Costa Rica Adventure, Day 4: Reach for the Sky

Arenal Volcano

The most anticipated day of the trip had finally arrived!  These kids were ready to zipline!  After breakfast, we loaded on the bus for the short ride to the other side of the Arenal Volcano to the zipline outfitter.  Due to cloud cover, we hadn't seen Arenal since our arrival.  Right as we were unloading the buses, the clouds cleared and we had a gorgeous, clear day.  We were quickly outfitted with harnesses, helmets, gloves and our pulley.  We were given a safety briefing and then lined up to enter the sky tram, which would take us up to the zipline platforms.  An alternative activity is offered for those who choose not to zipline or do not meet the minimum age or minimum/max weight.  In our group, every single person chose to zipline.  We even had a grandfather in his 80s participate.  If I'm still ziplining in my 80s, I've done life right.

Due to their weight, Easton and Clara would zipline together with a guide except for the first and last run.  The lines are so long that even with their combined weight, they wouldn't make it to the end of the line on their own.  It also made me feel much more comfortable knowing that a guide would be with them, especially because you had to do some braking.  We decided that I would go first, then the kids, then Chris.  That way, a parent was with them at every platform.  Everyone was given an opportunity to try a short run and practice braking.  You could back out after the first run.  After setting out on the second run, there was no turning back.  Both kids did great on the first run.  They moved their pulley side-to-side and put their feet out in a “V” the way they were supposed to.  The first run was just a little test and it was over in a flash.  The rest of the runs were long and high.  Our outfitter claims that they are the highest lines in Costa Rica and I believe it.  It was absolutely amazing to be soaring in the trees with a clear view of the Arenal Volcano right in front of you.  My only regret is that I didn’t rent a GoPro to capture it.  I honestly didn’t think it would be as impressive as it was.  I’ve ziplined before, but this was next level.    

After the second run, I waited for the kids.  Easton came off the second run with an adrenaline high and a huge smile on his face.  My introverted, anxious kid is an adrenaline junky.  Clara, who had been looking forward to this the most, was crying.  She was petrified to start the third run, but at that point there was no turning back.  After the third run, we figured out that the loud noise the pulley makes on the line scared her  Once she knew to expect it, she did great.  She ended up having a blast and enthusiastically tells people that ziplining was her favorite activity in Costa Rica.  It really was magnificent. 

     

The final run is short, so the kids were able to go at it alone.  By the time they reached it, they both felt so brave and grown-up.  I went down first, so I could see their faces when it was their turn.  Pure joy.

After our excursion, we had a little bit of time to enjoy a beverage and take in the view one last time before loading up on the bus for lunch on our own in La Fortuna.  

We finally got to see Arenal and it could not have been on a more perfect day

That face you make when you aren't sure when the volcano will erupt again

While most of the meals are included on these tours, a few are not to give you time to enjoy the local cuisine or explore on your own.  This was the only time we had on this tour where we were on our own outside the hotels. Some tours, especially in Europe where the hotels are close to city center, offer more "on your own" time and meals so you can explore the local scene.  After lunch, we made our way to an ice cream shop.  I didn’t need to look at all the other flavors.  I zeroed in on the one I wanted immediately: dulce de leche.  It tasted like my childhood.  It brought back memories of eating tissue paper-wrapped candies from Panama called huevitos de leche.  I savored every bite.  We strolled around with our ice cream and window shopped for a while before making a stop at a souvenir shop.  I always get a t-shirt and we let the kids each pick out a magnet.  We wandered into the town square and let the kids throw a coin in the fountain. 

Then we walked across the street to the catholic church, Parroquia San Juan Bosco.  I reminded the kids that this is a church and we have to behave like we are in church.  We admired the architecture and art.  Then we sat quietly in one of the pews for a few minutes before returning to the square to people watch before it was time to meet the bus. 

We had little time at the hotel before our next outing.  We were headed to the Ecotermales Hot Springs in La Fortuna for an evening of relaxation and a private dinner.  We dressed in bathing suits and cover ups and brought a dry change of change of clothes.  When we arrived, we were given towels, a wristband, and access to a locker.  We could use the wristbands to start a tab, at our expense, for any drinks we wanted to order.  The facility was very clean and had beautiful landscaping leading to the natural hot springs.  The kids mostly “swam” in the lower hot springs, which is the largest and the coolest.  The temperature was more like a warm bath, so it was perfect for them.  Chris and I tested out the hottest spring.  It didn’t have any seating built into it, so I had to stand in it.  It was about chest deep for me.  I slowly eased into it and relaxed for a few minutes before getting out and soaking in the cool pool to lower my body temperature. 

When it was time for dinner, we availed ourselves of the locker rooms and changed into dry clothes.  We were treated to a private dinner on site.  At this point, our group had been together for a few days, so we were starting to mix and socialize with many of the other families.  The interaction with the great people in our group was one of my favorite parts of the trip.  

Before our dinner at the Ecotermales Fortuna

After a few busy days, a soak in the springs, a drink, and a big dinner, I was feeling a little worn out and I could tell that both of the kids were tired.  Clara feel asleep before we made it to the bus.  She’s still upset that we lost one of her pink flip flops when we were carrying her to the bus.  The kids are usually wired in hotel rooms at night.  Not tonight.  They got in PJs and brushed teeth without a fuss.  They were sound asleep within minutes of their heads hitting the pillow.  The vacation was halfway over.  We were sad to see it passing so quickly, but excited that we had more adventure to look forward to.       

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