La Fortuna: Mistico Hanging Bridges, Lunch & Hot Springs

Walk above the rainforest canopy, taste local lunch and unwind in natural hot springs near Arenal volcano

You’ll walk high above La Fortuna’s rainforest on Mistico’s hanging bridges with a local guide who knows every bird call and hidden sloth. Spot wildlife, feel the sway underfoot, then sit down for a traditional Costa Rican casado lunch before soaking tired legs in Palmera real hot springs out back. It’s one of those days you’ll remember for how alive everything feels around you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore hanging bridges and rainforest

• Walk 3 km on hanging bridges
• Spot birds, sloths, and monkeys
• Enjoy panoramic volcano views

The Experience

I still remember stepping off the minibus in La Fortuna, that thick green smell of wet leaves everywhere. Our guide—Diego, I think—waved us over with this big grin and pointed out a toucan right away. The Mistico Hanging Bridges Park felt alive before we’d even started walking. I was honestly a little nervous about the heights (those bridges really do swing), but Diego just laughed and told us to trust the cables—“Costa Rican engineering!” he said, which made everyone relax a bit.

The first bridge was longer than it looked from the ground. You could hear monkeys somewhere off to the left, and every so often you’d catch a flash of blue or yellow—birds darting through gaps in the trees. It’s hard to describe how quiet it gets up there except for the creaking of your own steps and someone ahead whispering “look!” when they spotted a sloth curled up like a fuzzy comma. The air felt heavy but fresh, if that makes sense. At one point we stopped and Diego showed us a tiny red poison dart frog on a leaf—I nearly missed it because I was busy staring at Arenal volcano peeking through clouds behind us.

After about two hours weaving through those trails (my legs were feeling it), we all ended up back near the entrance where lunch was waiting—rice, beans, plantains, some kind of grilled chicken that tasted smoky-sweet. There was this salsa Liz from our group tried to teach me how to pronounce—Li laughed when I tried to say it in Spanish; probably butchered it. Anyway, after eating way too much we wandered down behind the restaurant to these little Palmera real hot springs. They’re not huge or fancy but honestly, sinking into warm water with rain still dripping off the leaves above… I didn’t want to get out.

Top questions

How long is the Mistico Hanging Bridges tour?

The tour lasts around 2.5 hours and covers about 2.5–3 kilometers of trails.

Are hotel pickups included for this day trip?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from hotels in La Fortuna area are included.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Yes, you can choose to add a traditional Costa Rican lunch as part of your booking.

Can I visit hot springs during this tour?

Yes, for a small extra fee you can add access to Palmera real hot springs located behind the restaurant.

Will we see animals during the hanging bridges walk?

You have good chances to spot birds, monkeys, sloths and insects along the trails with help from your guide.

Is this tour suitable for children or older adults?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; children must be accompanied by an adult.

How high are the hanging bridges at Mistico Park?

The bridges range from 98 to 410 feet long and are suspended high above the forest floor.

Are guides bilingual or multilingual?

The tour may be operated by a multilingual guide depending on group needs.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within La Fortuna area, all entry fees at Mistico Hanging Bridges Park, guidance from a professional local guide who helps spot wildlife along treetop trails, plus an optional traditional Costa Rican casado lunch and access to Palmera real hot springs right behind the restaurant before heading back home again.