Oh my word, what a DAAAY!
It was fantastic that we were able to combine the hanging bridges with ziplining as I'd really wanted to do both things, and the itinerary thankfully made both possible, due to the numbers of people interested and where both were located.
The hanging bridges were a series of bridges in the canopy of the cloud forest, giving us the chance to walk across the forest and see the different flora and fauna, as well as hear the birds again.
We didn't see much wildlife although there were a couple of capybaras, which we enjoyed watching. It was really interesting looking at how the different trees had fought for space in the forest, some strangling other trees in an attempt to create their own new tree. Once this happened, the inner tree would die, and there were places where it was possible to climb up the inside of the tree, which was pretty cool (without causing any damage).
It was then on to the highlight for me, which was the Ziplining. I've been obsessed with this since I heard about it in Zambia, but ended up going for bungee jumping (probably the right decision). These are extensive ziplines, including one which is 1km long, and many are high up in the canopies, which really feel like you are flying.
They really ease you in, so the first few are gentle, short, and low to the ground. My first one really threw me because I was gripping similar to how I do for uneven bars, and you actually need to loosen the grip, which feels counter intuitive when you want to be holding on to something. I felt like I was going to get stuck, which freaked me out a bit, but was able to free myself due to my sheer upper arm strength. (later I saw someone else get stuck, and they are well equipped to sort you out, even if you're stuck further along the line).
Because the first part is easier, it means anyone who has had enough can bail out easily before the ziplines increase in height and length. I was not going to be doing that though, and by far the most rewarding were the longer ones because you had a chance to enjoy the view from below (maybe not so much if you're scared of heights). It was incredible - the only disappointment was that it was over too soon.
One of the lines they give you the option of going in the superman pose, so you really feel like you're flying. This was by far the coolest thing. I do think a tight core helps speed you up as well.
The final zip was a tarzan swing which was not dissimilar to a bungee but you are going forwards and not upside down. Again this was super cool, and my legs could barely stand up when I was on the ground again, because of the adrenaline. An amazing day, which I highly recommend to anyone.
I do wish there was an option to have go-pro cameras as part of the experience. You were allowed phones, but they had to be secured to stop them falling out, and it made it hard to film the experience, so I do think upselling the experience could have added to this.
In the evening, my friend and I went to visit the Frog Pond again, to catch the frogs at night, where we had a bit more success, before grabbing a bite to eat.
Tomorrow we are off to the coast.
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