Arenal: Canyoning & Waterfall Rappelling with Ziplines

Summary

Waterfall rappelling, ziplines and rainforest pools near Arenal

You’ll feel your heart race as you rappel down five waterfalls near Arenal Volcano—with guides who know every trick and every nervous laugh. Walk river canyons, zipline through trees, and finish with a Costa Rican lunch that somehow tastes even better after all that adrenaline. It’s messy and fun—and you might surprise yourself.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t really think I’d be nervous until I was standing at the edge of that first waterfall. You hear about canyoning near Arenal Volcano, but it’s different when you’re actually clipped in, rain mist on your face, and the guide (I think his name was Andrés?) grins and says “Just lean back.” The sound of the water is louder than you expect—kind of drowns out your thoughts for a second. My hands were shaking a bit on the rope. I guess that’s normal? The first drop was maybe 20 meters but felt longer. When my feet hit the pool below, I just started laughing for no reason.

We moved through five rappels altogether—some right through waterfalls so you get soaked (my shoes squelched all day), others more like sliding down mossy rock walls. There’s this one halfway down where everyone gets quiet before going over; even our guide paused to check if we were okay. He kept switching between Spanish and English so nobody missed anything important. The big finale is a 60 meter descent with spray everywhere—I honestly can’t remember what I yelled on the way down, but it probably wasn’t pretty.

Between drops there are these little walks along the riverbed—cool water around your ankles, birds making weird calls overhead, leaves sticking to your arms. We zipped across two lines above the canyon too (I nearly lost my helmet laughing at my friend’s scream). Lunch after was this plate of casado—rice, beans, chicken—the kind of food that tastes better when you’ve been hauling yourself up ropes all morning. Still thinking about how cold that first pool was… in a good way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Canyoning and rappelling adventure

• Meet guides and share fears
• Begin 5 rappels with safety ropes
• Descend waterfalls during rappels
• Experience zipline over trees and canyon
• Walk inside river canyon and jump pools
• Complete final 60 meter waterfall rappel
• Enjoy lunch after tour

Top questions

How many rappels are included in this canyoning tour?

The tour includes 5 rappels, three of which go directly through waterfalls.

Is lunch included in the canyoning adventure near Arenal?

Yes, a traditional Costa Rican lunch is included at the end of the tour.

Are there ziplines as part of this experience?

Yes, there are 2 ziplines surrounded by rainforest during the tour.

What is the height of the final waterfall rappel?

The last rappel descends a 60 meter waterfall.

Do guides speak English on this tour?

Yes, experienced bilingual guides lead the tour in both English and Spanish.

Is safety equipment provided for canyoning?

All necessary safety gear is provided: helmet, harness, gloves, carabiner, and figure 8 device.

Is this tour suitable for beginners or people afraid of heights?

The guides are patient and there is a guided rappel halfway for those less experienced; moderate fitness is needed.

Does this day trip include hotel pickup?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; check with operator for details.

What’s included

Your day includes all safety gear—helmet, harness, gloves—and guidance from friendly bilingual experts as you tackle five rappels (three through waterfalls), two rainforest ziplines, river walks with crystal-clear pools for quick jumps or splashing around, plus a hearty Costa Rican lunch to wrap things up before heading back with wet shoes and new stories.