other places before, but NOTHING had really prepared us for these jungle lines. The sensation is hard to describe but I’ll give it a go! It just felt absolutely joyous and I loved:
- The whistle of the wind
- Bird calls echoing through the trees
- The feeling of flying through dense rainforest canopy
- The spectacular views across the top of the rainforest canopy, and the HUGE drop below down to rivers, waterfalls and pure jungle
At full speed, we were told some lines reach up to 70mph — and it definitely felt like it. The massive benefit of having some really long ziplines is that you actually get a bit of a chance to absorb the feelings, views and sounds as you fly across.
The views of La Fortuna Waterfall in particular and the surrounding rainforest were spectacular, even through the mist.
The guides will ride tandem with any smaller kids or any kids who are just a bit nervous. Which is a great option if your kids aren’t quite sure – they still get the amazing experience but in a safe, supported way.
The guides also talk you through each zipline before you launch off the platform. Towards the end of each line you do need to use your gloved hand to brake before you reach the other side. I thought this might be tricky but actually it was really easy to get the hang of. After a couple of ziplines we were definitely well in to our stride and any nerves had completely disappeared.
And yes — if you get stuck on any of the lines, the guides will come and rescue you. This happened to one adult in our group, which only added to the excitement.
Ready to book the best zipline tour in La Fortuna?
Have the adventure of a lifetime, flying through the Costa Rica rainforest with your kids. Check up-to-date availability and treat yourselves to this epic, bucket-list heap of fun.
Rain, Clouds, and Pure Chaos (In the Best Way)
Halfway through, the heavens opened. Heavy tropical rain made the lines even faster, and for safety, our youngest (7 at the time) rode tandem with a guide for part of the course.
At one point, clouds rolled in so thick we couldn’t even see where the lines were going.
Watching your child disappear into the rainforest on a wire is:
- Slightly terrifying
- Completely exhilarating (especially for them!)
- Absolutely unforgettable
The feeling of getting absolutely soaked in the pouring rain, whilst flying through the rainforest on a zipline, was definitely one of those travel moments that stayed with us all.
Group Size & Atmosphere
Our group had around 10 people, which felt ideal — small enough to move quickly, but social enough to share the experience. There were other families in our group too which made the whole experience even more fun as the kids were chatting away about how awesome each zipline was.
In total the whole experience took around 4.5hours, including the safety briefing, tractor ride and the full course of 12 ziplines.
Cultural Stop at the End
The tour finishes with a stop at the Maleku Cultural Center. This is a traditional Costa Rican hut with locals in traditional dress selling a variety of souvenirs. To be honest, it felt quite touristy and not especially authentic — but after several hours of adrenaline, we appreciated the chance to sit down and catch our breath.
Staff provided us all with free cold drinks which were very much appreciated after several hours in the heat!
How Much Does Ziplining in La Fortuna Cost?
We knew in advance that this wouldn’t be a cheap day out, but this was EXACTLY the kind of experience we’d come to Costa Rica for so we’d planned it in to our budget well in advance to make sure we didn’t miss it. This was easily one of the very best things we did in Costa Rica with the kids.
The Big AMA Tour at Arenal Mundo Aventura (with all 12 ziplines) costs $83 for adults and $70 for kids (aged 7-12).
For us, it felt worth every penny — especially given:
- The length of the tour
- The number of ziplines
- The professionalism of the guides
- How much our kids loved it
If you’re on a tighter budget, they offer the Extreme Canopy Tour which has 7 ziplines and takes 2-hours. This is priced at $65 for adults and $56 for kids. However I would HIGHLY recommend stretching to the 12 zipline package if you can so you can get the full experience.
👉 Book your own unforgettable ziplining experience at Arenal Mundo Aventura here
What should you wear on a ziplining tour?
First and foremost you need to be comfortable. And bear in mind too that you are in the rainforest so you may get muddy and wet!
Lightweight, long trousers are recommended. The harness is much comfier over clothes than on bare skin, so those really short shorts are probably not the best idea. Again, you are in the actual rainforest so there are mosquitoes, ants and plenty of other insects around. Keeping covered up helps keep any biters away!
We LOVED our Nosilife hiking trousers from Craghoppers and wore them throughout our Costa Rica trip.
You’ll also need to remember insect repellent for the same reason.
Closed toed, proper footwear is an absolute must.
And it’s a real bonus if you have zip pockets somewhere on you – if you want to take a phone or a small camera this will need to be firmly secured before launching on any of the ziplines.
Our Honest Verdict: Is This the Best Ziplining in La Fortuna?
Absolutely — for families. This is the kind of activity you dream about when travelling with kids – the perfect combination of:
- Adrenaline
- Safety
- Jungle immersion
- Kid-friendly pacing
This really made it one of those rare experiences that everyone agrees was a highlight.
Flying through the rainforest canopy is something our kids still talk about — and honestly, so do we.
Where to Stay in La Fortuna With Kids
If you’re planning a stay in La Fortuna so you can do some ziplining (and all the other adventure activities), then these worked well for us:
💰 Arenal Xilopalo (Budget-Friendly)
- Great location
- Comfortable for families
- Wonderful staff who can book a whole range of tours for you
🏨 Check rates for Arenal Xilopalo — our favourite budget-friendly stay with huge family apartments, friendly staff, and volcano views you’ll never forget
🌋 Los Lagos Resort (Splash-Out Option)
- Hot springs on-site
- Perfect for relaxing sore muscles after adventure days
- Very family-friendly resort type stay
🏨 Check rates for Los Lagos Resort — worth splashing out on for those amazing hot springs
You can also check out our full range of tried-and-tested family stays across Costa Rica here.
Download Our Free 3-Day La Fortuna Family Itinerary
Planning La Fortuna around adventure activities can be tricky.
👉 Download our free 3-day La Fortuna itinerary with ziplining, waterfalls, hot springs, and downtime built in.
FAQs: Ziplining in La Fortuna With Kids
Most tours allow kids from around 5–7 years old, depending on height, weight, and conditions. Younger kids may ride tandem with a guide.
Most tours last 3–4 hours door to door.
Yes — reputable operators like Arenal Mundo Aventura have excellent safety standards and experienced guides.
Many tours include transport, or you can drive easily from town.
Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and the Caribbean side also offer excellent ziplining experiences.
Still searching for more Costa Rica inspiration?
Check out some of our other posts for more in-depth reviews, info on where to stay and what to do and ways to make your family trip to Costa Rica unforgettable!
- Costa Rica with Kids: The Ultimate Guide
- Where to stay in Costa Rica for families
- 7 best beaches for families in Costa Rica
- Our recommended turtle nesting tour
- Swim in the bioluminescence in Costa Rica
- The perfect 2-week Costa Rica itinerary
- 7-days in Costa Rica with kids itinerary
- Stay under canvas at Rafiki Safari Lodge
- The best eco-lodge in Costa Rica for families
- 25 best things to do in Costa Rica with kids
- 7 best things to do in La Fortuna
