No trip to the rainforests around La Arenal Volcano is complete without a journey through the famous Mistico Hanging Bridges Park. This unique hike takes you through the Volcan Arenal National Park to see the area from both above and below. From curated gardens to raw rainforest beauty, there’s something new to discover every step of the way.
A Journey Through Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
FAQs About Mistico Hanging Bridges
Where is it located? The Mistico Hanging Bridges are located on a private reserve in the Vulcan Arenal National Park. Address: 2km este de la represa del Lago Arenal, La Fortuna de, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica
How much does it cost? The entrance fee is $26 for adults, $16 for teens, $21 for seniors (over 65), and free for kids under 10. If you would like a guided tour, adult tickets cost $40 to $49, depending on the activity.
When is the best time to visit? Typically, the best time to visit La Arenal is during the dry seasons in February and March and September and October (mini-dry season). You’ll encounter fewer crowds as well if you visit during the week. Also, try to visit on a clear day so you can see the volcano and lake!
What should I bring? I recommend a packable rain jacket (it’s the rainforest after all!), a camera with a wrist strap, binoculars, and water.
What should I wear? You will definitely want hiking shoes or shoes with a good grip. They will not let you enter with flip-flops or open-back shoes because they’re too easy to lose on the bridges. I also recommend athletic wear or breathable clothing that’s good for hiking.
How long does it take? At a reasonable pace, the journey takes about 2 hours. This will fluctuate slightly depending on the crowds and whether you take the detour to the waterfall.
Do I need to book a guide? You do not, but I recommend it if you’d like to see wildlife! We passed many groups whose guides were sharing cool information about creatures they’d just spotted. We, on the other hand, only saw a couple of birds the entire trip. While we certainly enjoyed the scenic views, we were ill-equipped to find any wildlife on our own. However, we didn’t feel as bad because we’d had such a great wildlife tour with Sloth’s Territory the afternoon before. If you’d like to combine the two, this would be a great place to do it.
How many bridges are there? There are 16 bridges total, and 6 of them are suspension bridges.
How hard is the hike? I would rate the hike as moderate, based on how steep some of the hills are. You can take it at your own pace, but you will be going up and down the mountainside, and the suspension bridges aren’t exactly an “easy” walk.
Is it pet-friendly? No, you’ll need to leave your pet at home for this one. This is to preserve the environment and protect the local creatures. Plus, your pet probably wouldn’t appreciate the suspension bridges!
A Quick Guide to Mistico Hanging Bridges Park
At the time of writing this post, the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park still requires advanced reservations to visit. This helps them keep park capacity at a reasonable level as they’re still following fairly strict COVID procedures.
After checking in with your reservation at reception, you’ll receive a park map and your actual tickets to enter the park. I highly recommend using the welcome center restrooms before you enter because there are no bathrooms in the park, and the journey is pretty much a one-way route.
Jardin de Colibries Rufus (Rufus Hummingbird Garden)
The first detour you can take is to a spacious garden right by the park entrance. It has some lovely flowers, picnic tables, and a little waterfall.
Puente El Pavon (Great Curassow Bridge)
The first few bridges you cross will be very small, taking you across some small streams and dips.
Puente El Saino (Collared Peccary Bridge)
Puente El Jacamar (Jacamar Bridge)
Puente Vista Arenal (Arenal Viewpoint Bridge)
The first suspension bridge you cross gives you a sweeping view of the valley and (on a clear day) the Arenal Volcano.
Puente Escalera de Mono (Monkey Ladder Bridge)
Puente El Pilon (Bully Tree Bridge)
Puente La Catarata (Waterfall Bridge)
Punte Tucan Pico Arcoiris (Rainbow Beak Toucan Bridge)
Puente Mistico (Mistic Bridge)
Catarata Morpho Azul (Blue Morpho Waterfall)
I highly recommend that you take the side trail down to the waterfall! We passed some people who had this one confused with the La Fortuna Waterfall, which has 500 steps. This is not a strenuous detour! It’s literally a 3-minute trek, so don’t miss it!
Puente Hormiguero (Anthill Bridge)
Puente El Palmito (Heart of Palm Bridge)
Puente Terciopelo (Fer-de-Lance Bridge)
Puente El Olingo (Olingo Bridge)
Puente La Pava (Guan Bridge)
Puente La Tarantula (Tarantula Bridge)
Puente El Tolomuco (Tayra Bridge)
Rainforest Vibes
Don’t forget to stay alert for all the beauty in between the bridges as well! You’ll see many unique trees and colorful flowers.
Closing Thoughts on Mistico Hanging Bridges Park
This park makes a fantastic trip for a morning or afternoon in La Fortuna! We followed our hike up with a Coffee, Cocoa, and Sugar Cane tour in town, and still had plenty of energy. You’ll see so much beauty, and it’s just a unique experience.
One thing to keep in mind is that the suspension bridges sway a lot. It would be a shame to lose any valuables, so make sure they are secure before you cross. Even open jacket pockets felt a little sketchy to me.
Also, you’ll want to look before you grab the wires for support. Monkeys and birds also spend time on these bridges, and sometimes they leave “gifts” behind that you won’t want on your hands.
I hope this guide to Mistico Hanging Bridges Park is helpful as you plan your Costa Rica trip! Please feel free to drop questions and comments below, and I’ll answer you as soon as possible. I love hearing for my readers!
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If you’d like to learn more about Costa Rica, be sure to check out these recent articles in my Pura Vida series!
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