Lost Canyon Canyoneering Adventure in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Tickets for the Lost Canyon through Desafio Adventure Company are $130 USD including transportation, equipment, snacks, and lunch. Photos and videos of the excursion are available for purchase upon returning to the Operations Center at the end of the day.

Traveling Gingerbread Tip: We recommend bringing water shoes, an underwater camera, credit card, plastic bag for wet items, and a change of dry clothes and shoes. Water shoes are available for purchase at Desafio for $10 USD. 

Getting to the canyon is only the beginning of the adventure. The winding, dirt, mountain road to the Operation Center becomes undeveloped, requiring a transfer to a diesel off-road vehicle, or jungle limo. We encounter unexpected road repairs along the route, requiring an uphill hike along the dusty trail to another vehicle transfer. The total trip to Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoneering Operations Center is about 40 minutes. 

Canyoneering is a combination of waterfall rappelling, zip lining, pool jumping, and hiking through the rain forest canyon. Participants are fully submerged in water at times. Lockers are available to safely store items dry while away from the Operations Center. After demonstrations and being outfitted with gloves, helmets, and a harness, our real adventure begins.

A single file line follows a narrow path into the forest. Quickly, the hike includes climbing over roots, rocks, and small saplings. As the trees become denser, the first rappel down a 10 foot waterfall comes into view. The next rappel is down the second largest waterfall followed by a free fall zip line through the canyon. 

Encountering an area of boulders on the hike through the canyon, a guide separates us into groups of 4-5 and instructs us to sit in the rocky crevice. Unknowingly to the group below, a guide lays down across the small opening above, blocking the flow of water. Once the pool of water becomes more than he can restrain, a whistle blows, he rolls out of the way, and a rush of frigid, spring water rushes through the small opening onto the group below.

On the hike to the grand finale, a 200 foot waterfall rappel, screams of remaining group members echo throughout the canyon as the man made dam of frigid water is released. After the final rappel, we begin climbing out of the canyon. Relatively flat in areas, we enjoy the surrounding scenery of small waterfalls, the sun peeking through the dense forest, and red ants scurrying along the forest floor. 

Returning to the Operations Center, we change into dry clothing, snack on fresh watermelon and pineapple, and view/purchase photos taken during our adventure before being shuttled to an open air buffet of local food for lunch.

Traveling Gingerbread Note: We highly recommend this adventure. It had everything we wanted in 1 excursion: rappelling, zip lining, and hiking.

* For more information on our tour check out: G Adventures Costa Rica on a Shoestring.

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April 2018