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Congo Trail Canopy Tour, Sardinal, Costa Rica; ($25-$45 USD)
There are zip line tours in Costa Rica that are more exciting and more expensive, but this is one of the best bargains you'll find anywhere. Congo Trail takes you across about a dozen runs, some longer than 1100 feet. The cost varies by season, but can be as low as $25. If you don't have your own transportation, expect the total tab to run $45 or so. This place can be combined with a half-day at the nearby beaches of Guanacaste (Playas Del Coco, Playa Ocotal and Playa Hermosa are within a short drive). Great for beginners who want the experience without the big price tag.More »ProNutro ZIP 2000, Sun City, Africa; ZAR 320 ($31.36 USD)
The claim here is "the longest, highest and fastest zip slide in the world."The Web site also claims a height of 280 meters (900 ft.) a length of two km. (1.2 mi.) and speeds of 150 km/hr. (90 MPH). At just more than $30 per ride, you could easily pay five times that much in other places for fewer thrills.More »Mount Åreskutan, Sweden; SEK 350-600 ($43-$73 USD)
In Sweden's most popular ski resort near Jämtland (about 630 km./385 mi. from Stockholm), this is billed on the Web site as Europe's "biggest zip line." This operation is open all year. The site claims "the longest line takes you on a 400-meter-long adrenalin ride above ravines and flowing water." Nearly 200 feet above the ground, speeds of more than 40 MPH are possible. The costs are relatively modest in expensive Scandinavia, but getting there might be costly.More »Flight of the Gibbon in Thailand; THB 2080-2300 ($60-$66 USD)
This zip line crosses part of a Thai preserve 55 minutes from Chiang Mai near the village of Mae Kompong. Speed isn't the big attraction here. It's billed as a unique ride through a 1500-year-old rain forest. The Web site reports there are 18 platforms, sky bridges and lowering stations connect 2 km. (1.2 mi.) of zip lines through different layers of the rain forest canopy.More »Cypress Valley Canopy Tour, Texas; $65
Cypress Valley, in the Texas Hill Country near Austin, offers three sky bridges and six zip-lines, the longest of which is more than 350 feet. You'll glide about 40 feet above the ground. Cypress Valley opens during Spring Break and continues operations until winter. Check the Web site for specific dates of operation. You'll need reservations, which can be made by phone or online.More »Monteverde, Costa Rica; $75 USD
Costa Rica is one of the first places visitors had zip line experiences. At Monteverde, you'll find nine cable systems, the longest of which is 2,525 ft. Allow about three hours for the full experience. According to the Web site, the rain forest here is home to more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds tens of thousands of insect species (more than 5,000 species of moths alone) and 2,500 species of plants. Monteverde is about 225 km. (138 mi.) northwest of San Jose.More »Banff Adventures Unlimited, Alberta, Canada; CAD 99 ($81 USD)
Here you'll find three zip lines, with walks in between designed to acquaint visitors with the history and mountain ecology of the area. Tours descend a mountainside and cross the Kicking Horse River at speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph). Participants must weigh at least 66 lbs. and wear sturdy foot wear. Safety equipment and qualified guides are included with each tour.More »Whistler, British Columbia, Canada; from $84 USD
There are actually two tours here: the "Bear Tour" is geared more for families and nature views. It offers five zip lines ranging in length from 200 to 1,000 ft. The "Eagle Tour" is more for the thrill-seeker. The Eagle (which tops $100 USD) descends about 2,000 ft. to Whistler village. Check departure times, which vary by season.More »St. Lucia Zip Line Rain Forest Canopy Adventure; from $85 USD
This zip course on the southeastern shore of St. Lucia includes a series of 11 zip lines about 50 feet off the ground. According to the Web site, lengths range from 83-495 ft. It is typically booked by cruise passengers, so on days when a ship is in port somewhere on the island, expect larger crowds. The ride to the starting point averages about an hour in length for most hotel or cruise guests. Observers who will not run the zip lines can make the trip for $35 USD. Allow a total of about four hours for the experience.More »
Action Boys Belize Zip Line; $90 USD
The Action Boys guide visitors on a double cable line across eight landing platforms strategically located in the canopy of a tropical rain forest in the Belize interior. The Web site says the platforms, between 100 and 245 ft. apart, all are equipped with handrails. Cruise passengers often combine the zip line tour with "cave tubing" for a five-hour excursion that costs $110 USD.More »
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