Jaco: ATV & Zipline & Waterfall Combo with Rainforest Lunch

Ride ATVs Through Rainforest, Zip 2400 Feet, Swim at Waterfalls

You zip through the canopy on ten cables, then ride an ATV for four hours through rainforest to a waterfall where you can swim. Lunch is served at a mountain restaurant 2000 feet above sea level, and the guide handles the route and timing so you don't have to figure out how to string three separate activities together in one day. Hotel pickup in the Jaco area is included.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want three separate adventures — ziplining, off-road riding, and a waterfall swim — handled in one day without arranging transport between them or timing the stops yourself. The fixed itinerary and included pickup mean you show up and the day unfolds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Zipline, ATV, waterfall, and lunch

• Pick up at Jaco main office
• Zipline tour on 10 lines
• Enjoy pineapple and watermelon snack
• Return to Jaco main office
• Learn to ride ATV and start tour
• Ride ATV to Costa Rican waterfall
• Rinse off in waterfall
• Travel to Restaurante Paz del Campo
• Fish or relax at tilapia farm
• Enjoy traditional Costa Rican lunch
• Return to sea level with scenic views
• Arrive back at accommodations

The Experience

You start at the Los Suenos Canopy Tour near Jaco, where the first thing you do is clip into a harness and step onto the first of ten zip lines strung through the canopy. The second-to-last cable stretches 2400 feet — nearly half a mile — and you're moving fast enough that the rainforest blurs below you. After you land and catch your breath, the staff hands you pineapple and watermelon while you wait for your photos to print.

Then it's back to the main office in Jaco to get fitted for an ATV. If you've never ridden one, the guide walks you through the basics — throttle, brakes, how to lean into a turn — and within a few minutes you're heading up into secondary rainforest on your own bike (or as a passenger on a tandem if that's your preference). The trail gets narrower and the canopy closes in. You ride past local farms and small clearings, and then the sound of water gets louder. You pull up to a waterfall, strip down to your swimsuit, and wade in. The water is cold and clean and the whole place is quiet except for birds.

Lunch happens at Restaurante Paz del Campo, a tilapia farm and restaurant built into the mountains about 2000 feet up. You can fish from the pond if you want, or just sit on the porch and eat traditional Costa Rican food while you look out at the view. On clear days you can see all the way to the Pacific and the Nicoya Peninsula across the bay. After you eat, the ride back down takes you past rural villages and farmland, and the elevation drop means the air gets warmer and the landscape opens up again. You return to your hotel or accommodation in the Jaco area with dirt on your clothes, photos on your phone, and the kind of tired that feels earned.

Top questions

What's included in the combo tour?

The 4-hour ATV tour, 10 zip lines across 12 cables, waterfall entrance, traditional lunch, tropical fruit snack, bottled water, and pickup service in the Jaco area. A bilingual guide leads the whole day.

How long is the full day?

The itinerary spans from morning pickup through afternoon return. The ATV portion alone is 4 hours, plus time for the canopy tour, lunch, and travel between locations.

Can I ride an ATV if I've never done it before?

Yes. The guide teaches you the basics before you start. Tandem ATVs and Rhino vehicles are available if you'd rather ride as a passenger instead of driving.

What do I need to bring?

Closed-toed shoes (no flip-flops), swimsuit, clothes you don't mind getting dirty, sunscreen, and a camera. A valid driver's license is required if you're driving an ATV.

Is there an age limit?

Children under 4 cannot ride. ATV drivers must be at least 16 with a valid driver's license. Younger children and unlicensed riders can go as passengers on tandem vehicles.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for rain and mud. Trail conditions may change daily, so ask your guide on the day of your tour what to expect.

Do I need a credit card for the ATV?

Yes. A credit card (Visa or Mastercard) is held on file as a damage voucher until you return the vehicle in the same condition. The hold amount depends on how many vehicles your group is renting.

Is this tour good for someone who's not very fit?

The tour involves riding an ATV for 4 hours and zipping through the canopy, so a moderate level of physical fitness helps. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup service in the Jaco area, a 4-hour ATV tour through rainforest with your own bike (or tandem option), ten zip lines across the canopy with the longest cable stretching 2400 feet, entry to the waterfall, a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a mountain restaurant 2000 feet above sea level, tropical fruit and bottled water, and a bilingual guide who speaks Spanish and English. Photos from the canopy tour are available to purchase.