It's an early start for our adrenaline packed morning of activities!
We are out of bed & ready to go by 7.00am, we sit outside our room, on the deck, watching the hummingbirds with the hotel owners dog, who is sitting next to me.
The tour van drives us the 30 minutes or so, to their booking office, which is also the start of the zip line course.
Once there, we sign our lives away, get fitted with our equipment & are given a brief but simple demonstration on a static line.
While waiting for the last of the organising, we are hard pressed not to notice the ginger cat flaunting his affection along the booking desk. He has the cutest face, with a very pink nose & was ferociously trying to butt his head with any unwary hand or head in a bid to get some loving! What a gorgeous boy! Tom & I would love a ginger cat when we get back.
We all line up & proceed up the stairs & towards the first zip line wire. The zip lines start quite high at 1,400 feet but are very strategically set up so that the first one is very small & looks close to the ground. At this point you can't see the valley or the 'cloud forrest' that we would fly over soon after.
The first zip line was very small, only about 10 metres long & was a great way to dissolve any nerves or anxiety. Following the first zip line they got progressively longer & the height from the line to the forrest floor was getting bigger. It only required a small amount of practice & it was very easy to relax into it & have fun.
After zip line 6 we walked off the platform & across a 'floating bridge' that was hanging through the tree tops. It was at this point we could start to appreciate how high we were & we glimpsed some of the longer & higher zip lines we were yet to do.
Once we arrived at the platform before zip line number 7, we got to experience rappling backwards from an approximate distance of 10 metres.
To be honest, I had no idea what they were doing with my harness before I launched backwards off the platform. It was a good first experience & I'd love to do some ab sailing with Tom, who was always keen on it.
Following this experience we were attached to the first big zip line which took us across the valley & gave us a real perspective of how high we were & how beautiful the rainforest below us was. Amazingly, this wasn't the highest of the zip lines, even though we were flying above the tree tops.
The distance of this zip line really gave us an appreciation for how fast we were going (zip lines have been recorded at speeds of 160km's) & the harsh, very loud noise coming from the pulley that attaches your harness to the wire. As the last tiny shred of anxiety & trepidation left my body, I felt overwhelmingly free. It's hard to not love this feeling.
Once we touched down on the platform we were unclipped from our standard, sitting harnesses & then repositioned into a different one which would allow us to do the next 2 zip lines in the superman position. The superman position is where the harness attaches from your back, so that you're lying down & facing the ground, we also had something around our feet to support our legs.
We are out of bed & ready to go by 7.00am, we sit outside our room, on the deck, watching the hummingbirds with the hotel owners dog, who is sitting next to me.
The tour van drives us the 30 minutes or so, to their booking office, which is also the start of the zip line course.
Once there, we sign our lives away, get fitted with our equipment & are given a brief but simple demonstration on a static line.
While waiting for the last of the organising, we are hard pressed not to notice the ginger cat flaunting his affection along the booking desk. He has the cutest face, with a very pink nose & was ferociously trying to butt his head with any unwary hand or head in a bid to get some loving! What a gorgeous boy! Tom & I would love a ginger cat when we get back.
We all line up & proceed up the stairs & towards the first zip line wire. The zip lines start quite high at 1,400 feet but are very strategically set up so that the first one is very small & looks close to the ground. At this point you can't see the valley or the 'cloud forrest' that we would fly over soon after.
The first zip line was very small, only about 10 metres long & was a great way to dissolve any nerves or anxiety. Following the first zip line they got progressively longer & the height from the line to the forrest floor was getting bigger. It only required a small amount of practice & it was very easy to relax into it & have fun.
After zip line 6 we walked off the platform & across a 'floating bridge' that was hanging through the tree tops. It was at this point we could start to appreciate how high we were & we glimpsed some of the longer & higher zip lines we were yet to do.
Once we arrived at the platform before zip line number 7, we got to experience rappling backwards from an approximate distance of 10 metres.
To be honest, I had no idea what they were doing with my harness before I launched backwards off the platform. It was a good first experience & I'd love to do some ab sailing with Tom, who was always keen on it.
Following this experience we were attached to the first big zip line which took us across the valley & gave us a real perspective of how high we were & how beautiful the rainforest below us was. Amazingly, this wasn't the highest of the zip lines, even though we were flying above the tree tops.
