famtrip

With all of your help, I am almost through planning our trip to Costa Rica. We have only a few days and are thinking they would be best spent in Arenal experiencing the Hanging Bridges and the Ecoglide zip lines. It seems both are advised to do first thing in the morning. Would it be a huge mistake to experience the bridges when they open at 7am ( to see the most wildlife) and EcoGlide zip line in the afternoon...or will the lines for the zip line be obnoxious or the rain pouring down? Thank you so much for your input and advice!

volcanogirl

We've had better luck seeing wildlife in the a.m. so I'd lean towards doing the Hanging Bridges then. Can't really predict if it will rain for your ziplines or not - it really varies every day.

famtrip

We arrive Liberia around 8pm so thought to get the rental car and spend the night there. Leave bright and early for Lost Iguana's arriving mid-morning (9-10ish). I understand the bridges are hiking distance from Lost Iguana's so we could do those the afternoon of our arrival and the zip-lines the next morning to avoid the lines people have mentioned. We don't care too much about rain - it is a rainforest after all, unless they close the ziplines due to rain. I guess I am wondering if the crowds and lines have been over stated or are indeed something to be avoided. My first idea is to arrive at Lost Iguanas and explore the general area and plan the bridges for the next morning and the zipline in the afternoon for a full day of activities. We must leave no later than noon the following day, so our time is limited and planning is important to get the most out of our short time.

volcanogirl

Yes, the Hanging Bridges is right next door to the Lost Iguana. Sometimes they sell half price tickets at the LI front desk if you want to check on that. We did the Hanging Bridges in the afternoon - very pretty hike, but we did not see any wildlife other than ants. We have had our zipline cancelled before because of lightning - if there's lightning it's too dangerous to be up high and suspended from metal. I know that some lines really speed up in the rain, and the lines can throw off grease. Plus being pelted by driving rain when you're zipping really wouldn't be that fun to me. On the zips we did, we were going 50 mph, and the views were the thing we loved most. Personally I probably wouldn't zip in the rain. The rain isn't all that predictable though - we've woken up to rain and to clear skies, had all day sun, afternoon rain, etc. I just don't see the patterns as being all that predictable day to day.

famtrip

Thanks! So since you're not mentioning any issues with long lines for the ziplines, so I'll assume I should consider it. We really have 48 hours in Arenal noon-noon. I think we'll be alright to visit the bridges in the am and the zipline in the afternoon of our full day - it's also my birthday, so that will make it memorable! Any recommendations for our first afternoon and last morning?

famtrip

Sorry, I should have reviewed my post... I am understanding that I shouldn't concern myself with lines at the ziplines for ecoglide. I am becoming very excited. Anything else a "must see/do" in the area?

volcanogirl

One of our favorite things to do is hike the waterfall. You can swim in the crystal clear river there if you want to. The falls are gorgeous. The natural hot springs are really nice too - either Eco Termales or Tabacon.

When we did our ziplines, we booked for a specific time, and they only took so many people. We did Sky Trek though.

taitai

We actually went to the Hanging Bridges in the afternoon. We had an AMAZING naturalist guide and with him we saw so many animals (toucans, sloths, two kinds of monkeys, pit vipers, eyelash vipers, poison dart frogs, mot-mots, etc.). We pretty much had the place to ourselves then as well. So, I vote for going in the afternoon and I vote for using our guide, Erick Guzman. He took Jane Goodall around when she visited Costa Rica and was amazing.

We did Eco-glide in one of the morning slots. We actually signed up for a specific time. I do not think it would be fun in the rain so I don't know if I would go then irrespective of the time. I also heard about the lines throwing off grease if they are wet so you might want to bring some clothes that can get trashed just in case.

We really enjoyed our experience with Eco-glide. Have a great trip.

volcanogirl

We've never had rain for our ziplining, but I've seen pics of other people who have, and they even have grease splatters all over their faces - looks pretty icky.

MFNYC

I don't know how crowded EcoGlide can get, but when we went (I think it was morning though), they take you out by group, so I don;t know if the lines build up. You are only in line with the people in your group, and the groups have limited sizes,so the lines never get that bad.