Frequently asked questions

El Santuario is a 500-acre private rainforest reserve near Quepos, about 25 minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Our office is at The Falls Resort at Manuel Antonio, and round-trip transportation from your hotel is included. Many local zip lines say they are 15 minutes away and the ride takes an hour; we really are 15 to 20 minutes from Quepos, so you spend more time in the jungle and less time in the van.

In Costa Rica they are the same activity. Technically, the canopy is the upper layer of the forest formed by the mature tree crowns, and the zip line is the cable that carries you from one point of the canopy to another. On the El Santuario Canopy Adventure Tour you experience the canopy, the jungle floor and views of the Pacific Ocean from high above the rainforest.

Our main cable is the longest twin zip line in Costa Rica: over 4,300 feet (0.8 miles), so you can race a friend side by side. The full circuit has 10 double-anchored zip lines totaling 3.6 km, 14 platforms, 4 hanging bridges and a double belay rappel down a giant ceiba tree.

Everything: round-trip transportation from hotels and villas in Manuel Antonio and Quepos, bilingual guides (English and Spanish), all safety equipment, a typical Costa Rican lunch and, when you book direct on our website, your tour photo package. We are the only all-inclusive canopy tour in Manuel Antonio.

About 4.5 hours from pickup to drop-off, including the safety orientation, the zip line circuit, the rappel and lunch. Along the way our guides share a little about the history, plants, animals and birds of Costa Rica. Tours can run a bit shorter or longer depending on the size of the group.

High season (November 16 to August 31): departures at 8:00 am and 11:00 am. Green season (September 1 to November 15): one departure daily at 9:00 am.

The canopy adventure is designed for participants in good health, and we reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone. All participants must:

• sign a participant agreement (waiver);
• weigh between 75 and 275 lb (34 to 125 kg) to ride alone. Guests under 75 lb may ride the longer or slower lines tandem with a guide;
• be at least 4 years old to ride tandem with one of our experienced guides;
• under 18: a parent or legal guardian must sign the participant agreement;
• under 14: a parent or legal guardian must sign the agreement and an adult must accompany you on the tour;
• be able to walk comfortably: our longest walk is only 110 meters. If you can climb 5 flights of stairs, you will be fine.

You cannot participate if you are pregnant, have recent or recurring injuries, a serious musculoskeletal disorder, epilepsy or a seizure disorder that does not allow you to drive, hemophilia or high doses of blood-thinning medication, a health condition that could require immediate medical attention, or if you are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication that may limit your abilities.

No. For safety reasons pregnant guests cannot take part in the zip line tour, but we hope you will come fly with us after your baby arrives.

Not at all. Many of our guests have never tried a zip line. Our guides give a complete orientation before the tour, you start on a practice line, and they stay with you the whole way to remind you of the finer points. Many experienced zip liners tell us this is the best zip line they have ever ridden, and we do everything we can so that beginners and experts alike feel comfortable.

Yes, many people with a fear of heights enjoy the tour. The double-anchored steel cables, the harness and the touch-free riding system leave nothing for you to do but enjoy the ride. On the platforms you are clipped to a safety line at all times, and our guides are with you throughout the adventure to give you all the support you need.

You enjoy the tour from the ground, the trees and above the canopy. The highest platform is about 40 meters above the ground, and some rides cross roughly 100 meters above the jungle floor, with views of the rainforest, the mountains and the ocean from the longest twin zip lines in Central America.

Safety is our first priority. Every line is double-anchored and inspected daily, you receive a safety orientation and a practice line before starting, and our touchless braking system controls your speed at the end of each line, so you never have to brake with your hands. We use only top-quality equipment, checked every day by our professionally trained guides, who are certified in safety, rescue and first aid.

No. We drive you to the start of the course. During the tour you take three short nature walks on maintained trails and cross 4 hanging bridges; the longest walk is only 110 meters.

Comfortable clothes you can move in (no skirts or very short shorts) and closed-toe shoes, no flip-flops. Tie back long hair, remove dangling jewelry and loose items like scarves, secure sunglasses with a strap and empty your pockets so that phones and cameras do not end up on the jungle floor. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Helmet, gloves, harness and all safety gear are provided, and your photo package is included when you book direct.

Your guide fits you into a harness and gives you a helmet, gloves, a high-quality tandem speed pulley that carries you along the cables, two lanyards with safety clips and a safety line for the platforms.

The tour runs rain or shine. In severe weather, such as lightning or sustained high winds, we may cancel before departure, sometimes without advance notice, and you receive a rain check. If severe weather starts during the tour we may stop it; if we have not reached zip line number 7, you receive a voucher to rebook.

We recommend booking ahead so you do not miss out. Last-minute reservations are welcome when space is available. Your tour is confirmed once the reservation is paid.

Yes, payment is arranged in advance. The easiest way is to book online; you can also pay by phone or by email with a card authorization form, or arrange the deposit through your hotel reception, villa concierge or an approved tour agent.

Let us know as soon as possible by phone, WhatsApp or email and we will help you reschedule. If we have to cancel because of severe weather, you receive a rain check or a voucher to rebook.

Yes, we offer special rates for groups of 8 or more. Call us at 877-452-8647 (toll-free from the US) or +506 2777 6908 in Costa Rica.

We run the course in groups of up to 10 guests with 2 guides each, so a large party is split into smaller groups that follow one another along the same circuit.

Yes. We are deep in the rainforest, about 10 minutes from the Quepos airport (XQP) along a gravel road through the palm plantations. Meet our van at the airport and follow it, or leave your car there and ride with us. There is secure parking at El Santuario. We would hate for you to get lost and miss your adventure.

It is entirely up to you, but tipping is customary in the industry. If your guide gave you the experience you hoped for, 10 to 15 percent per person is usual. You can tip at the end of the tour; tips are shared among the guides, kitchen staff and maintenance crew.

Yes. Besides the zip line, El Santuario offers a horseback riding tour through the rainforest reserve, with bilingual guides and ocean views.

Yes. El Santuario Canopy Adventure was featured in the National Geographic Traveller Latin America Collection in 2025 and again in 2026.

Book online in advance at book.peek.com to secure your spot and get the photo package included. You can also call +506 2777 6908 or write to info@santuariocr.com.