Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, La Fortuna - Viator There is an immediate right that dead ends, and you do not want to take that road. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! If you are looking for an even higher birds eye view of the jungle, the parks sky tram is a great option. If youre looking to pack multiple attractions into the day, this full-day combo tour is a great option! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Afternoons might have fewer visitors. These should be booked in advance. What options? This trail partially overlaps with the main trail and will take you over 1 of the hanging bridges. What are some memorable moments for travellers to Costa Rica? Also, try to visit on a clear day so you can see the volcano and lake! 6:00 a.m . Both experiences had us up in the treetops spotting a ton of wildlife and walking amongst the Costa Rican jungle. What makes Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park unique from other bridges in the area (namely Sky Trek Adventures) is the wildlife viewing. Quito, Ecuador 9 of the Best FREE & Cheap Things to See and Do! For budget travelers, Selinais an excellent option. What Will Post-COVID Vacations Look Like? Related post: Driving In Costa Rica Complete Guide. Exploring the park is an adventure that takes you to the base of one of the best volcanoes in Costa Rica and slightly up its steep face. I hope this guide to Mistico Hanging Bridges Park is helpful as you plan your Costa Rica trip! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 11 Incredible Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica's Adventure Capital Arenal 1968: The Best Arenal Volcano Hike in La Fortuna El Salto Rope Swing: La Fortunas's Swimming Spot You Don't Want to Miss Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park: Hike to the Most Colorful Waterfall in Costa Rica The park, formerly known as Arenal Hanging Bridges, is one of the most extensive hanging bridge attractions in all of Costa Rica. The park has both self-guided and tour guide options, and it is really up to you which you choose. Self-guided Hanging Bridges - Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park A guide will point out various plants, flowers and wildlife and teach you about their importance in Costa Rica. Here is a map of the Arenal hanging bridges trail. 4 BEST Hanging Bridges in Monteverde + How to Visit Them! Finally, I invite you to sign up for my free blog newsletter! Ride an open-air cable car to the forests peak and then fly down a zipline back to the jungle floor. 2.5 Hours Tour Times: 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am Distance: Between 1.9 Km and 3.2 Km (1.2 to 2 miles) Ages: Guided Walk at an Easy Pace Suitable For All Ages Includes: Entrance Fee + Nature Tour led by Naturalist Guides Having someone explain all the plants and point out all the animals to us completely changed the experience. With our guide we learned about the area and saw some pretty birds - toucan, honeycreepers - and also howler monkeys. The main trail is a 2-mile (3.2-km) route that will take you past all 6 hanging bridges in the park. See https://misticopark.com/book-now/ . Below is a summary of all of the hanging bridges at The Skywalk: Mistico offers 6 hanging bridges and 10 regular bridges in the park. The Mistico Park entrance fee is $26.86 USD for adults and $19.45 USD for youth between 11 and 18. 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. Addicted to Coffee & Chocolate? When is the best time to visit? You will definitely want hiking shoes or shoes with a good grip. Getting to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park from La Fortuna is a simple thing. Youll Love This Tour! 11 Essential Things to Know Before You Visit Ecuador, A Self-Guided Tour To The Real Town Behind Mystic Falls. Incredible and unique dventures from other bloggers around the world. We have booked night walk at AOL on 20 Mar and morning walk on 22 Mar Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges are located about 30 minutes west of La Fortuna. The first detour you can take is to a spacious garden right by the park entrance. Its also harder to see wildlife in the rain, and it generally rains in the afternoon, so I recommend either choosing a clear day if possible or going in the morning. Get Exclusive Costa Rica Travel Tips and our Free Travel Guide Straight to You! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. What should I buy? If renting a car isnt in your budget, you dont feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just dont like driving, shuttles are the next best option. The trick is you cant pick any car on their website. Without a doubt, visiting the hanging bridges is one of the most popular things to do in La Fortuna. