Congratulations! You have decided to go on the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica! You want to go ziplining, but you don’t have a clue what to wear ziplining in Costa Rica. Don’t worry, we are going to explain what you should wear, if ziplining is safe and share some of our favorite zipline tour companies in Costa Rica!
What to Wear Ziplining in Costa Rica
On our trip to Costa Rica, we went on several different zipline tours. Each time we learned a bit more about what we should (and shouldn’t) wear ziplining in Costa Rica. We’ve included a list below to help you pack and plan for your ziplining tours, so you don’t need to make the same mistakes we did!
WOMEN: What to Wear Ziplining in Costa Rica
- Shorts – avoid short shorts at all costs – we know they sometimes look cuter, but they are not practical for ziplining. It’s also helpful if the shorts/pants have pockets to keep any valuables safe! If not, just ensure that someone you’re with has pockets or you don’t bring anything valuable.
- Pants or leggings – if the weather is a little cooler, we recommend pants or leggings
- Workout top – any type of moisture-wicking material will be most comfortable
- Sports bra – speaks for itself – you will be much more comfortable wearing one
- Sunscreen – just because it can be pretty shaded under the canopy, doesn’t mean the sun won’t make its way through the forest to you
- Bug spray – there are all kinds of bugs in the rainforest, so it’s always a good idea to have bug spray on hand!
- Closed-toed shoes – nothing hardcore required – running shoes are fine! If you only have sandals, it is best that they aren’t flip flops otherwise you’ll likely lose them!
- Sunglasses – we recommend a cheap pair, just in case you drop them
- Rain jacket – especially if it is calling for rain or cooler temperatures
- Extra hair ties – you will want to keep your hair tied back – we recommend the move scrunchies from Flirty Pineapple!
Madison’s Advice: If you remember one thing from this list – bring extra hair ties You will want to keep your hair tied back, and in case you drop that one hair scrunchie, it doesn’t hurt to bring an extra.
MEN: What to Wear Ziplining in Costa Rica
- Shorts/pants – it is a rainforest and really humid, but avoid too short of shorts. It’s also helpful if the shorts/pants have pockets to keep any valuables safe during flight.
- T-shirt – ideally something moisture-wicking because you will 100% be sweating from the temperatures to hiking between the ziplines
- Sunscreen – yes, the sun will come through the trees and burn you (in the case of Liam)
- Bug spray – there are a lot of small birds and mosquitoes
- Closed-toed Shoes – running shoes are perfect
- Sunglasses – a cheap pair if you think that you might lose them
- Rain jacket – again, it’s a rainforest
Liam’s Recommendation: Think of what you’d wear going to the gym on a HOT, humid summer day and that’s what you should wear ziplining in Costa Rica. I recommend something anti-chafing.
Footwear/Shoes
There are a few things you should know beyond the actual ziplining part. In order to get to the zipline, you often have to do some hiking and climbing of steps/stairs. For this reason, we recommend you do not wear flip-flops or uncomfortable shoes. Besides, you don’t want to lose your flip-flops halfway down the zipline. We recommend choosing a pair of comfortable running shoes, sneakers or hiking boots for your ziplining adventure.
Long Hair? No Problem!
As Madison mentioned, it is much nicer having your hair tied back while ziplining. Since you’ll be wearing a helmet, we recommend a low bun or french braid. You can leave your hair down, depending on how long it is.. but trust me, you’re going to have “helmet head” regardless, so you’re better to just start your day with a cute braid or low bun. As we mentioned before – don’t forget an extra scrunchie!
Can you Wear Glasses while Ziplining?
Yes – you most definitely can wear glasses while ziplining; however, there is always the possibility that they might fall off and be gone forever. If you are considering wearing your prescription glasses and you only brought one pair for the trip your might, we suggest wearing a strap around the back or not wearing them at all. You don’t want to ruin the rest of your trip because you can’t see! Contact lenses are totally fine to wear (that’s what we wore)!
As for sunglasses, the same applies. Please don’t wear your expensive designer sunglasses on the zipline and then be mad if you drop them. We recommend picking up a cheap pair of sunglasses before you go, specifically for ziplining. The glasses will not only help with the sun, but they’ll also block the wind from hitting your eyes as you fly along.
Ziplining Gear You Will Use
The Harness – The most common and comfortable harness is the one that goes around your waist and both your thighs. For the Extreme Canopy Tour that we did, we were required to wear upper body and knee harnesses as well (since we were flying on our stomachs). This is all for your own safety, so get comfy and strapped in!
Helmet – This is a no-brainer (see what we did there ;)) – it will protect your head from hitting branches or the physical zipline wire.
