Exploring With Us
"Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show." Unknown
For many, our tours offer a long held wish, a "bucket list" item, or a fear that needs to be conquered. We are here to accomplish all these goals and have an amazing time with you, too! We take great pride each time someone tells us that they just had the best day in their life—and that happens a lot.
Children have taken their first horseback ride and zipline with us, the physically challenged have ziplined across the dry forest canopy doing what they once thought was unattainable, a puppy rode both our ziplines and an atv with his owner, and honeymooners have celebrated their first day of marriage with us. We love celebrating "firsts" with our guests, as much as seeing our repeat visitors. Since 2001, we have watched our guests grow, change, and expand with us.
Our History and Founder
Modern canopy tours were first developed in Costa Rica in the 1970s and 1980s by biologists, who needed a way to research the previously inaccessible rainforest canopy. They used climbing harnesses and ropes to ascend into the trees, which eventually inspired the recreational zipline tours popular today. Building on this concept, Witch's Rock Canopy Tour was established in 2001 by our founder.
A Florida based architect, Chuck came to Costa Rica as part of a land development project that was located near where WRCT's property is now. The development project stalled, but Chuck remained to watchover the company's substantial landholdings. He had fallen deeply in love with Costa Rica and Pura Vida.
To sustain himself and better keep watch over the area, Chuck started a zipline. The course was designed by experts with strict safety standards, allowing visitors to soar through the trees on a series of cables, platforms, and suspension bridges. Chuck aimed to provide visitors with safe and fun ways to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Costa Rica's dry forests. As one of the first zipline operations in the country, WRCT played a role in popularizing zipline tours as a major tourist attraction.
The "Witch's Rock" name comes from an iconic Guanacaste landmark, who has the local name “La Roca Bruja.” The large rock formation is found in Santa Rosa National Park near Playa Naranjo and is known for its legendary surfing waves. Witch’s Rock is a symbol of adventure in the region.
Early tourists to Costa Rica were primarily surfers, who started traveling through Central and South America looking for untouched beaches and perfect waves in the 1960s. By the 1980s, Costa Rica was no longer a secret after being showcased in surfing magazines and videos. Then in 1993, the movie The Endless Summer II was released and enshrined Costa Rica as international surfing destination. Camps, hostels, and schools catering to surfers started appearing along the Costa Rican coast, particularly in Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula. The Costa Rican government recognized the economic potential of surf tourism and promoted the country as an eco-friendly destination where people could enjoy both adventure and nature.
Chuck's friend Javier suggested naming the zipline “Witch’s Rock Canopy Tour.” Javier believed the name would be attractive to surfing tourists, who would often seek out other adventure activities while visiting the country.
WRCT's first logo pays tribute to its beginnings by featuring Witch’s Rock, a zipliner, and a surfer.
Over the years, WRCT has expanded its offerings beyond ziplining to include guided ATV tours, horseback riding, and helicopter tours, becoming a full adventure center known as WRCT Adventures.
Now, 25 years later, our new logo features a toucan. Toucans symbolize good luck, abundance, prosperity, happiness, playfulness, confidence and creativity. A toucan may be seen as a reminder to embrace color in your life, express yourself boldly, and find joy even in unexpected forms. This is a beautiful reflection of Pura Vida, which is the Costa Rican way of living that celebrates simplicity, gratitude, and finding happiness in every moment, just as it comes. So, with that, pura vida and happy adventuring!