Excursion A walk in the clouds tour at Puntarenas

Discover the richness of the rainforest and see lush gardens on this excursion that brings you through the Cloud Forest, over incredible suspended bridges and floating through butterflies and hummingbirds. Depart the pier and drive 1.75 hours to San Luis Park, home to the Cloud Forest, where beautiful trails await your footsteps. Watch as you step and the most amazing shapes of green vegetation appear before your eyes.

The tour starts with a short downhill walk that leads into an open hummingbird garden, where many species of these tiny, lively colored birds gather around and amaze you with their spectacular acrobatic aerial maneuvers. After this beautiful experience, embark on a more adventurous portion of this tour, when you arrive to the first of four suspended bridges that cover over half a mile above the ground and that provide an amazing bird eye's view of the Cloud Forest. Each of these bridges stretch between 95 and 253 feet (30 to 80m) and up to 126 feet (38m) above the ground.

As you continue your way through rivers and cascades, enjoy spectacular views as your naturalist tour guide points out the most outstanding features of this misty forest. Your guide is there to identify several species of birds, butterflies and small mammals that inhabit the area and plants, such as, orchids, heliconias, ferns, bromeliads and other species of aerial plants that are part of this beautiful surrounding.

A visit to a nearby butterfly farm is also part of this experience. Species like the Blue Morpho, Caligo, monarch and tiger swallowtail are only some of the amazing butterflies you may see.

At the end of your nature walk, taste a delicious agua dulce (a traditional drink) with a hearty typical Costa Rican lunch awaits to regain your energy.

On the way back to the pier, drive 45 minutes to make a brief stop at El Jardín allows you to stretch your legs, enjoy the scenery at the beautiful gardens or browse around a souvenir shop. Drive the remaining 1 hour to return to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Cloud Forest, San Luis Park, Hanging Bridges, Costa Rican Lunch, El Jardín

Note

Please note: Order of sites may vary and there is driving for a total of approximately 3.5 hours included in this tour. This excursion is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven natural terrain and gravel. This tour involves 90 minutes of walking and may not be suitable for guests with walking difficulties. This tour is not recommended for guests with a fear of heights due to the hanging bridge that must be crossed. Guests unable to walk the full terrain may return to the coach as needed. Wear light clothing, comfortable shoes, sun protection (including hat) and insect repellent. Wildlife sightings are common but not guaranteed - please no flash photography of the animals.