The distance of this zip line really gave us an appreciation for how fast we were going (zip lines have been recorded at speeds of 160km's) & the harsh, very loud noise coming from the pulley that attaches your harness to the wire. As the last tiny shred of anxiety & trepidation left my body, I felt overwhelmingly free. It's hard to not love this feeling.
Once we touched down on the platform we were unclipped from our standard, sitting harnesses & then repositioned into a different one which would allow us to do the next 2 zip lines in the superman position. The superman position is where the harness attaches from your back, so that you're lying down & facing the ground, we also had something around our feet to support our legs.
We then got into a little buggy which drove us for a few kilometres up the side of a very steep hill.
Once at the top we climbed up the platform & waited to be clipped in for our first superman.
These 2 zip lines are what makes this experience so special & unique for people travelling to Costa Rica. Your positioning, the length of the zip lines & the stunning location.
Getting into the superman position was rather awkward & uncomfortable, especially when the straps are being attached to your feet.
It was with lots of excitement & a sense of thrill when the safety clip was removed & we were launched off the platform, away from the hill side & towards the open air, whizzing over the tops of the tree canopy. It was incredible fun & worth every cent!
It just kept going on & on, before eventually you whizzed between the trees & towards the platform to land. When in the superman position there is no way to slow yourself or stop. You are totally reliant on the guides standing on the platform to stop you.
This was a sudden & fear inspiring realisation, this zip line is very long & you literally shoot through the sky, gaining speed & not quite realising how fast you're going until this point.
The guides easily & effectively stop your zip line by launching a soft ball like contraption already attached to the line, towards your pulley. When your pulley hit's this, it immediately absorbs all the speed & after the initial jolt, you glide onto the platform at a slow & controlled speed.
I was rather impressed & also grateful that I wasn't a man with male anatomy.
Some of the boys were not so appreciative of the jolting stop & the harness.
It was now our last zip line, which was the longest, highest & also in the superman position. The only difference is this time we could spread our arms out to the side instead of crossing them across our chest. I guess the reason for this is that the second time you shouldn't freak out in the new position & try to grab the line, which would be extremely detrimental for your fingers.
Once again, it was pure magic & we both loved every second.
Tom was a few people ahead of me & as I was getting towards the end of the last zip line, I could see him below me, standing on a different platform at the end of a bridge, already having completed the last zip line minutes before. Within a second of me realising it was him (from the stripes on his jumper) he had jumped off the platform & was doing the Tarzan swing.
He couldn't hear me, but I was screaming & cheering for him from above, I only saw him leap off the edge & the first few seconds of swinging.
Once I landed on the last zip line platform a few seconds after watching Tom, I was asked if I wanted to do the Tarzan swing ? I was spurred on to say yes, after just completing the zip lines & watching Tom do it. I knew how high it was (only 45 metres) & that there was only a 3 second free fall before the harness caught you. Should be easy peasy....
Once at the top we climbed up the platform & waited to be clipped in for our first superman.
These 2 zip lines are what makes this experience so special & unique for people travelling to Costa Rica. Your positioning, the length of the zip lines & the stunning location.
Getting into the superman position was rather awkward & uncomfortable, especially when the straps are being attached to your feet.
It was with lots of excitement & a sense of thrill when the safety clip was removed & we were launched off the platform, away from the hill side & towards the open air, whizzing over the tops of the tree canopy. It was incredible fun & worth every cent!
It just kept going on & on, before eventually you whizzed between the trees & towards the platform to land. When in the superman position there is no way to slow yourself or stop. You are totally reliant on the guides standing on the platform to stop you.
This was a sudden & fear inspiring realisation, this zip line is very long & you literally shoot through the sky, gaining speed & not quite realising how fast you're going until this point.
The guides easily & effectively stop your zip line by launching a soft ball like contraption already attached to the line, towards your pulley. When your pulley hit's this, it immediately absorbs all the speed & after the initial jolt, you glide onto the platform at a slow & controlled speed.
I was rather impressed & also grateful that I wasn't a man with male anatomy.
Some of the boys were not so appreciative of the jolting stop & the harness.
