Canopy Tours- fun for children or too scary?
 

Hi,
Just wondered if canopy tours were appropriate and fun for children? We will be traveling with our seven year old daughter and did not know if she was too young.

Thank you in advance,
Gem

We did a canopy tour in Costa Rica. I am in my 40's and it was scary but fun! I am also afraid of heights. If your daughter is adventurous and a bit athlethic, she should be o.k. You may want to check the website of the specific tour you are booking to make sure that no age restrictions apply.

Hi, we just returned from Costa Rica yesterday. My husband and son, who turned 9 Wednesday in Costa Rica, did the canopy tour in Manuel Antonio. He is really afraid of heights so I was nervous he would not participate, but he did. He enjoyed all but the repelling down off the canopy. From perch to perch he was fine. Unfortunately all they saw was one sloth. We saw more wildlife on our resort in Manuel Antonio. I hear this is not uncommon. Anyway, I think your daughter will be fine.

My wife and I (ages 56 and 57) did the zip lines for the first time last week in Monteverde. Loved it. There were children in our group--one of the zip line guides went with each of the smaller children. They basically sat in his lap.

If your kids like thrill rides, I'd stick to roller coasters. They're safer and a lot better thrill. I went on one of the "Zip Lines" through the canopy and I was hoping to see wildlife but that was obviously not the purpose of the tour. There were spots where some of the jungle wasn't totally cleared and since I'm 6'2" my feet hit some leaves off a few of the platforms. I wouldn't recommend it for children because if something bad did happen...you have to remember you're in Costa Rica and probably far away from good medical services.

Our daughter did a canopy tour when she was not quite seven and loved it. If your daughter is athletic and not afraid of heights, she will enjoy it. Don't count on seeing wildlife through the canopy tour though. It will basically be a fun thrill ride in beautiful surroundings.

Thank you for all the great advice!!

I think that it might be too adventurous for our daughter.

Best Regards,
Gem