What does the Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges guided hike include?

The guided hike includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, entrance to the private reserve, and an expert bilingual naturalist guide. The tour also provides access to a refrigerated water dispenser for refilling reusable bottles, aligning with the park's zero-plastic policy.

What are the essential rules and restrictions for visiting Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges?

Visitors must wear enclosed shoes (no sandals), refrain from bringing food, running, or using loud devices on trails. Effective August 1, 2025, single-use plastics and general bags/backpacks are prohibited on trails, with lockers available for $1 and exceptions only for essential medication or baby care.

What should I bring for the Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges tour?

Guests should bring insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, sturdy hiking or tennis shoes (open sandals are not permitted), rain gear, and a reusable water bottle for refilling at the park's dispenser.

What wildlife can be seen at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges?

With a naturalist guide, visitors have a good chance of spotting diverse wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, toucans, armadillos, deer, raccoons, and coatis. Elusive wild cats like puma, ocelot, and margay have also been sighted, though less commonly.

Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges Guided Hike Through the Canopy & Rainforest

Arenal ・ Arenal Zone 2 ・ Arenal Zone 3 ・ Nuevo Arenal ・ Chachagua Rainforest Hotel

From

$96

Per Person

Overall

92%

1523 Guest

Ratings

Good to Know

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Arenal rainforest with a guided hike across the Mistico Hanging Bridges, exploring the jungle from its floor to the canopy. This half-day adventure traverses 12 diverse suspension bridges, offering unparalleled views and opportunities to spot elusive wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans with an expert naturalist guide. The experience includes transportation and entrance, emphasizing a strict zero-plastic policy and trail etiquette to preserve the sanctuary's natural beauty. Guests must wear enclosed shoes and adhere to new bag restrictions effective August 1, 2025.

Today you will go on an amazing half day of adventure at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. The bridges and trails are located in the rainforest near the majestic Arenal Volcano. All of the 12 bridges vary in height and length and provide an interesting way to observe the rainforest canopy.

Set in the rainforest near Lake Arenal, the Mistico Park is on the fringe of the Arenal Volcano National Park. While the park and surrounding area is better known for the volcano, this is an area that protects many species of wildlife. With a little luck and cooperation from Mother Nature, your bilingual guides will point out wildlife such as armadillo, toucans, deer, raccoon, coatis, sloths, and hopefully a few monkeys. Several wild cat species such as puma, ocelot and margay have been spotted in the park, though sightings of these elusive felines are uncommon.

In addition to wildlife and jungle, this is also an interesting tour as you will learn about the natural history of the Arenal Volcano area. Be prepared to hike a few kilometers of moderate terrain and bring a sense of adventure. From start to finish including round trip transportation from your hotel, the tour is expected to last around four hours, though keep in mind this can vary based on a variety of factors. It is also important to mention that for safety reasons open sandals or shoes are NOT permitted on this tour.

Highlights

Walk through the canopy of the rainforest as well as the floor
Good chance of spotting exotic wildlife
On clear days there is a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano from one of the bridges

This supplier maintains a zero-plastic policy, so no water bottles will be offered, only a refrigerated water dispenser for visitors to refill their own reusable bottles. Food during the hike trail is not allowed, and running or jumping on the bridges is not allowed. Use of radio, speakers, and similar devices is not allowed in the park.

IMPORTANT: Starting August 1, 2025, only reusable water bottles will be allowed on the trail—single-use plastics are banned. Bags are generally not permitted, except for essential items (e.g., medication or baby care). These policies aim to protect wildlife and the environment. Lockers are available for $1, and exceptions for bags will be briefly checked to ensure compliance.

What to Bring

Insect repellent, binoculars, camera, sturdy shoes, rain gear, reusable water bottle.
You will not be permitted to enter the Hanging Bridges with sandals or shoes that leave your feet bare - hiking or tennis shoes are appropriate.

Includes

Guide, transportation, and entrance to the private reserve. This supplier maintains a zero-plastic policy, so no water bottles will be offered, only a refrigerated water dispenser for visitors to refill their own reusable bottles. Food during the hike trail is not allowed, and running or jumping on the bridges is not allowed. Use of radio, speakers, and similar devices is not allowed in the park.

Restrictions

Food during the hike trail is not allowed, running or jumping in the bridges is not allowed. Use of radio, speakers and similar devices is not allowed in the park.

Location and Availability

Available in: Arenal, Arenal Zone 2, Arenal Zone 3, Nuevo Arenal, Chachagua Rainforest Hotel

Tour Times

07:50,14:30

Tour Type

Canopy Bridges

Location

Lattitude: N 10° 29' 17.03" (10.488065)
Longitude: W 84° 45' 14.2" (-84.753944)

Recent Reviews

Overall

92%

Expectations

91%

Experience

92%

Guides

94%

Logistics

94%

Value

93%

6/13/2026

Great tour and another very informative guide. Got to see some wildlife the guide pointed out as well.

5/20/2026

Wonderful experience. Did have rain but to be expected. Only thing missing was that we wish we could have taken the path to the waterfall.

5/19/2026

The guide was very informative pointing out animals and plants in the area. They made us feel safe when crossing the hanging bridges with breath-taking views.

Call us if you want to see more reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges guided hike include?: The guided hike includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, entrance to the private reserve, and an expert bilingual naturalist guide. The tour also provides access to a refrigerated water dispenser for refilling reusable bottles, aligning with the park's zero-plastic policy.
What are the essential rules and restrictions for visiting Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges?: Visitors must wear enclosed shoes (no sandals), refrain from bringing food, running, or using loud devices on trails. Effective August 1, 2025, single-use plastics and general bags/backpacks are prohibited on trails, with lockers available for $1 and exceptions only for essential medication or baby care.
What should I bring for the Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges tour?: Guests should bring insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, sturdy hiking or tennis shoes (open sandals are not permitted), rain gear, and a reusable water bottle for refilling at the park's dispenser.
What wildlife can be seen at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges?: With a naturalist guide, visitors have a good chance of spotting diverse wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, toucans, armadillos, deer, raccoons, and coatis. Elusive wild cats like puma, ocelot, and margay have also been sighted, though less commonly.