Canopy Adventure Park-Barva, Heredia: A Local Outdoor Destination near San José
Table of Contents

The Canopy Adventure Park- Barva offers a selection of open-air events in Heredia, Costa Rica. Administered by a local family, this place is a real outdoor activity center close to San José. Among the things, visitors can do are hiking, canopy touring, rappelling, camping, and mountain biking. The Park also boasts one waterfall, a river, and stunning views of the Central Valley.
Getting to Canopy Adventure Park
By Car
Being located only 20.7 km (12.9 miles) away from San José and 11 km (6.8 miles) away from Heredia, it is easily accessible via well-paved roads that can be used by any type of vehicle. Still, some parts of the road are narrow enough to allow just one car at a time to pass through, therefore drivers should be careful about it and stay aware of oncoming traffic.
Once you get there though you won’t have any trouble finding where to leave your car – there’s free parking with plenty of space right at the entrance. In the park, there are other parking lots as well but these cost ¢5,000, and due to road conditions, they are only accessible for 4×4 vehicles.
You can see below the route’s links:
By public transportation
If you’re going by public transportation it’s going to take you a few transfers to get to Canopy Adventure Park.
Start by taking a bus from San Jose to Heredia; they leave frequently throughout the day.
Once in Heredia, you will need to change to a bus heading to San José de la Montaña; these buses leave every hour. Please note that there is no direct bus service to Canopy Adventure Park, so the final leg of your trip – about 3 km (1.9 miles) – must be completed by taxi / Uber, which takes about 10 minutes from downtown San José de la Montaña.
All bus stops are marked on the tourist map included at the end of this article.
For those thinking about alternatives to buses, Uber or Didi, as well as local taxis, can be considered; the price for one way trip between Heredia and Canopy Adventure Park starts from ¢4,000 to ¢7,000.
From San José, the cost to reach the site by Uber, Didi, or taxi starts from ¢9,000 to ¢11,000 per way.

Entrance Fee & Opening Times
Canopy Adventure Park is open every day of the year from 7:00 until 17:00, including weekends and holidays.
If you wish to do specific activities like a canopy or rappel it’s worth mentioning that they have different schedules which might vary depending on the season (dry or rainy); so, to secure your spot these activities should be booked in advance through WhatsApp – but don’t worry about communication because staff speaks English fluently.
Fees at Canopy Adventure Barva vary depending on the chosen activity
General admission for walking the trails costs ¢5,000 per person over 10 years old while those under the age of 10 enter free of charge.
Camping is priced at ¢8,000 per person for the first night and subsequent nights are charged with ¢5,000; this includes access to trails, parking as well and firewood for campfire.
Canopy tour comes at a price of $50 for ages over 12 years old and $40 for children under the age of 12, which also grants access to trails.
Rappelling costs $50 per person aged from 12 upwards and this too includes trail access.
Mountain biking costs ¢5,000 per person.
This place only accepts cash, so make sure you arrive prepared with enough money.

Things to do at Canopy Adventure Park
Canopy Adventure Park provides visitors with many things to do, which makes it a versatile outdoor destination

Hiking
Canopy Adventure Volcán Barva has two principal hiking trails for different grades of adventurers.
The first trail is 4 km long (2.5 miles), the second about 7 km (4.3 miles). Both trails begin on a common route that passes by the estate’s two waterfalls and follows a river.
At the waterfalls, there is a fork in the path which gives hikers the option to continue on the shorter route or take on the longer trail.
It should be noted by visitors that although separate, these intersections between hiking and mountain biking trails do occur at various points. Therefore, it is recommended that both ways should always be checked before crossing so as not to have any unfortunate encounters with speeding mountain bikers.

Canopy
The canopy tour is designed for beginners as well as experienced thrill-seekers. The experience starts with shorter and slower cables that allow participants to gradually get used to the equipment and heights involved. As you go along with your adventure, zip lines get longer and faster, being from 18 mts (60 ft) up to 274 mts (900 ft) long.
The park boasts 11 cables all located within its private reserve which also contains a river, two waterfalls, and a cloud forest among other features. In fact, one cable goes right over the main waterfall giving you a great aerial view of it.
The whole activity takes around 2 hours.


Rappel
The rappel has a drop of up to 30 mts (98 ft) and is situated next to the property’s main waterfall.
This activity is expected to last about an hour and a half including walking through trails until reaching the point where you start descending.
Camping
There are two designated camping areas in the park with shared bathrooms and drinking water available.
The first camping area is located 1 km (0.6 miles) from the main entrance close to Pump Track Park.
The second camping area is 2 km (1.2 miles) from the main entrance near the Central Valley viewpoint at the main waterfall area.
If you plan on camping come prepared as the park is nearly 2,000 mts (6,562 ft) above sea level and nights can be very cold. Also being a mountainous region, it rains frequently even in the dry season.

Mountain Bike
What you will see most when visiting this place are cyclists. This is because there are many unique trails in this park that incorporate different types of ramps and natural obstacles providing diverse and exciting riding experiences.
Additionally, there is a pump track park on the premises for those wishing to practice or hone their cycling skills in an alternative setting.
Unfortunately, bicycles are not available for rent at the park so you will need to rent elsewhere.

Best time to go to Canopy Adventure Park
The best time to visit the park is during the transition months of May and November as during these months the rain isn’t as heavy which allows for water at the waterfall and river and if you go in the morning hours it helps avoid getting wet by rain and muddy trails.
On the other hand, the dry season presents a different landscape. Although waterfalls and the river are dry, there is a greater chance of clear skies offering breathtaking views of Central Valley. Trails also tend to be dryer making them safer from slips and falls.
But if you come during the wet season, you’ll see waterfalls that are much fuller than those in their dry state — though be prepared for muddier paths and limited views of the Central Valley.

Tips for Visiting Canopy Adventure Park
When planning a visit to Canopy Adventure Volcan Barva, keeping a few practical tips in mind can enhance your experience:
- Shoes: It is advised to wear appropriate hiking shoes that are durable and provide comfort during the hike. As for the trails, they may often be muddy during the rainy season, so having a good and firm grip on the shoes is very important.
- Gear: It is recommended to take a lightweight backpack with some provisions such as water, some eatables, insect repellent, and a blanket if you are going to have a picnic. Even if most of the trails are covered, some parts may be exposed to the sun so packing sunglasses and sun protection is a good idea.
- Clothing: The weather in the park can also be rather different from what is expected due to its relatively high altitude and the fact that it is located in the mountains. Perhaps, it’s wise to wear waterproof jackets during the rainy season.
- Food and Drinks: On weekends, food is sold in the park from 8:00 until 15:00. There is no food sold from Monday to Friday, so remember to bring your drinks and takeaways or packed lunches.