Trolley – This is the actual device that sits on and secures you to the zipline wire. This will allow you to glide along with ease. There are commonly two trolleys to distribute the weight and act as a backup in case one fails….. 😐
Carabiners – These are not the cheap carabiners you can buy at the Dollar Store. These are heavy-duty carabiners, intended for heavy weight and pressure. They connect your harness to the trolley via heavy-duty straps.
Gloves – Depending on the type of braking system the zipline has, the gloves will be reflective of that. They could be basic gardening gloves just to stop skin abrasions or heavy-duty leather gloves with extra padding sewn in.
Is Ziplining Safe in Costa Rica?
Yes, of course, ziplining is safe in Costa Rica! That being said, each company has their own safety restrictions that they abide by. No matter what you’re doing, we always recommend researching the company that you are using – whether you’re ziplining or doing something else like renting a car or going on an excursion.
The larger zipline tour companies in Costa Rica have taken it upon themselves to seek professional training when it comes to safety standards. And, if you are ever in doubt – ask someone who works there; we found everyone to be very knowledgeable and helpful!
Still wondering if ziplines are safe in Costa Rica?! We answer all the questions you may have in our post Are Ziplines Safe in Costa Rica?
Can You Bring a Camera?
You can most definitely bring your camera or smartphone on the zipline.. but be careful! One thing to keep in mind is that usually, you are unable to take out your camera and use it while physically riding the zipline. Most of the time, you can only use your camera on the platforms. That being said, if you’re like us, you may have really nice tour guides that offer to take photos for you!
Hot Tip: Use some type of strap so you don’t lose your camera/phone!
There are two reasons we choose not to bring our phones:
- We don’t want it to fall out of our pockets – we don’t always have zipper pockets to ensure its safety.
- We use a GoPro with different straps to keep it safe.
Bring a GoPro
If you have a GoPro or can borrow your friends, this is the time you need it. We bought an older model GoPro (HERO 4), a chest mount, and several helmet mounts specifically for all the ziplining we would be doing in Costa Rica. We didn’t want to have to worry about dropping our phone or camera into the rainforest. The best part is that most of the ziplining guides had GoPro mounts on their helmets and got some incredible videos for us!
How Do You Prepare for Ziplining?
- Plan ahead! Since you’re reading this, you’re already doing this! Knowing you want to go Ziplining in Costa Rica is the first step! Researching companies can always be helpful, but if you’re staying at a hotel, they often partner with different tour companies that will provide you with transportation!
- Make a Reservation – whether months or days before, we always recommend making a reservation at least one day prior!
- Be prepared – pack accordingly and bring only what you need – use our list above to ensure that you have everything you need to go ziplining in Costa Rica! Once you get there, it’s important to secure any items that you won’t be taking with you (or don’t bring them with you at all if that’s a possibility).
- Read our guide on Ziplining in Costa Rica.
Where to Go Ziplining?
When we travelled to Costa Rica, we knew that we wanted to go ziplining! We decided to try three different canopy tours, and all were drastically different:
- Arenal Mundo Aventura – We did the Big AMA course and HIGHLY recommend it! They have a 980-meter cable (over half a mile) that crosses over the La Fortuna Waterfall with the Arenal Volcano in the background. The total tour takes about 3.5 hours and costs $75 USD ($100 CAD) per adult.
- Buena Vista Eco Adventure Park – We booked this excursion through our hotel once we got to Costa Rica! It included transportation to Buena Vista Eco Adventure Park, a canopy tour, lunch, horseback riding, hot springs and a natural waterslide (built into the natural forest landscape). The price for this excursion varies. It depends on whether you book the package through your hotel/travel agent or directly with Buena Vista, but expect at least $115 USD ($150 CAD) for the full-day experience. In our opinion – it was worth it!
- Congo Trail Canopy Tour – We did a packaged ATV & Canopy Tour. We were given the option to do the Extreme Canopy Zipline Tour, and of course, we said yes! At this point, we had already done the two canopy tours above, so we thought we should try something different! This tour allowed us to zipline on our stomachs (Superman style), and ride a Tarzan swing, where you could choose sitting or going upside down. These ziplines were definitely a bit more extreme but so much fun! The entire ATV and Canopy Tour costs about $100 USD ($140 CAD), but if you only want to do the ziplines, it’s $35 USD ($50 CAD).
We hope this helps you plan what you should wear ziplining in Costa Rica and what you can expect. The most important thing to remember is that you want to be comfortable in both the harness and also the heat. After that, have fun and take it all in!
