The Zip Zone
By Colleen Marble
From Voyageur, Carlson Hospitality Worldwide's in-room guest magazine
 Indulge your senses and your taste for adventure with a Costa Rican rainforest canopy tour.
Looking out across the lush Costa Rican valley spread before me, I wonder why
I'm about to jump from a treetop platform and entrust my life to a cable no bigger
than my finger. My husband and I are about to begin a canopy tour—daring enough to
qualify as a true adventure—and we are more than a little apprehensive. Pablo, our
English-speaking guide, does a check of our gear and reminds us to brake by pulling
on the cable with our leather-covered hand before we hit the tree at the other end.
Then he calmly assures us he has never lost a tourist—yet. But even if he had, I
can tell you that after our early morning horseback ride to the top of this impossibly
steep hill, there's no way we're turning back now.
With a last quick prayer, we each leap in turn from the first of 10 platforms,
sliding on cables that at times exceed 2,000 feet in length and carry us several
hundred feet over the forest floor. Zipping along at speeds up to 35 mph with nothing
between me and the ground but a harness and a few metal carabiners, I am surprisingly
relaxed.
One of the stars of this nature show is the rainforest, and we have been looking
forward to seeing it from a bird's point of view. From my vantage point, I can tell
you the birds have it good.
Howler monkeys pierce the air with their loud growls, hoots and screams, and if
I look closely, I can see their dark forms in the trees as I whiz by. Blue morpho
butterflies flutter about in stark fluorescent contrast against the greens and browns
of the forest. In the distance, I can just make out the nearest volcano, its steam-belching
peak shrouded in clouds and mist. Here and there, bright yellow toucans give me curious
glances from their perches.
By the time I reach the sixth platform, I feel invincible, so Pablo suggests we
try something fun. By riding in tandem, connected to his safety gear and letting
him control the speed, I am able to let go of the line and hang upside down, dangling
with reckless delight. And on the last cable, with arms outstretched and Pablo in
charge, I am Supertourist, minus the red cape.
I think Pablo has the greatest job in the world, and I tell him so. “Every day,
we come up here to play,” he says with a famous Costa Rican grin. After our morning
of play, my husband and I are tempted to return on permanent vacation.
Get Wired
Canopy tours can be found throughout Costa Rica, a country that is roughly the
size of West Virginia . Any of these tours is sure to give you an adrenaline rush.
My husband and I took our tour in Guanacaste province, which is home to several of
the country's active
volcanoes and a fistful of beautiful beaches.
Sweet Retreats
After your adventure, you'll enjoy the amenities of the Radisson
Europa Hotel & Conference Center , in the heart of San José . The
hotel is close to entertainment and shopping areas, and has six meeting rooms.
Colleen Marble, a freelance writer in North Carolina, feeds her wanderlust with
frequent outdoor excursions. Next stop: Yellowstone National Park.
Carlson Hospitality Worldwide distributes Voyageur free of charge
to guests staying at participating Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts,
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels, as well as Radisson Seven
Seas Cruises. If you are interested in an annual subscription, the cost is $20.00.
Checks should be made payable to Pace Communications and mailed to Voyageur ,
1301 Carolina Street , Greensboro , NC 27401 . Be sure to include mailing address
information.
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