I’m tired.

I just got done shoveling my driveway as we had yet another snow storm (hopefully the last one for this winter) here in Wisconsin. Yes, I know it is official spring, but we still have winter conditions here in the Midwest. As I was shoveling, it dawned upon me that I was in beautiful, sunny Costa Rica exactly one week ago where the average temperature was 80 degrees!

So that explains yet another extended absence from Flickr but this time I had a good reason, I was on an adrenaline tour of Costa Rica with my nephew, Richard, and his wife Cindy. From hiking an active volcano, having a near death experience while white water rafting, to flying through a cloud forest like Superman on a zip line, it was one nonstop adventure after another.

Arenal is Costa Rica's most active volcano and one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. On our first full day in Costa Rica we took a sunset hike to the base of the volcano where we were very fortunate to get a clear view of Arenal. Our guide told us that the volcano is normally obscured by clouds so we were lucky to have a great view that day. Our timing couldn't have been any better since the next two days the volcano would be forever hiding behind the clouds. After the hike we rewarded ourselves by soaking in the soothing waters of nearby Baldi Hot Springs.

Pura Vida!

I hate shoveling snow and I miss Costa Rica!

Happy Travels!

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“Never get out of the boat. Unless you were going all the way. Kurtz got off the boat.”

-Captain Benjamin L. Willard
Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”

So there we were staring at the glossy brochure deciding between a class 2 & 3 white water rafting trip or a class 3 & 4. I looked up at my nephew, Richard, and we knew immediately were going to do the class 3 & 4. We didn’t travel all the way to Costa Rica to float down river like riding the “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Disneyland. We came for an adventure!

So the next day our adventure began on the El Rio Toro (the Bull River) with Richard and I sitting in the front of the raft paddling like mad while his wife, Cindy, was clinging on for dear life in the back. It didn’t take very long before I was catapulted into the water by some wild rapids. A baptism by near drowning.

Costa Rica near death experience #1.

After I swallowed nearly half a gallon (oops I mean 1.9 liters...metric system) of water, I was pulled back in the raft by Alex, our awesome Costa Rican rafting guide.

The heart pumping excitement was just beginning.

Halfway through the trip we “refueled” at a nearby river bank where the guides prepared some delicious tropical fruit for us to eat. With newfound confidence and energy we set out to conquer the rest of the river.

After a going through some treacherous rapids, we paddled down a calm section of the river. Richard then came up with a not so brilliant idea, he asked Alex if we could get out of the raft and float down river in our personal floatation devices (a.k.a. life jackets). Alex not only gave his whole hearted endorsement, but advised us to wait a little because further down river we could catch a class 2 rapid. As we quickly approached the rapids Alex revised his statement to a class 2+ rapid.

“Okay guys you can get out here,” Alex instructed.

Richard and I left the safety of the raft for the turbulent waters of the Toro River. I knew once I jumped in the rapids and let go of the raft I had made a huge mistake.

We were instructed at the rafting orientation that in the event we would find ourselves in the water to lie on our back with our feet straight out and not to try to swim and fight the river. Just “go with the flow” was the motto. All that went out the window once I hit the water.

For the sake of brevity I was thrashed, thrown, battered, beat-up, pulverized, demolished, pummeled, pounded, clobbered, jerked, trounced, pounded, bruised, hammered, assaulted, walloped, tossed around and worked over!

After bruising my tailbone, nearly twisting my ankle and ingesting many liters of the Toro River I could truly say I had “taste” of the real Costa Rica!

After Alex pulled me back into safety I regurgitated a good portion of the Toro River into the raft (sorry no photos).

Costa Rica near death experience #2.

After we finally got off the river we dried off, drank a beer, and had a pleasant Tico lunch at a nearby restaurant.

At the end of meal I approached Alex and thanked him for an awesome time.

As I handed him a tip I sarcastically said, “I paid you guys good money so I could kill myself!”

“You can tell all your friends when you get home that you survived a class 3 rapid in your PFD [personal floatation device]!” Alex replied.

“You said it was a class 2 plus?!”

Alex just smiled and laughed out, “Pura Vida!”

Costa Rica travel tip #1 - Never get out of a perfectly good raft.

Happy Travels!

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If there was one thing that I had to do in Costa Rica it was to zip line through a cloud forest, besides isn’t that on everyone’s bucket list?

For my pre-trip preparation I did research on the internet and pored over my Lonely Planet guide to determine the best outfit for a canopy tour, this was more challenging than I thought.

When I arrived into Costa Rica I received additional feed back from other fellow travelers, but it wasn’t until I met Diego, who worked at Pension Santa Elena (which I stayed at and highly recommend), that I decided to go with Monteverde Extremo Canopy. He described that Extremo not only offered your normal zip line, but that they also did the Tarzan Swing and Superman zip line. I was already sold when Diego mentioned the name “Extremo.” I was ready to sign the liability waiver form right there and then!

The next day, for nearly three hours, we had a view of the cloud forest from above that was simply an amazing experience. Add in some adrenaline with the Tarzan Swing and Superman zip line and we had fun filled morning.

The Tarzan Swing was the best part of the canopy tour (see video). I noticed that guide at the edge of the platform was gently (some forcefully for others) pushing people off. When it came to my turn I asked if I could simply do a running jump off the platform.

“It’ll break,” he replied.

“What, the rope?”

“No, your back,” he clarified.

Oh, this is going to be fun I said to myself and away I went swinging through the forest like Tarzan!

The Superman zip line is just as the name suggest. Instead of the normal sitting position with your knees up, ankles crossed and using one hand to brake, you are lying prone thus having a great view of the cloud forest. The cable stretches for one kilometer allowing you to live out your Superman fantasies minus wearing the pantyhose getup.

This was the last zip line cable of the tour and it was the most scenic. If that wasn’t perfection enough we were all awarded with a panoramic view of a lovely rainbow before we “landed” at the exit station.

With the recent controversy of Superman announcing his plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship, I can understand why. He probably wants to move to Costa Rica and fly through the cloud forest all day.

Costa Rica travel tip #2: When in Costa Rica get your Tarzan on!

Happy Travels!

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All of us survived the Tarzan Swing!


Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Tags:   Monteverde Costa Rica Sam Antonio Zip-line

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