Canyon Adventure Tour (Guanacaste)

Canyon Adventure Tour

Its one thing to read something online and think you would do it, than actually doing it. Stephanie and I wanted to do some adventurous activities, stuff that we wouldn’t normally do, so we signed up for this canyon adventure tour. The reviews were great, the activities seemed adventurous, and it was an entire day event. We were set, and super ready.

But NOOOOO. It was so tough!!! Our tour included ziplining, rappelling, horseback riding, river tubing, and rock climbing. Doesn’t sound scary right? But that’s until you’re life is being kept together by a rope, a hook, and a tour guide. You start to question a thing or two lol.

ZIPLINING

So the first time I went to Costa Rica, I chickened out when it came to zipping across a body of water holding onto a rope, but this time, I knew it was something I had to do. I was extremely scared at first, especially since our “brake” was to just pull down on the rope with our hand and eventually it would slow down. Wasn’t the most reassuring thing. We ended up going across eight different ziplines, all very different, some longer than others, some higher and more scarier. It was such an adrenalin rush, I honestly felt like I was flying.  I felt like I was a pro by the end and could totally do the tour myself.

The only downside to this was going about 25 mph across and getting slapped in the face by flies and mosquitos. I most definitely swallowed a few flies here and there, but hey I got my protein right?

RAPPELLING/ROCKCLIMBING

I’m not scared of heights, but I am at the same time. I’ve done enough stuff to ensure that heights don’t bother me, but when I look down, that’s just another story. The aim of this activity was to rappel down the rocks, and then climb back up on the other side. I’ve rock climbed maybe once or twice in my life, but indoors, and with a soft mat underneath me to catch me if anything. With this one, I just heard the water splashing against huge rocks as the current rapidly drifting.
The photographer and the guys were laughing at me because I was really excited at first and super pumped until it was my turn to go down, and then I basically had a panic attack. When they started to lower me down, I questioned my entire life and just started praying haha. I make it sound worse than it really was; it was scary, don’t get me wrong, but it was such a thrill. Going up though was way more tough. I have a lot of lower body strength, but for climbing, it requires a lot of upper body, which I wasn’t entirely prepared for. About half way up, my arms were getting tired, my shoelaces came undone, my foot slipped off the rock, and I was ready to call it a day.

The instructor was motivating me, well more like yelling for me to grab the next rock, and slowly but surely I made it. Before I went up, I was watching what the other people were doing so I could follow their route up or come up with a different way that would be easier. Once I got on, its like everything went out the window. When you’re so close to the wall, you can’t even tell where you are or what rock you are actually grabbing onto, it all looks the same.

I just remember reaching the top and shaking for about 10 minutes. My shoulders were already hurting and I was just happy I made it.

HORSEBACK RIDING

I feel like I’m scared through all of these activities and something always goes wrong haha. But anyways, we got to the part where they assigned the horses to each of us. I really wanted this beautiful white horse, but we didn’t really have a say as to which one we could have, but the horse ended up choosing me. It gradually started walking towards me so then I was able to ride him, which was really cool. It was a little smaller than the other horses, which I was fine with.

Before all these adventures, I had put on some sunscreen. My mum had given me this sunscreen that she got from the islands, but had aloevera and banana oil in it. I guess horses like bananas or something because a few of them kept licking me. I was soo scared one of them was gonna bite me so obviously I freaked out, but that didn’t stop them. Stephanie’s horse just kept coming up to me and licking me down my leg. Super weird. But also, my horse liked competition or something so it would race the other horses and always wanted to be at the front regardless of if I pulled back on the reigns. By the end of it, I was certain that I had a bruised rib from all the trotting and my thighs were super sore.

San Jose, Costa Rica

Where do I even begin??

This is my second time in Costa Rica, but first time going without my family. They were both totally different experiences, not just because of the company but more so because I was young the first time I went.

 My friend, Stephanie, and I had planned most of our trip before even going so that we could utilize the very few days that we had there. We had arranged to be in San Jose for 2 days and Playa Hermosa for 3 days. Our sole purpose for this trip was to relax and have fun as we just finished our exams. We needed an outlet, some place where we could get away and not think about school. This trip did the trick!!

Touring around

Roaming around the city not knowing what to do is actually better than holding a map and having everything laid out. We ended up walking all around the city square and bumping into other travelers who were here for a study abroad program. It was kind of cool to interact with them and have them share their experiences with us since we had just flown in that morning. 

I’m sure we stood out like a sore thumb, but I like I believe that we did a fairly good job of blending in.  No maps out, just walking aimlessly. We went to a cathedral, museum, park, and the main square (where I was attacked by pigeons). Some guy was throwing seeds towards my way and of course before I could even do anything, I was swarmed. I was just hoping not to get pooped on. (although it would be nice since it's considered "good luck")