Rainforest lodge & hanging bridges
Heliconias Rainforest Lodge
Walk among the treetops on hanging bridges over 70 hectares of primary forest, then sleep in the middle of it.
Pictured Hanging bridge at Heliconias
High on the forested slopes above Bijagua, Heliconias Rainforest Lodge protects roughly 70 hectares of primary rainforest. Sitting near the divide between Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean slopes, it stays cool, green and often misty.
The lodge is best known for its hanging bridges, and for some of the most sought-after birds in the region. It is a favorite of birders, families and anyone who wants to see what an undisturbed tropical forest looks like from the canopy.
The hanging bridges
A 2.5-kilometer trail loops through the forest and crosses three suspension bridges strung between the ridges, the highest about 35 meters above the forest floor. One bridge has a viewing platform built around a giant tree, which the lodge believes is the only one of its kind in Costa Rica. The trails are gravel with steps, so they are manageable for most ages and fitness levels.
Up on the bridges you are at eye level with the canopy, where epiphytes, bromeliads and orchids grow, and where tanagers, toucans and monkeys move through the treetops.
Wildlife and birding
Birders come for the specialties the lodge highlights: Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Black-eared Wood-Quail, Black-crested Coquette, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Crested Owl. Spider, capuchin and howler monkeys use the forest, as do both two- and three-toed sloths. Tapirs, anteaters and peccaries live here too, and the forest is large enough for elusive cats such as ocelots and even jaguars, though those are rarely seen.
After dark, the forest belongs to red-eyed tree frogs and other amphibians, boas and coral snakes.
Tours and programs
- Full DayTrails and all three hanging bridges, a favorite for families on a day trip.
- Bird WatchingGuided walks on the bridges and trails for the lodge’s signature species.
- Night Guided TourA walk for all ages to meet the forest’s nocturnal residents.
- Walking TogetherHiking and bridges for school and environmental-education groups.
Go with a local guide
Walk the bridges with an expert
Bijagua Nature Tours runs a private Heliconias Hanging Bridge Tour with a guide who knows where to look for Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet and Black-eared Wood-Quail. Frog’s Paradise also offers a guided bridges hike.
- Heliconias Hanging Bridge Tour3 hours · from $65
Staying at the lodge
The recently renovated lodge offers Standard, Superior and Plus rooms and a Bungalow, all bookable online through its website. Staying overnight means you can be on the bridges at first light, when birds are most active, and step straight out onto a night walk after dinner.
Tips for your visit
- Wear comfortable sports shoes and quick-drying clothes.
- Pack a rain poncho. The forest here is called a rainforest for a reason.
- Bring mosquito repellent and binoculars.
- Arrive early for birds; mid-morning mist can roll in and out of the canopy.
