The Basics
- Where: Mistico Park, about 20–25 minutes from downtown La Fortuna
- Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 3:50 PM (last entry)
- Cost: $33 per adult, $13 per child for the guided tour (what we paid; confirm current rates before booking. This price popped up as a summer special, so keep an eye out for those)
- Our tour time: 2:00 PM
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
- Book: misticopark.com
Mistico Park has 16 total bridges. Six of them hang and sway above the canopy. The rest are sturdier, bolted-in bridges. The full loop covers about 3.2 km and takes roughly 2.5 hours with a guide. It’s kind of a must-do when visiting La Fortuna.
A guide isn’t required. You can do a self-guided walk if you’d rather go at your own pace, but many recommend the guide because they spot things you would likely miss on your own, and they have guys walking the area to look for animals and radio to them too, so it’s nice to have for sure! They also can give you interesting information about the animals and the area.
Our Experience
We booked the guided tour. We went back and forth on this. But a summer sale popped up that made the price pretty much the same as the self-led, and my mother-in-law said a guide made her feel a little more secure on the bridges, so we went that route. I’m glad we did! They spotted a bunch of stuff. We saw some birds, insects, a teeny tiny frog, a couple of little snakes, and some monkeys. The park is home to over 350 bird species and 700 plant species, so having someone who knows where to look makes a real difference.
We’d read that the trail was relatively flat and easy. It is not. It’s hilly, though manageable for most fitness levels. The A 5-year-old was fine (though she does 5ks so she isn’t the average 5-year-old 😂). My mother-in-law and I have a fear of heights. I was genuinely concerned if we would be able to do this. I was surprised to find I was alright; a little nervous, but I kept my eyes above the horizon and was fine. Mother-in-law white-knuckled her way across, but she made it through just fine, but wouldn’t do it again lol.
One of the six hanging bridges was closed the day we visited (can’t say my MIL and I were sad about this 😂). Bridge closures do happen occasionally for maintenance, so it’s worth asking when you book if any are down.
Tips for Visiting
- Book online in advance. Same-day tickets aren’t guaranteed, especially in peak season.
- Go early to avoid crowds and see the most animals.
- Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. (I was glad I wore my hiking sandals)
- If you’re afraid of heights, proceed at your own comfort level, but you can’t avoid the bridges, so be ready to face your fears!
- Consider the guided tour if wildlife spotting matters to you.
- If you want photos of animals, you probably want a good camera with a zoom lens; though, if you have a guide, they can sometimes use their scope to get some good photos on your phone.
Read more about our time in La Fortuna, or see the full story of our 9 days in Costa Rica.
