subject: Costa Rica Zipline experience at Turu Ba-Ri [print this page] Canopy Excursion: Turu Ba-Ri, Canopy Excursion: Turu Ba-Ri,
Nature & Adventure Area
Location: 30 miles west
of San Jose, Costa Rica
Price: bucks105
Avg. persons per day over year span: 50
Included: Transportation to/from Costa Rica San Jose, Zipline visit, buffet lunch, super-tarzan, superman zip, aerial tram & horsebacking
Examined the aspects of this Costa Rica canopy vacation that it is near Bocas del Toro.
Introduction: Turu Ba-Ri is a well developed Costa Rica zipline z line recreation area and is situated on 600 acres of beautiful rainforest. Costa Rica has diverse topography that features a steep ridge-line, large hillsides, the Tarcoles River, and small creeks. Large, healthy trees and shrubs are plentiful and are perfect for anchors and platform locations for these costa rica line lines. The Costa Rican recreation area has many activities which include: an aerial tram, 1.5km superman-style line, canopy visit, super-tarzan swing, off-road tours, horseback riding, and nature viewing. Other nice features include: a countryside farm, medicinal herbarium, cactus collection, palms collection, butterfly garden, iguana and crocodile pond, and Costa Rica's largest 3D map.
Check in: Upon arrival, I was directed by my Taxi driver to go to check in cubical. There, I was asked if I wanted to add any more activities to my visit while staying at this Costa Rica location. I asked how much it would be to do the superman zip and was initially told $30. I agreed but the front office person said "let me make a mobile call." After a few minutes of waiting, the price was $10. So I agreed, again. I received a wrist band for each activity I signed up for including the most important... the lunch buffet. Lockers were available for free and I put all my valuables in them and carried the key myself.
Costa Rica Canopy Excursion: Myself, four some, and two guides (one non english speaking) began the zipline with a very short walk to a practice z-line where we were given a pre-zip z-line safety talk. The physical demonstration was very good, but the verbal aspect was quite vague and left out much detail and overall scope of the visit. Our guide mentioned that our helmets are "very important in case we fall 300ft to the ground", but reassured us that, that would be very unlikely to happen. The 3 young women on the trip were quite nervous, and seemed very apprehensive about what they were to about to embark on. They asked our zip z-line guide giving the demo if they could practice on the line first before going, but the guide either did not understand it was a question or was just trying to get the tour going. Either way, our equipment was fitted and the vacation commenced. I was very surprised by the condition of my pulley. The aluminum was significantly worn away from the important and most vital connection point. From the practice z-line, we walked about 100ft to a large metal tower with stairs that brought us to the first Costa Rica zipline z-line. The first zipline was very fast and long. I was first to go because everyone in the group was very scared and/or nervous. During the next 6 ziplines I observed the following:
Super Tarzan: Before the last zipline, the group was left with the option to come and enjoy me do the super-tarzan swing or wait at the platform. The group decided to come see. Upon the arrival, the guide spent 5 min trying to figure out the ascender device he was using to connect me to the swing with. To his credit, he did know what was the wrong and right, and is difficult to set up quickly without regular use. The ladies observing this occurrence as well, thought I was "nuts" to try the swing. After being fitted into a special full body harness and attached at two points, I was launched from the platform. A small freefall and a very high swing to the top of the canopy brought quite a rush. I was impressed. The last Costa Rica zipline z-line ended with a very long line off to the canopy floor.
From there, we took an arial tramride back up to the lodge.
Superman Zipline: After the Costa Rica canopy vacation our group headed up to the same tower we initially started on, however, we went one story higher to the superman zipline z line staging area. There, we were fitted and given a brief safety talk. We were instructed what is proper body position and to look for a waving red flag that means we should extend our arms out to slow our decent to the landing platform. The z-line attachment process takes place on a padded table where you lay on your stomach and are attached by two guides.
Multiple times not being clipped into any safety z-line while at great height
Near misses. (2 of the females zipping would let go of cable with their braking hand, spin out of control and sometimes try and put their hand back on the cord, nearly sucking their hand into the pulley
The guide, without asking, shaking the z-line up and down to create a scarier zipline trip for the nervous women and an interesting trip for me
The guide encouraging me to run and jump off of the platform on one of the zips causing me to swing the cable side to side and missing a tree by inches.
One of the Costa Rica zip line guides was zipping upside down with his feet up and over the pulleys
I was not deterred form handling my own equipment, attaching and detaching myself from safety lines. Upon launch, I was overtaken by the beauty and amazement of flying through the air like a bird. I was looking for crocodiles as told, in the river below and enjoying the feeling wind rushing past my body. The flight lasted for 45 seconds and was thoroughly impressed. It offered a completely different experience and feeling than just a normal line z-line. The ending approach was exciting for me, but was quite an impact. The braking system was very jarring, as I entered very fast and was stopped abruptly.
Lunch: An incredible array of typical costa rican style food served buffet style. Juice, deserts, fresh fruits and vegetables. Again, very impressed.
Media Kiosk: During both the canopy vacation and superman zipline we were notified that there were hotographers in certain areas and that we should smile for them as we flew by. During lunch I saw the photos of myself and was offered a print out of each individual photo for $7 and as an add on, allowed to download a full quality version from an email link for dollar3.
Horsebacking: Myself and one other in my same group departed after lunch. The five other individuals that were transported from San Jose in the same taxi as us were relegated to hanging out in the lodge during our excursion. I was not informed that the horseback trip was leaving until last minute so I ran up to the staging area and was greeted by two Costa Rican guides. I hopped on the horse with not a single word of instruction or a question of experience and got right to trotting. The visit was slow-paced on a well-kept and mellow looping trail that brought us to a ridge in at the exact moment as lighting/thunder storm rolled in. Spectacular lightning was displayed. As we approached the stables, heavy rain began to pour. After the trip, myself and the other guest walked 200ft or so back to the main lodge where we loaded into the taxi and departed back to San Jose.
Conclusion: This Costa Rica zipline z line experience for $105 + $10 for the photo package, I was extremely impressed with the value I received. The overall zipline z-line experience was quite amazing. Turu Ba-Ri has a very well-developed recreation area with diverse activities for young and old, offers quality amenities and is equipped to handle many tourists and levels of adventure.
Likes:
Super-Tarzan
Superman zipline
Lunch Buffet
Nice seating areas & hang out spots
Views
Dislikes:
Overdeveloped disneyland feeling
Metal platforms and suspension bridges (un-natural feel)
