After we were in the air for about 12 minutes we started to descend. The trees were getting bigger and greener and leafier in the window but I still couldn't see an airport or runway anywhere. Just as we were about to start trimming the trees with our landing gear we did a slight turn and there was the runway. The runway was a tiny black scar in large green jungle. After we landed and exited the plane I saw the "airport" which consists of a single small three-sided building. I must say I always thought the "small" airport they show in movies were purely Hollywood fiction but having been to Quepos airport I know differently.
After landing we had a ride take us to the Parador Hotel, the hotel is up a hill then down a gravelly winding road. It clings to the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and has some absolutely stunning views. We arrived at the hotel at 10 am and it was too early to get our room keys so we headed to the pool for some fun in the sun. The pool has a absolutely stunning view of the ocean. It is an infinity pool so while in it you can almost believe you could swim right off into the ocean. We spent a few hours relaxing by the pool before heading out to our tours. I had a canopy tour scheduled at 1pm .
The tour company picked me up at the hotel and we drove about 45 minutes into the mountains to the canopy area. The ride itself was a trip because we had to cross several bridges that consisted of nothing more than a couple of planks over the river. We arrived at the canopy area and had a quick snack of fruit and juice before it was time to suit up in our harnesses. They load you up with a harness, helmet, gloves and a leather glove called a brake. With all the equipment on it's virtually impossible to hold or use a camera so I don't have pictures. Although the company did send me pictures on CD disk so I will post those later. After a quick safety lecture it was time to head out on the cables!
First off, canopy tours are not for the purpose of seeing nature. They are pure adrenaline and thrills. They strap you to a cable that is VERY high and VERY long you sit back in the harness and hold your hand with the "brake" (a piece of leather that you use to brake your speed) above your head. Once you are set they shove you off and you go whizzing down the cable. You watch the guide at the next platform and when he tells you to you pull down on the brake. All in all it's like a roller coaster, you go flying through the trees hanging on for dear life. The tour consisted of 14 plaforms and 14 cables of differing lengths. One was extremely long, I am not a good measure of distance but I would guess it was about 1/2 a mile long. All I really know was that I could barely see the platform at the end when I took off. I just had to trust the cable ended some where I could land.
The tour was a BLAST and I recommend it to anyone who likes a little excitement. I did feel pretty sore the next day from holding my arm above my head. After the tour we headed back to the rest area for more fruit and snacks. Before heading back to the city we stopped at a lovely waterfall and walked around. I got back to the hotel at 6pm and spent about 10 minutes arguing with the front desk staff that were convinced that "Jennifer Steiner" already had her key. It took a bit of arguing and a call to Bill to get them to give me my key and realize the I was Jennifer Steiner. My room was a jungle facing room, meaning that the back of my hotel was a patio that faced the trees and critters in the jungle.
Well that is all I have time for tonight. Tomorrow... the natural park and all the critters I saw and the new friend I made.
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