Bringing out your inner Tarzan: Dream Forest Canopy Tour Dream Forest Canopy Tour, Costa Rica
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When planning a trip to Costa Rica, I knew I’d have to include a canopy zip line tour. My kids were absolutely positive they were ready for this experience, although I wasn’t so sure about myself. Fortunately, there are lots of choices in Costa Rica, the country where zip lining began. After lots of research I selected Dream Forest Canopy Tours, located in the Manuel Antonio area. Their lines weren’t the highest and longest in the country, but from all accounts, their tour was best described as a good “immediate” level experience, appropriate for my school-age kids and older middle-aged folks like me!
Reservations
You may book your reservation directly on their website like I did or go to their office in Quepos to reserve a time. The current cost is $65 per person. This includes transportation to and from your hotel, and a light meal afterwards. They also limit the number of people on each tour to six adults as not to overcrowd the platforms as well as make it a more enjoyable experience.
Tour times are 7:00 am, 10:00 am and 1:30pm. Allow 3 to 3 1/2 hours for the tour.
Our canopy zip line experience
Fortunately we were able to get up and have an early breakfast as our tour van came right to our lodging, Tulemar Bungalows, promptly at 7 a.m. As luck would have it, our family of 4 was the only one signed up at this time. We settled in for a bumpy half-hour drive to a dense forest southeast of Quepos.
We were finally dropped off at an unmarked trail with our two bilingual and somewhat burly tour guides (they have to be since they need to hoist you up to the zip line!). I’d advise you to travel light, carrying only a wallet that you’re able to stick in a pocket, and of course, your camera! Bring some bug repellent and make sure you use it as there were plenty of pesky mosquitoes out and about, even this early in the day. After you’re loaded into your gear, the driver will drive the van to pick-up point, so any other stuff you bring will left in the car with him. As there’s really no need for a purse or such, since you’ll be going directly back to your hotel, don’t risk losing them and leave them behind.
Our guides first led us up a short trail and treated us to informative nature walk, talking about some of the unique plants and trees of this region. It’s a very dense, lush forest, typical of Costa Rica, but not quite as spectacular as some of the forests that I saw up north near Arenal.
Once we reached the first platform, we went through a demonstration of proper technique and safety rules for zip lining. Here at Dream Forest Canopy they employ self-breaking style of equipment. You’ll wear big gloves with one hand on the cable to break yourself. While it may sound difficult, it’s not. The biggest issue with this type of zip line is that you can slow yourself down too soon and not make it to the platform. However, one guide always goes first to make sure you make it on to the platform, even if he has to go get you!
Our first platform is about 23 feet off the ground, but that’s nothing. The highest one is 148 feet high! Needless to say, if you got issues with heights, this might not be for you. But quite honestly, half the time you can’t see the ground due to dense brush, so it doesn’t seem so high. The platforms are also quite large, about 8 feet by 8 feet, and bigger than other canopy tour companies.
Our guides were very patient with us as we tried to remember all the instructions. But they were much like a parent telling to get over our fears, and just go for it! And so we did. Like little kids, my husband and I whooped and hollered as we zipped down the seven lines. Our kids, well, they were a little more cautious and reserved than us crazy adults, but they had a blast, too.
The only cable that caused a little bit of trouble was their longest (about 2000 feet long). It’s not as steep as some of the others and my kids had some issues with it. The tour guide felt that my younger child didn’t have enough weight to make it all the way to the end so he hooked him up with his brother. Well, unfortunately, he didn’t tether them together correctly, so the pulley didn’t roll smoothly since they were off balance, and stopped about half way through. The guide at the other end had to go and retrieve them and pull them back as the line at this point had really leveled off. Even my husband and I had to pull ourselves in the last 10 feet or so. Yes, long lines can be fun, but they can also present issues like this.
After our zip line experience (which took under an hour) we were driven to the home of one of the tour guides in the countryside where we treated to an early lunch by his mom. She had cooked up a wonderful rice dish served with lots of fresh fruit, as well as fruit juice. It was wonderful and we enjoyed eating in their open-air outdoor dining area.
Overall rating
Our canopy zip line tour was very fun and my kids certainly had a blast. It was the most expensive activity we did in Costa Rica but certainly worth it. The length of time was just about right, as it easily can be done in the morning, leaving your afternoon free for other activities. Our tour guides spoke English very well and we never had any trouble understanding their instructions. The meal was the perfect finishing touch to a fun morning.
However, the experience for my kids was somewhat less than ideal because of the long line. I’m not sure I would recommend it for younger kids. Teenagers should do fine, but you might want to think about other canopy tours with shorter cables for youngsters.
4 stars overall
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