Taking That First Leap: Zip Lining in Costa Rica

By Teresa Hoy–

I zip lined for the first time in Costa Rica. At fifty-seven, I was apprehensive because I’m afraid of heights, but I was also determined to experience the thrill of zipping through the forest canopy. Dreams Las Mareas Resort, on the Pacific coast, set up the adventure for my husband Bill and me.

The July weather was a perfect 80 degrees, the air cool and refreshing, yet warm and fluid as silk. We hiked the forest path to the summit of the hill with our guide Eric. Trees, giant fronds, and lacy ferns grew thicker. Silence cocooned us. Soon, small sounds crept in to mingle with Eric’s voice: the crunch of leaves, the low serenade of a stream.

Eric pointed out the Pochote tree with its thorn-covered trunk. He crushed a few leaves and had me smell the sweet, slightly pungent anise plant. High in a tree, a mama sloth curled around her baby. Spider monkeys, White-faced Capuchins, and Mantled Howler monkeys, all arms, legs, and tails, leaped from branch to branch in the treetops. A large lizard darted away from the path.

Forty-five minutes later, we emerged at the summit to a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the Guanacaste region.

Eric helped me gear up while an assistant helped Bill. The heavy straps of the harness fit securely between my legs then hooked around my waist.

I buckled on the helmet and put on the special, heavy gloves that would allow me to slide my hand down the cable without peeling away skin.

On the first platform, Eric had to hoist me up to clip me to the line. I clung to the line and stared down at the ground. We were on the beginner’s zip line, maybe 50 to 70 feet high. My hands sweated in my gloves.

My throat closed up. I felt faint and wouldn’t let go of the line. I couldn’t take that first leap.

Eric calmly gave me instructions as he unclenched each of my gloved fingers from the line. After assuring me again that I’d be fine, he gave me a gentle nudge. With a nervous laugh that was more like a squeak, I leaped. Then I was zip lining through the forest, the whir of metal skimming along steel, wind flirting with my cheeks, leafy branches whooshing by, and snatches of ground flashing past below. Boulders, a stream, leaves, dirt…there one second, gone the next.

It was exhilarating. My fear flew away as quickly as the trees flew by. I applied pressure to the line with my gloved hand as Eric had instructed and began slowing when the next platform rushed toward me. Once my feet planted securely on the platform, the assistant unclipped me and re-clipped me to the next line. All I had to do was leap.

There was little time to catch my breath at each platform (five in all) as we made our way down the side of the hill. On one long line, I glanced over and saw two Howler monkeys hanging from branches within yards of me, watching as I sailed by. I felt blessed indeed.

On the fourth platform, Eric asked if I wanted to finish by zipping upside down. “What? Are you kidding?” I said. He replied that it was easy. “No thanks.” He didn’t press the issue but smiled and said, “Okay, how about doing the Supergirl?”

The next thing I knew Eric had strapped me to Bill. Then he had me swing forward, bring my legs up and wrap them around Bill’s waist behind me. I was suddenly an acrobat. “Hang on tight!” Eric said. I needed no coaxing. My legs held Bill in a death grip. Later, Bill told me he could hardly breathe. With a last leap, I Supergirled my way to the final platform, flying face first.

Afterward, I was proud that I’d overcome my fears. I owed the positive experience to Eric and his calm patience and expertise. I started out fearful and clinging, afraid to leap and ended up flying like Supergirl.