We got up and had breakfast at "the corner" which is the hostel's next door restaurant. We then were picked up and taken to the base of the volcano for a three and a half hour hike (unfortunately it is illegal to hike to the top of the active volcano, so all activities we did took place at the base). We saw baby snakes, a tarantula (hiding in it's hole), ants carrying leaves, and a beetle with crazy long antennas. Our guide had an amazing eye and pointed out a huge toad (I would've never noticed it due to camouflage) that was sitting up against a tree catching bees on its tongue. Part of our hike took us across two hanging bridges (hundreds of feet up in the canopy), where we were able to touch the heart of palm trees. These trees are incredibly tall, very stable and thick at the base, but gradually thin out as they grow. While walking along the bridges, we were able to push on these trees and watch them sway back and forth. All of a sudden, while at one of the viewpoints, it started pouring rain. We all pulled out our raincoats (ponchos for some of us) and put them on. We then returned to the trail, and although the downpour was heavy, as well as loud, we were shielded by the thick trees of the canopy. It's incredibly strange to know it's raining around you yet stay completely dry. (Our guide must've known this however, because as we all scrambled to get rain gear on, he just walked off of the platform and into the canopy cover. He probably had a good laugh at our expense.)
After our hike we rested at a cute little restaurant with a beautiful view.
Our next activity was ziplining. We got in a tram that took us SUPER high above the canopy. On our way up, the clouds came and the wind picked up. It was so chilly we thought it was going to rain, but thank goodness it held off. Once on the platforms, we were instructed to hold the line and bring our crossed legs upward so that we were in a laying position and could peer down on either side. The lines were incredibly long and extremely high. One of the lines even went through a cover of trees so that you were surrounded above, below and on either side, which was incredibly amazing. The views were breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it.
The lines weren't all fun and games though; we had a serious job to do. On our way in we were supposed to watch for the brake signal. When we saw it, we were supposed to spread our legs wide and slowly yank our pulley attachment side to side which would slow us down. I am so light however that they didn't give me the brake signal (they explained this to me prior to jumping off because they were afraid I wouldn't make it in). On one zipline I slowed so much I was afraid I'd have to pull myself but luckily one of the guys reached out and got me. On another I was going really fast downhill so I ended up "coming in hot" as the Costa Rican man said with a chuckle. Thank God for the huge pads at the end of the platforms- if all else failed, those caught you like only a brick wall could. Seriously though, I watched one of the bigger guys who had a lot of momentum forget to brake and slam hard right into the pad. If it had been a girl coming in hot and spread eagle I don't think they would've let her hit that pad. Who can really know though, right ;)
After, we went to an outdoor restaurant with full chickens on the spit. The three of us obviously had to have one. It was delicious! It even came with banana salad (pico de gallo with bananas) We headed back to our hostel exhausted and ready to move on to Manuel Antonio the next day.
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