Looking up from the trail to the largest and highest hanging bridge
Rainforests are difficult to explore. They are so dense it's hard to move through them and the mountainous terrain they cover makes for ardous hiking. Poisonous insects, reptiles and amphibians abound. The solution for all but the most serious wilderness hiker is to take advantage of the private preserves that Costa Ricans offer, for a price.
The Hanging Bridges of Arenal is a beautiful preserve, with well-maintained trails looping visitors downhill through dense jungle, then back up again to a series of metalwork bridges suspended over the jungle canopy. From this vantage point you get spectacular views and some wonderful sightings. Our wish was to see monkeys in the wild, and we were not disappointed.
Looking up from the trail to the largest and highest hanging bridge
A view from the bridge, looking down on the monkeys in the trees below.