Q: WHAT IS THE CANOPY TOUR?
A: The Canopy Tour is a patented system for taking inexperienced tourists through the treetops and safely depositing them back on the forest floor.
Q: IS IT THE SAME AS THE AERIAL TRAM?
A: No. The Canopy Tour is an active system which allows your participation, whereas The Aerial Tram also allows access to the canopy, but is more of a passive system. It is basically a ski lift through the jungle, and, although very interesting, is quite different than The Original Canopy Tour. It is also in a different area of the country and is worth looking into if you are going to the east coast.
Q: WHERE IS THE CANOPY TOUR LOCATED?
A: Right now we have 5 locations in Costa Rica. Our existing locations are in Monteverde, in the northern zone, and Iguana Park near Orotina, on the road from San Jose to Playa Jaco and Quepos/ Manuel Antonio We also have one in Rincon de la Vieja and San Carlos. All others are not ours but are pirated copies.
Q: IS THE ONE AT RINCON DE LA VIEJA YOUR TOUR?
A: There Is a tour built by me there it is called the KAZM Cannon. It is the first one you come to.
Q: IS THE TOUR SAFE?
A: The Original Canopy Tour is very safe. The pirated copies, we would not recommend. We have been in operation for over 5 years and have not had a single accident. Safety of our clients is our prime objective.
Q: DO I NEED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN ROPES, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING OR RAPPELLING?
Q : Do you need any special training or physical abilities to do The Canopy Tour?
A: NO
Q: I am an older person and not in the greatest physical condition. Can I still do the tour?
A: Definitely. As long as you can walk on a jungle trail, you can do the tour. You do not need anything further than this. We have had many disabled people on the tour as well, from legally blind to people with pace-makers and those who are recovering from a stroke.
Q: I have young children, but still want to do the tour. How old do my children have to be in order to do the tour?
A: We have special harnesses for kids. Normally, we can take children from 2 years old and up.
Q: I have a fear of heights, but I am still interested in doing the tour. Do you think I will have a problem?
A: Since our ancestors left the tree tops hunderds of millions of years ago to forage on the forest floor we have grown to have a fear of heights. This is perfectly normal. In fact about 50% of our clients are somewhat afraid of heights. We have taken many people up with vertigo and 99.9% have come away feeling it was one of the best experiences they have ever had. Have a look at our testimonials page and read what some of them have said about the tour. Our guides are expert in making you feel comfortable up there.
Q: How do I make a reservation? How long in advance do I need to make a reservation?
A: Reservations should be made as soon as you know your itinerary. It becomes especially critical during the months of December to March and June to August, as these are the peak season months for travellers to Costa Rica.
Q: What time should I arrive for the tour?
A: In Monteverde, tour times are 7:30 am, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm DAILY. At the Iguana Park location, you should arrive by around 9:30 am. We can accomodate groups arriving later as well, but you must arrive before 1:00 pm atIguana Park. Please make reservations in advance so you will be assured that there will a guide waiting for you when you arrive.
Q: What does the tour include?
A: The tour includes all the equipment you will need to complete your journey throught the tops of the trees. It also includes all the training you need as well. If you buy a package tour from San Jose, it includes transportation from your hotel to Iguana Park or your hotel in Monteverde, depending on which location you are going to. The Iguana Park package, a day tour, also includes lunch, entrance to Iguana Park, a tour of the iguana cages and scarlet macaw exhibit and a guided 45 minute hike through the rainforest of the private reserve. If you are taking one of the Monteverde packages it also includes one night in a hotel or pension and a 20 minute guided tour of the Cloud Forest Lodge private reserve.
Q: How long does the tour take?
A: The Monteverde tour takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete, depending on the size of the group. The tour at Iguana Park takes about 3 1/2 hours to complete as the guided tour on the ground takes longer.
Q: How long do we spend in the canopy.
A: You will spend approximately 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours in the forest canopy.
Q: What are the differences between the tours?
A: Each tour destination is in a different type of tropical forest. The Monteverde location is in a cloud forest. The Iguana Park location is in a tropical transition forest, which is a mixture of dry tropical forests as found in the northern zone and the wet rainforests of the south. The Aguas Termales location is in a secondary rain forest and volcanic hot water springs at the end of it. In the Kazm Cannon you anr not in the trees but travelling down a canyon.
Q: Which tour is better?
A: This basically depends on what you like. The Iguana Park tour has higher platforms and you have a view of the whole forest all the way down to the ground, as it is in a cathedral forest, with very little vegetation between the upper canopy and the forest floor. The Monteverde tour has different levels of canopy above and below you and it feels almost as if you are travelling through a corridor. If you are more nervous of heights, this may be the one for you. It also starts out with a climb up the inside of a mature strangler fig.
Q: What types of animals/ birds will I see on the tour?