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park 4.5 4,043 reviews #46 of 192 Outdoor Activities in La Fortuna de San Carlos Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks Closed now 6:15 AM - 4:00 PM Write a review See all photos About Enjoy travelling the forest comfortably in our revitalizing paths full of nature and wildlife. The best part is that it only costs $45 USD per 4 weeks. Hotel Transportation Offered. There." Simone | Solo & Slow Travel on Instagram: "BEST THINGS TO DO IN LA FORTUNA, COSTA RICA Visit some free natural hot springs! The accessible trail is about 1 mile long and includes 6 fixed hanging bridges. You are not required to buy tickets beforehand, but we highly recommend it. Are there ATMs? For families traveling with strollers or accessibility concerns, Mistico Park is the better option to choose. Mistico is also located about 30 minutes away and is more on the northern side of the lake. 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. Journey to the heart of the rainforest on a 2-mile (3.2km) circuit of 15 hanging bridges and have chance to spot up to 350 . How long does it take? While you can buy tickets at the gate, we highly recommend buying them before you go! We usually purchase it as soon as we land at the airport. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. While on the bridges you wont always have a great view of the volcano. I hope you love your time in La Fortuna as much as we did. Especially in peak seasons, they can get quite busy. Its one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica! This is a leisurely 3-hour excursion but can also be combined with an aerial tram and canopy tour. The viewpoints along the hanging bridges are breathtaking. One of the best guided tours of our vacation. You will then soar down a zipline for a total of 1.7 miles (2.8 km) to the forest floor. Welcome! Pacos Horseback Riding; Combined Tours. To start coverage you must purchase it after leaving your home country. My name is Carrie, and I'm so glad that you stopped by to check out my adventures. Is there a Farmers Market near where I am staying? Snake Rufous Mot Mot Many of the animals, like the snakes and Mot Mot were just hanging out close to the hanging bridge so we got a very close look at all of them. At a glance, here are the reasons why to visit Monteverde or Arenal. All about Mosquitos In Costa Rica: How Bad Are They Really? The trails through Mistico are well maintained with wider paths that are flat and easier to access. 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. If you have your own transportation but want to do a guided tour through the park, thats an option too! Many animals, such as snakes hide on trees and in plants so you dont want to accidentally get too close to them. Can I use my iPhone? Pacos Horseback Riding; Combined Tours. The true highlight of our animal experiences during ourArenal hanging bridges hike was seeing a mother sloth up in a tree with a baby clinging on to her. When deciding which hanging bridge to go to, you may want to first consider their location and how you are going to get there. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The Mistico Park is among the top places in La Fortuna / Arenal area to hike in the rainforest and get up close with its flora and fauna. Also please do not walk off the path as it is destructive. No trip to the rainforests around La Arenal Volcano is complete without a journey through the famous Mistico Hanging Bridges Park. We belive strongly that travel benefits kids in SO MANY ways. The first few bridges you cross will be very small, taking you across some small streams and dips. I do not do well at all with heights, but the bridges felt safe to me and I didnt feel like I was too high off the ground even though I was. If you dont want a guide, you can purchase the entrance ticket and do a self guided walk. special 7% deal for all Mytanfeet readers. If you opt for a guided tour, a professional naturalist will be able to tell you the names of the plants and animals that make their home near the base of the Arenal . Even open jacket pockets felt a little sketchy to me. Home La Fortuna The BEST Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna: Mistico vs. The entrance is next to the dam wall of Lake Arenal. You will start your day on a 2.5-hour trek to the dry lava fields at the Volcano. The ultimate list of Spanish phrases for Costa Rica with kids. You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here. The transportation was comfortable and our guide was really funny. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100562515', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');renting a car and are flexible so I thought wed just book ahead and get the slot that suits. I especially love to wear my Keen shoes, but they slide a lot on the terrain so I dont recommend them here. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent views and even see where the lava from the last major eruption oozed down the side of the volcano. Best Adults Only All Inclusive in Costa Rica. The tour costs $163 USD and includes all transportation to and from La Fortuna. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad765a9ad25cfc0eb30c1bb34a61b7f7" );document.getElementById("f247f85416").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. They didwiggle a little bit when we crossed, but we felt very safe at all times. We are (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Combining multiple activities will give you more time and new experiences in the area. 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. There are 16 bridges in total, six are hanging bridges. One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There was also a monitor at the beginning of each bridge to make sure, and all of the bridges looked to be strong and in good repair. The latest time to enter . What should I wear? I highly recommend that you take the side trail down to the waterfall! Nothing will ruin your experience like a rainy day you arent prepared for. The trails are concrete, and near the steeper parts there is a wooden railing to grab on to. Below we will go into detail. 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. Start by taking a leisurely ride on the Sky Tram up to the peak. Paying out of pocket for trip interruptions or medical treatment will add to what might already be a stressful situation. Tifakara Boutique Hotelis located just outside Arenal Volcano National Park. Six of them hanging suspension bridges as high as 150 feet in the air! If not well book for 8am. There are not any regular, local buses that head to Mistico Hanging Bridges Park. The Mistico Hanging Bridges park consists of a series of 16 bridges. Skywalk also requires you to take a guided tour through the park which may not be as desirable for families with young children. Paths narrow in areas and you will be walking over tree stumps and other natural obstacles. We went on a guided hike of the Arenal hanging bridges so that we could learn more about the rain forest and the Arenal area. Just head west on the main road out of La Fortuna towards the laguna. . ), 10 Tips to KNOW Before Visiting the Costa Rica Crocodile Bridge, 15 Things to KNOW Before Visiting Marino Ballena National Park. Our Arenal hanging bridges tour was a highlight of an already amazing trip. While the trails are generally not bumpy, parts CAN be steep and slippery, particularly if it is raining. Though this park now has more activities other than hiking, the hanging bridges are still the highlight. This is oftena more budget friendly option if you dont have your own vehicle. Where should we go? We planned for an early morning trip but thought to ask here. Additionally, they will learn about the geography and land of Arenal and enjoy the rain forest. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - Tripadvisor They will not let you enter with flip-flops or open-back shoes because theyre too easy to lose on the bridges. Seven adults, five kids, and one epic Costa Rica adventure. Plus, your pet probably wouldnt appreciate the suspension bridges! A first-timer's guide to pulling off a multi-family trip. One of the more unique things to do in La Fortuna is exploring the Venado Caves. Be sure to subscribe to my posts and social channels to stay in touch and join in on the growing Mandala Traveler community! Most of these are based in the Hampton Roads area. The best time to view the wildlife is in the early morning. While we certainly enjoyed the scenic views, we were ill-equipped to find any wildlife on our own. Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges - Pura Vida Moms We often do self-guided because there are so many official tour guides that we can usually just overhear what they are saying to their own groups as we move through the park. This fun, and somewhat scary experience, takes you underground to see the cave with an expert guide. We wore our KEEN closed toed hiking sandals which worked very well but even though we had a toe bumper, we still had to sign a waiver. Visiting is nothing short of breathtaking. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The park is open every day from 7:30 AM to 3:50 PM (last entrance). Address: 2km este de la represa del Lago Arenal, La Fortuna de, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica. I would rate the hike as moderate, based on how steep some of the hills are. This will fluctuate slightly depending on the crowds and whether you take the detour to the waterfall. I want to bring home coffee. After checking in with your reservation at reception, youll receive a park map and your actual tickets to enter the park. The Skywalk, Categories Destinations, La Fortuna, Things to do. Our guide was constantly working hard to find as many animals as he could for us to see and learn about. We, on the other hand, only saw a couple of birds the entire trip. Mother nature may have the answer from youhard to impossible to find a good answer in any magic link!! If you have your own vehicle, the park is approximately 30 minutes from