It was now our last zip line, which was the longest, highest & also in the superman position. The only difference is this time we could spread our arms out to the side instead of crossing them across our chest. I guess the reason for this is that the second time you shouldn't freak out in the new position & try to grab the line, which would be extremely detrimental for your fingers.
Once again, it was pure magic & we both loved every second.
Tom was a few people ahead of me & as I was getting towards the end of the last zip line, I could see him below me, standing on a different platform at the end of a bridge, already having completed the last zip line minutes before. Within a second of me realising it was him (from the stripes on his jumper) he had jumped off the platform & was doing the Tarzan swing.
He couldn't hear me, but I was screaming & cheering for him from above, I only saw him leap off the edge & the first few seconds of swinging.
Once I landed on the last zip line platform a few seconds after watching Tom, I was asked if I wanted to do the Tarzan swing ? I was spurred on to say yes, after just completing the zip lines & watching Tom do it. I knew how high it was (only 45 metres) & that there was only a 3 second free fall before the harness caught you. Should be easy peasy....
Walking out to the platform along the bridge, I started to realise how high it was. Maybe it wouldn't be easy peasy.
My hands started to shake & tingle, my mouth went dry & my heart beat started furiously increasing.
The typical signs of adrenaline, that surely I should be comfortable with by now.
Thankfully, there was no queue to do the swing & as soon as I reached the edge, the guides had me hooked up & were giving me basic instructions. While all this happened so fast, my brain was sludge & time was stretching, so every second felt like minutes.
I thought about 'chickening out' at least 5 times in the preceding 2 seconds as my heart rate continued to increase. I actually thought the guides would be able to hear it & possibly see it through my chest.
My hands started to shake & tingle, my mouth went dry & my heart beat started furiously increasing.
The typical signs of adrenaline, that surely I should be comfortable with by now.
Thankfully, there was no queue to do the swing & as soon as I reached the edge, the guides had me hooked up & were giving me basic instructions. While all this happened so fast, my brain was sludge & time was stretching, so every second felt like minutes.
I thought about 'chickening out' at least 5 times in the preceding 2 seconds as my heart rate continued to increase. I actually thought the guides would be able to hear it & possibly see it through my chest.
The next thing, the gate was being opened. I was already crouched into position with my knees resting on the gate & my toes hanging off the edge. The tension of the coiled rope pulled taut, attached to my chest harness, waiting to catch me, was basically pulling me off the edge.
All I had to do was step out into thin air.
One more treacherous thought crossed my mind about yelling "NO" & not jumping, but then the gate was open, the pull of the rope on my chest was unstoppable, as was the hand on my shoulder pushing me & then I stepped off.
Free fall is something I've experienced 18 times now from sky diving, bungee jumping & now this.
It is one of the most indescribable & addictive feelings known to man.
To feel the exhilaration of being weightless, while gravity takes control & your brain tries to comprehend what is happening, is a feeling that makes you feel..... alive.
It's every cell in your body screaming at once & adrenaline being set free in your body.
The only rational thought I can remember straight after the shock was "holy f*$#" & at that point I couldn't even scream.
Within the immediate release of that one thought from my sluggish brain, the rope attached to my harness pulled taut with a deafening crack & a jolt which is clearly seen & heard on video.
Once I started swinging, the sludge in my brain cleared, only to be replaced by feelings of total elation which is power fuelled by adrenaline & now also endorphins.
All I had to do was step out into thin air.
One more treacherous thought crossed my mind about yelling "NO" & not jumping, but then the gate was open, the pull of the rope on my chest was unstoppable, as was the hand on my shoulder pushing me & then I stepped off.
Free fall is something I've experienced 18 times now from sky diving, bungee jumping & now this.
It is one of the most indescribable & addictive feelings known to man.
To feel the exhilaration of being weightless, while gravity takes control & your brain tries to comprehend what is happening, is a feeling that makes you feel..... alive.
It's every cell in your body screaming at once & adrenaline being set free in your body.
The only rational thought I can remember straight after the shock was "holy f*$#" & at that point I couldn't even scream.
Within the immediate release of that one thought from my sluggish brain, the rope attached to my harness pulled taut with a deafening crack & a jolt which is clearly seen & heard on video.
