cactushugger

Some of us are too old for zip lines. Should we do the Arenal bridges? How about the night hike there?

tigerpaw

We did the Hanging Bridges and really enjoyed it. We also were too old for zip lines.....60 and 70. Had no problems with the Hanging Bridges.

smartin

We were also hesitant about the Hanging Bridges- especially my husband- but we absolutely loved it- such lush jungle and the bridges are really fun!

sandyc

Hey, you're never too old for zip lines! I've had people in their 70s and even an 84-year-old woman do it and love it!

Sandy

guanacaste

zip lines are destructive to the local enviroment- trres are cut down and the noise scares awya all the wildlife from what was THEIR home- and so the hanging bridges are a better bet enviromentally, justabout.
but why not enjoy the REAL beauty of CR by visting a national park, such as Cano Negra, u get picked up at your hotel in an A/C coach and then relax on a boat going up the river with a great local guide- hanging bridges and zip lines are normally foreign owned- and free lunch for about USD45 per person for the day including transfers and lunch.
i was there for the second time in a year 2 months ago.
i saw howlers, sloths, caimans, crocs and literally dozens of differnt species of birds.

http://costa-rica.typepad.com/la_for...ome/index.html

cactushugger

Thanks to everyone who answered. Now, did you see much wildlife up there ...things you hadn't seen from the ground?

guanacaste,
I share your aversion to the zip lines...nothing remotely natural about people hooting and hollering their way through the treetops! I was hoping the hanging bridges would attract a crowd that was more interested in actually seeing wildlife rather than getting an adrenalin rush. And, Cano Negra is definitely being considered.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Gretchen

costaricaguide

cactushugger,
The wildlife you'll see on any canopy tour can also be seen from the ground. You might get closer to a sloth, or get a look at some birds that rarely visit the space below the leaves.

Canopy exploration is more geared towards getting a close up view of the plants and insects that comprise the unique ecosystem.

In general people see MUCH more wildlife on nature cruises at places like Cano Negro, Tortuguero, or Damas than in the treetops. Animals are much more comfortable with conveyances (cars, boats, gondolas) than they are with people walking or climbing.

If Arenal Bridges has appeal as a great hiking trail with many elevated portions and excellent naturalist guides you'll probably enjoy it. If you're thinking of it as a wildlife safari you may well come away disappointed.

I might add there ARE very environmental, educational, and unique cable traverse "zip" tours available in contrast to the thrill rides-see flight of the toucan on this list http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/i...0&search=*

cactushugger

Thank you. I hadn't really thought about the insect aspect. That would be an interesting slant on a canopy tour. I'll check out the web site.