downtown La Fortuna. They wanted to make sure the extensive wildlife and views were preserved and also available to the public. Trails in this park tend to be wider and flatter with one trail that is fully accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Hi- Im Christa, and Im on a mission to help the world fall in love with Costa Rica through food, travel and language. The highlight for me, though, was seeing a sloth sleeping in a tree. Where should I buy it? This was for him the highlight of the whole trip! The entrance fee is $26 for adults, $16 for teens, $21 for seniors (over 65), and free for kids under 10. Can I and should I move to Costa Rica? To give yourself time to visit one (or both) sets of hanging bridges near La Fortuna, youll need a place to stay. Your email address will not be published. In addition to operating daytime hanging bridge tours, the Mistico Park operates early-morning bird-watching tours, late-afternoon twilight tours, and evening night tours on-site, each of which includes a visit to the hanging bridges. Hanging Bridges In Costa Rica, Mistico Park La Fortuna - YouTube Welcome to the Mandala Traveler! Dont forget to stay alert for all the beauty in between the bridges as well! Crossing the suspension bridges gave us all a thrill, and a birds eye view into the rainforest canopy. Our naturalist guide's expert gaze will provide you with an exquisite opportunity to witness life's mystic balance. I've been to Mistico several times, morning and afternoon. Length: 2 miles (3.2km) . Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park Tours and Activities - Expedia Costa Rica Hanging Bridges - Which One is Best? When you arrive at the boat ramp parking area, you will make a right turn. Any Helpful tips? If you love birds, this Mistico birdwatching and hanging bridge tour starts at 6 am and will give you a peaceful view of the park before all the tourists come. Most travelers arrive as part of a tour, by car,xa0or by taxibus transportation is not reliable. I would go when it's most convenient. Prices cover a basic entrance fee and a self-guided experience (so no tour guide). Filed Under: Activities and tours Costa Rica. Everything you need to know about car rentals in Costa Rica. Trending Post: Costa Rican Gallo Pinto Recipe. Our guide was calm and knowledgeable and turned all my fear into excitement as he pointed out all the animals moving around through the park. If you are a student, the price drops to $33 USD. Both hanging bridges are located about a half hour away from La Fortuna towards Lake Arenal. Combine your tour of the hanging bridges with a canyoning experience and rappel down a waterfall. When he found an animal, he set up a telescope focused on the animal so we could look and get a close up view. If you are looking to get transportation to the park, this 4-hour guided tour is only $69 USD. A hike through the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park in sunny weather is a perfect way to spend several hours viewing and photographing the area's flora and fauna. Pingback: Planning a Trip to The Costa Rica Carribean Coast with Kids. The tropical rain forest in the Arenal area houses a plethora of wildlife and the hanging bridges are an excellent way to see them. One of the best things to do in Mistico Park is the twilight or night walk. The BEST Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna: Mistico vs. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - What To Know BEFORE You Go - Viator Make travel planning easier with these new resources! Just relax is your vacation..amybe some people love to stress out others !! View Combos; Park Hours. This is the same road you will use to get to the hot springs such as Baldi, Kalambu, Volcano Lodge and Springs and Tabacon. If you are wanting to take a guided tour with transport of either of the hanging bridges in La Fortuna, you will need to make a reservation ahead of time. I think the animals are more likely to be active in the morning, so if you want to see animals, morning would be better. So if youre looking to experience the famous hanging bridges of Costa Rica or want a nice hike in Arenal to learn about the rain forest and see wildlife, the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is the best place to go. The park is very careful about how many people are on the bridges at one time. Wildlife viewing is very hit or miss there though. Weve recommended some great tours you can book throughout, so keep an eye out for those. View Combos; Park Hours. After visiting and having great experiences in both parks, we can confidently say that no matter what you choose, you will not be disappointed! Related Read: Learn about the best places to go ziplining in Costa Rica! Simone | Solo & Slow Travel on Instagram: "BEST THINGS TO DO IN LA Related read: If youre exploring this part of Costa Rica, make sure to take a dip in the hot springs around La Fortuna! Imso happyyou found the site- WELCOME! Mistico, although newer, offers a lot of other experiences. 