Canopy tours are officially all the rage in Costa Rica, largely because they are such an exciting and unique way to experience tropical rainforests. It's estimated that some two-thirds of a typical rainforest's species live in the canopy (the uppermost, branching layer of the forest). From the relative luxury of Rain Forest Aerial Tram's high-tech funicular to the rope-and-climbing-gear rigs of more basic operations, a trip into the canopy will give you a bird's-eye view of a Neotropical forest. There are now canopy-tour operations in or close to nearly every major tourist destination in the country, including Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Tabacón, Montezuma, Punta Islita, Villablanca, and Rincón de la Vieja, as well as on Tortuga Island and around Guanacaste and the Osa Peninsula.
Most canopy tours involve strapping yourself into a climbing harness and being winched up to a platform some 30m (100 ft.) above the forest floor, or doing the work yourself. Many of these operations have a series of treetop platforms connected by taut cables. Once up on the first platform, you click your harness into a pulley and glide across the cable to the next (slightly lower) platform, using your hand (protected by a thick leather glove) as a brake. When you reach the last platform, you usually rappel down to the ground. (Don't worry -- they'll teach even the most nervous neophyte.)
Although this can be a lot of fun, do be careful because these tours are popping up all over the place and there is precious little regulation of the activity. Some of the tours are set up by fly-by-night operators (obviously, I haven't listed any of those). Be especially sure that you feel comfortable and confident with the safety standards, guides, and equipment before embarking. One of the most reputable operators is The Original Canopy Tours (tel. 291-4465; www.canopytour.com), which has sites in Monteverde, Drake Bay, and Mahogany Park, about an hour outside of San José, but there are other safe, well-run operations around the country. Perhaps my favorite canopy tour is the Original Canopy Tour's operation in Monteverde, which features an ascent up the hollow interior of a giant strangler fig tree. Before you sign on to any tour, ask whether you have to hoist yourself to the top under your own steam, and then make your decision accordingly. Another option is to try one of the tram or gondola tours through the canopy. The folks at Rain Forest Aerial Tram currently have two such operations, and there's a ski-lift-style gondola ride at Turu BaRi Tropical Park (tel. 428-6070; www.turubari.com) outside of San José.
Canyoning tours are even more adventurous. Hardly standardized, most involve hiking down along a mountain stream, river, and/or canyon, with periodic breaks to rappel down the face of a waterfall, or swim in a jungle pool. The best canyoning operations in Costa Rica are Pure Trek Canyoning (tel. 866/569-5723 in the U.S. and Canada, or 461-2110; www.puretrekcostarica.com) and Desafío Expeditions (tel. 479-9464; www.desafiocostarica.com), both in La Fortuna; and Everyday Adventures (tel. 353-8619; www.psychotours.com), which operates outside of Puerto Jimenez.
Rain Forest Aerial Tram Caribbean (tel. 257-5961; www.rainforesttram.com) is located some 50 minutes from San José. For $55 (£28; transportation extra), this modern tram takes you on a 90-minute trip through the rainforest canopy in the comfort and safety of an enclosed cab. The entrance fee includes an additional guided hike and access to its trail system, butterfly garden, and other attractions. The best thing here isn't necessarily the tram ride, which I find somewhat disappointing, but the fact that this makes a good spot for a full-day excursion relatively close to San José. The outfit has a new sister project on the central Pacific coast just outside of Jacó.
