Selvatura Adventure Park is an ecological park in the mountains about 30 miles (50km) south of Arenal (as the crow flies, driving is much less direct), with for both adult and children activities: butterfly garden, sloth sanctuary, zip line, superman cable. You can easily fill your day there, if desired.
The hanging bridges intrigued my wife during her trip research, which allows you to walk through the forest among the treetops, well above the ground, providing some incredible vistas, flora, (some) fauna. Our trip to Selvatura was a stop as we drove from Tamarindo to San Jose.
Getting There
Challenging is an understatement when describing the drive to Selvatura: though Costa Rican roads are by no means on par with US-based roads, the roads to Selvatura varied between decent, adequate, and impassable – sometimes in quick succession – and progressively gets worse the closer and higher-up you get: asphalt, gravel, dirt; constant switchback curves where oncoming traffic sneaks up you; almost too narrow for two-lane traffic; potholes that can swallow small vehicles.
The views are remarkable but rarely are there pull-offs to allow you to take pictures. You’ll have no choice but to take your time – especially if you find yourself following trucks loaded with construction material – so plan accordingly.
The two most obvious routes are through either Santa Elena or Monte Verde, turning onto 619 to head north and up. The roads really go downhill past Treetopia Park. And, amazingly, full-sized coaches take their passengers on the same route as you are driving.
After one final ascent, you’ll arrive at the park [congratulations for making it] and you’ll park on either the left-hand or right-hand parking lot (someone will direct you). The parking lots are flat, well-maintained, and monitored, so we felt comfortable leaving our luggage in the car (though hidden in the trunk). It’s a short walk from parking to the entrance area where you buy tickets, eat, or hit the restrooms.
The Walk
The complete loop is 1.9 miles (3058m) long and encompasses eight hanging bridges, from 187 ft (57m) to 515 ft (157m) long and as high as 190 ft (60m). The path is well-marked and well-maintained, and there should be no reason to get lost or go off-roading (unless that’s your intent).
Though the slight swaying as you walk across may cause some concern among the squeamish, the bridges appear solidly built and sturdy, and felt safe to me. Each bridge has a sign indicating the bridge’s length and height, and state the maximum number of people allowed. There’s also warnings of prohibit activities, like jumping or otherwise intentionally making the bridge sway. If you consider yourself among the squeamish, focus on the gorgeous vistas and distract you from your actual location (i.e., don’t look down!).
The pathway is made of cement pavers that I’ve previously seen in small parking lots in Europe (and also a supermarket in Costa Rica). The pavers are not solid and have a pattern ofholes that allow for drainage, which should make the path safe during the rainy season while also limiting the damage caused by run-off. Painted steps and the occasional handrail also improve your safety.
The elevation can change between bridges which means you walk both up and down during the loop – gradual and steep, steps and slopes – so be prepared for some exertion. None are overly challenging, but you’ll likely feel it towards the end as you ascend to the starting point. The weather for our visit was dry and sunny, but parts of the path were damp and a little slippery.
Planning Your Visit
Selvatura Adventure Park is open 7am to 4pm, 365 days a year.
Various packages are available based on how much – or how little – you plan on doing, and can be booked online before arrival. Unless you are staying nearby and can arrive early, I recommend scaling back expectations on how much you can do. We spent approximately 90 minutes walking the hanging bridges and needed rest and food. We decided to skip the butterfly garden and continue our drive to San Jose.
Selvatura offers guided tour of the hanging bridges where the guide can provide more details on what you’re seeing. We walked past one group who were getting details about a specific plant only seen in Costa Rica, which may be interesting to some. The guided tour takes closer to two hours.
Wear appropriate clothing for the jungle – long-sleeve but light shirts, pants, closed-toe footwear. Though mosquitos, bugs, and other insects didn’t bother us, our clothes were treated and we sprayed insect repellent on our exposed skin. We heard others commenting on the insects, so either the preventative measures worked or we’re less tasty. Raincoats are a must during the rainy season.
Carry water as no water fountains or drinking water is available on the path.
Their restaurant, El Jardin, has a decent menu and is a good place to regroup and recharge between activities.
Image Credits
All images © 2024 Scott C Sosna