15 Comments One activity that many people want to do on their trip to Costa Rica is walk along hanging bridges. My son had been hoping to see a sloth for the entire trip after reading a book about sloths before we left. For the best deal, we recommend booking the horseback riding and hanging bridge combo tour for $124 USD. Mistico Hanging Bridges - best time of day? : r/CostaRicaTravel - Reddit Mistico Park can be explored on your own without a guided tour. While theyre rarely seen, the forest is also home to jaguars and pumas. If you are interested in this tour, we offer a special 7% deal for all Mytanfeet readers! 7am Leaving from San Ramon 8:45-9:15am Stop at La Fortuna Waterfall 10am-12:30pm Mistico Guided Hanging Bridges Tour 12:30-1pm Lunch 1:15-4:15pm Tabacon Hot Springs 4:15-6:15pm Head back to San Ramon . What should I bring? The night walk tour is $55 USD and includes round-trip transportation from your hotel in La Fortuna. Misticos 6 hanging bridges will have you walking a total distance of 1,482 feet (452 meters) of hanging bridges. Mistico hanging bridges are open daily between 6 am and 3:50 pm. Offered in English, Spanish. Very good blog post. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that dont include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. 1 room, 2 travelers Leaving from Going to Departing Returning I only need accommodations for part of my trip Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park Types of activities Popular activities Reviews La Fortuna Travel Guide You never know what critters you'll discover at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Additionally, the tours include transportation which is nice if youre not renting a car. They picked us up at our hotel and brought us back, reliably on time. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Enjoy a thrilling close encounter with Costa Rica's wildlife on this 4-hour tour to the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park from La Fortuna, in the shadows of the Arenal Volcano. Read our disclosure policy for more info. Yes, you CAN visit the park on your own and explore the bridges. I also love travel tips, itineraries, and great deals, not to mention sharing adventures from my fellow travel bloggers! One thing I dont love about these trails is that they get slippery when wet. One of the highest bridges, the Arenal View Hanging Bridge has a great view of the volcano and rain forest. We found the guides to be very knowledgeable about the park. The 3 trails interlink together so for those looking to do all the trails, you will be walking through some sections multiple times not such a bad thing if you ask me! Our guide was AMAZING! Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, San Jose - Viator The first suspension bridge you cross gives you a sweeping view of the valley and (on a clear day) the Arenal Volcano. Is it pet-friendly? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. How do I spend my time seeing what I want to to see instead of wasting it? Hotel and Transportation Recs New Years Week, Shuttles from San Jose Airport to Liberia. If you book a tour, then you dont need to do anything extra as the tour company will make the reservation for you. It is not too difficult: no steep hills and not many steps. A collection of Trip Reports. A Step-By-Step Guide To The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park I saw some posts saying the afternoon seems to have less people so wondered whether we might book the 2pm tour. Cell Phones in Costa Rica. Arenal Bird Watching Tour; Natural History Guided Tour; Mistico Night Walk; Hanging Bridges Entrance Fee; Twilight Walk; Adventure Tours. This Sky Tram & Sky Trek tour costs $112 USD and will have you taking a caged open-air gondola ride above the forest to the top of the Arenal reserve. Touring through the park typically takes around 2.5 hours. 139 reviews 104 helpful votes Mistico Hanging bridge - what time? But everything changed when Arenal Volcano erupted and people attracted to the powerful volcano that made international headlines back in 1968 started to visit the area. This blog may contain affiliate links. Getting to the park early will give you the best chance to see the most wildlife. Mistico Park was originally owned by a husband and wife who inherited the land near Arenal from their parents. What I thought would be a terrifying experience turned out to be one of the coolest experiences I had in the country. Monteverde: Better birdwatching, better hiking, less touristic, requires a 44, cheaper, unique cloud forests, more extreme ziplining, hanging bridges, limited lodging options. Yay or Nay? One is Mistico Hanging Bridges Park. . The first two hanging bridges are the most popular in the park, so we recommend at least seeing those. How many bridges are there? These tours can include pick-up from your hotel and different experiences within the park.