Once I started swinging, the sludge in my brain cleared, only to be replaced by feelings of total elation which is power fuelled by adrenaline & now also endorphins.
I screamed for joy, first one lung full of air & then another.
You actually swing quite a distance each way, before the rope starts to lower & your momentum slows down.
It's with mixed emotions when your feet do eventually touch the ground, you don't ever want the feeling to end, but you also want your feet not he ground so that you can jump around with joy.
Feeling victorious, Tom & I watched the last few people of our group either 'chicken out' or make the leap of faith, before walking back to the office, which was conveniently located down the hill.
After our adrenaline packed morning, the tour van dropped us off in town & despite it only being just before 11am, we were famished!
We went to a local taco restaurant with Dolly, Hannah & Ash, where Tom & I discovered the phenomenal creation of tempura battered avocado wedges in a burrito.
Even writing about it now, makes me want to drool!
I can't wait to recreate this ingenious burrito combination once back at home. The burrito's combined with some of the nicest & most potent red wine sangria, had all of us in a great mood when deciding how to spend our afternoon.
Unfortunately, some thick low lying cloud was starting to drift in & the weather forecast was for more cloud & rain. This eliminated some of the outdoor activities but left us open to the hummingbird garden.
You actually swing quite a distance each way, before the rope starts to lower & your momentum slows down.
Looking up at the platform where you do the Tarzan swing.
It's with mixed emotions when your feet do eventually touch the ground, you don't ever want the feeling to end, but you also want your feet not he ground so that you can jump around with joy.
Feeling victorious, Tom & I watched the last few people of our group either 'chicken out' or make the leap of faith, before walking back to the office, which was conveniently located down the hill.
After our adrenaline packed morning, the tour van dropped us off in town & despite it only being just before 11am, we were famished!
We went to a local taco restaurant with Dolly, Hannah & Ash, where Tom & I discovered the phenomenal creation of tempura battered avocado wedges in a burrito.
Even writing about it now, makes me want to drool!
I can't wait to recreate this ingenious burrito combination once back at home. The burrito's combined with some of the nicest & most potent red wine sangria, had all of us in a great mood when deciding how to spend our afternoon.
Unfortunately, some thick low lying cloud was starting to drift in & the weather forecast was for more cloud & rain. This eliminated some of the outdoor activities but left us open to the hummingbird garden.
We caught a complimentary transfer to a section of protected, local rainforest, which is also where they have the floating cloud bridges & extensive gardens.
The hummingbird garden was tucked in to a section of land here, surrounded by trees & flowers.
We could see them & hear them immediately. There was 14 different species & would of been close to 100 of them zooming around the garden & drinking from feeders.
They are incredibly quick & vibrant, with some of the most dazzling colours.
It was very peaceful to sit there & watch them flit around the garden chasing each other.
To try & capture their beauty required the use of the slow slow motion video on my phone.
We spent close to an hour here before the rain started & we had to find shelter. The rain continued on our drive home & for the rest of the afternoon.
I was not particularly hungry at dinner time & quite tired, so I stayed in the hotel room, while Tom went out with the group for dinner & drinks. Not returning till after midnight, with a very large & tasty pizza that had an aroma strong enough to wake me from my sleep.
It's not very often I feel like breakfast at 2am, let alone pizza, but this was one of those times.
- Alli
The hummingbird garden was tucked in to a section of land here, surrounded by trees & flowers.
We could see them & hear them immediately. There was 14 different species & would of been close to 100 of them zooming around the garden & drinking from feeders.
They are incredibly quick & vibrant, with some of the most dazzling colours.
It was very peaceful to sit there & watch them flit around the garden chasing each other.
To try & capture their beauty required the use of the slow slow motion video on my phone.
We spent close to an hour here before the rain started & we had to find shelter. The rain continued on our drive home & for the rest of the afternoon.
I was not particularly hungry at dinner time & quite tired, so I stayed in the hotel room, while Tom went out with the group for dinner & drinks. Not returning till after midnight, with a very large & tasty pizza that had an aroma strong enough to wake me from my sleep.
It's not very often I feel like breakfast at 2am, let alone pizza, but this was one of those times.
- Alli
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