Combine the excitement of ziplining like a monkey with the chance to ride horses like a cowboy to experience the real Costa Rica! This adventure will take you to an amazing place called Monkey Jungle, a protected wildlife reserve dedicated to restoring the natural forest environment. Here, you can immerse yourself in the true Puva Vida lifestyle.
You will be picked up from your lodging in either Tamarindo or Flamingo and driven to Monkey Jungle headquarters where you will be greeted by your bilingual guides. Next, you'll meet the horses and be matched with a good natured, well-trained caballo based on your unique size and experience level.
You’ll ride your horse across the scenic Costa Rican rural landscape, going over hills, through the tropical forest, crossing over rivers and along back roads in a beautifully reforested area. At one time clear cut for lumber and used as pasture, this woodland paradise is now successfully restored, bringing back many species of native wildlife. Monkey Jungle is home to a variety of protected animals including birds, monkeys, iguanas, and even endangered jaguars. The chances of seeing a jaguar are pretty slim, but your knowledgeable guides will help you spot the visible animal life on the day of your visit.
You may be surprised to learn that there are still rural pueblos where horses are used for local transportation. Horsemanship is a deeply embedded tradition and every town hosts an annual rodeo to show off the agility of the horses and ability of their riders. You can savor the sensation of riding like a local campesino as you return through the tropical lowland forest.
Once you leave the horses behind, you’ll be ready to climb to the top of the canopy and zip your way back down! Your guides will go over safety information and help you get into your harness and helmet. You’ll hike to the first platform where you'll be shown how the zipline equipment works and any questions will be answered. Once you are hooked onto the first cable, you’ll be soaring over the forest below with spectacular views extending way out to the horizon. If the weather is clear, you can see beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean coastline in the distance.
Taking care to preserve the natural environment, a series of ziplining platforms are strategically placed in the upper limbs of the huge Guanacaste trees that comprise the canopy. At each of the 12 platforms, a guide will be there to ensure your safety and connect your harness to the next cable. There are 7 cables in all, reaching up to 450 meters long. Some are designed to go faster, longer or steeper as you become comfortable with how easy zip lining is.
Your guides will demonstrate how to fly like Superman, horizontally with your hands free, which is an incredibly liberating experience. They will even show you how to fly upside down! At the end there is a special treat, the Tarzan Swing, which allows you to swoop through the forest like Tarzan in the movies. Don’t be scared, it’s really fun!
Always accommodating, your friendly guides will be glad to take photos or videos for you with your camera or cell phone so that you will be able to share your memories with loved ones back home. Upon your return to Monkey Jungle headquarters, you’ll be given a bottle of cold water and fresh fruit in the picnic area. Round trip transportation, bilingual guides, entry fees, equipment, water, and fruit snack are all included in this double fun, half-day adventure combo. Note: one way transportation time can take up to 1 hour depending on the location of your lodging. So just sit back and relax as you travel to new and different places adding to your Costa Rican vacation experience.
6 and up
Latitude: N 10° 17' 53.52"
Longitude: W 85° 45' 38.94"
02/22/2017
Both the zipline and the horseback ride were fabulous! Another great adventure with wonder guides. :)