A: Basically we cannot gurantee that you will see anything. This is not disneyland. Even if you do not see anything we guarantee that you will have a great time. In Monteverde, many of our clients have seen Howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, the Resplendant Quetzal (which is probably the most beautiful bird in Central America), Emerald Tucanettes, Tucans, 3 wattled bell bird, various parrots and parakeets, Dendrobates pumilio (red poison dart frog), silky anteater, martillo and many more species of birds and mammals. In Iguana Park they have seen Boa constrictors, Dendrobates auratus (black and green poison dart frog), Scarlet Macaws, trogons, squirrel cuckoo, tucans, various parrot and parakeets, agoutis, capybaras, white-tailed deer, coatimundi, and many more species of birds amd mammals.
Q:Can we take our camera/ video cam on the tour?
A: Definitely. You won't want to miss this memory if you have the chance to record it
Q: What should we wear on the tour?
A: At Iguana Park, you will be in the lowlands and therefore it will be quite hot and humid. You can wear shorts and a t shirt, but take along insect repellant. Also carry a change of clothes with you. If it doesn't rain on yo, you will become very sweaty and will need at least a change of shirt. In Monteverde, you are in the mountains. Sometimes it is warm, dry and sunny and at other times it is cold and wet. You amy need a rain jacket, long pants and sweater or you amy be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt. Also take a pair of comfortable walking shoes, hiking boots or tennis shoes, as long as you don't mind getting them dirty or muddy.
Q: Do your guides speak english?
A: Yes. We also have guides that speak other languages as well. If you know will be visiting one of our locations and do not speak english or spanish and would like the tour done in another language, please give us advance notice so we can have a guide at the location for you.
Q: Will the bus pick us up at our hotel ?
A: For the tour to Iguana Park or the overnight tour to Monteverde we pick up at most hotels in the San Jose area. If you have a hotel outside of San Jose we will pick you up at a convenient spot. If you need a pick up at a hotel in Monteverde for the tour, we charge $6 per group of 8 people maximum (ie if you are a group travelling together). Let us know which hotel you are at and we will arrange your pick up.
Q: What time do you pick us up at our hotel?
A: If it is a day tour to Iguana Park or an overnight tour to Monteverde departing from San Jose, we pick up around 7:00 to 8:00 am daily, depending on which hotel you are staying at. If it is for a tour in Monteverde and you at a hotel in the area, we will pick you up about 20 minute before the tour, for an extra fee of $6.
Q: How much time does it take to get to Iguana Park?
A: If you want to get there from San Jose allow yourself about 2 hours, especially if you are unfamiliar with the roads and driving conditions. From Jaco Beach it takes about 1 hour. From Quepos, about 2 hours. From Puntarenas/ Cal dera (the cruise ship port) it takes about 35 minutes and from Liberia/ Guanacaste it takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, depending on what beach you are at.
Q: How much time does it take to get to Monteverde?
A: It generally takes about 4 to 4 1/2 hours to get there from San Jose. From Quepos allow yourself about the same. From Jaco, about 3 1/2 hours. From Liberia/ Guanacaste allow about 3 hours and from Arenal/ La Fortuna it will take about 4 hours. From Arenal/ Fortuna there is also a horseback riding tour to Monteverde which takes about the same amount of time and may be more interesting.
Q: How long does it take to get to The Kazm Cannon?
A: From San Jose it will take about 3 1/2 hours to get there. From Liberia, about 1/2 hour. From the beache of Guanacaste 45 minutes to 1 hour. From Monteverde about 3 1/2 hours. From Arenal/ La Fortuna it will take about 4 1/2 hours.
Q:How long does it take to get to Thermales del Bosque in San Carlos?
A: From San Jose allow yourself about 3 1/2 hours. From Arenal/ La Fortuna, about 45 minutes.
Q: Is it a difficult drive?
A: Driving in Costa Rica is a little diferent from driving in the U.S. or Canada. The roads are narrower and the people tend to drive faster and with less caution. They pass on blind corners and on hills. The driving can be exciting and a great way to see the country, but you must be careful at all times. There are very few passing lanes and passing becomes tricky on the narrow mountain roads, especially when there are many trucks and buses all trying to get where they are going as fast as they can. But most of the roads are in reasonable condition, with the exception of the road to Monteverde, which consists of a dirt/ mud road with some gravel on it at times. Washouts and landslides are frequent on all roads in the country. Take only a 4 wheel drive if you are going to Monteverde. Rental car companies do not allow access to Monteverde in a regular car. If you are a nervous driver, you may want to leave the driving to someone else, like a professional tour guide. We can help you arrange rental cars or driver/ tour guide if you need one.
Q: I am a research biologist and would like to use your platforms for observational purposes. Is it possible?
A: Yes it is possible. Please contact us in advance so we have time to arrange anything special that you may need.
Q: I am a scout for movie locations and would like to use your facilites/ expetise in ropes for a film we are producing in/ on Costa Rica.
A: We can arrange this. We have worked people from National Geographic, MTV, Discovery Channel, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and various movies filmed here in Costa Rica, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes as well.