Zip-line tour: Limon province is a natural paradise, formed by a combination of dense jungles, imposing mountains, and several stretches of beaches. Limon has the highest percentage of protected land in Costa Rica, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna. We joined a private zip-line tour with 24 other passengers from the ship. Our 30 minute drive to the jungle covered mountains provided us with a rich vista of the exuberant vegetation and simple dwellings of its indigenous people as on our way. The richness and variety of green colours of the vegetation was inspiring, the brilliant reds of the rainforest soils attested to its enriching properties but the winding roads were 'scary' and treacherous for anyone but our experienced guides. We arrived at a small summit stop on top of a jungle mountain with views extending as far as the eye could see. What a place or zip-lining! It was still sprinkling as we decked ourselves out in helmets, safety lines and gloves and then we began a short trek through the pristine jungle.
Our guide stopped us from time to time to point out various lush –plants. Flowers and bamboo stands. One unusual jungle seedpod amazed us. It was round, black and spiky and the indigenous people use it for shaving their beards, legs etc or for brushing their hair because it feels like sandpaper. They also use this seed pod to smooth off timber in the final stages of a carved object or for sharpening arrow heads – how ingenious!
Ken and I were excited to learn that there were a series of 12 zip-line trails that had been set up high in the jungle canopy so the experience was going to be a long and enjoyable one. We climbed the first platform and the view was amazing. We could see jungle vines, trees and mountains of green stretching before us.
Soaring through far-reaching stretches of steel cable, some as far as 450 meters, passing sloths slung high in the jungle canopy and almost colliding with a brightly coloured bird, are just some of our experiences of zip-lining in Limon. Gliding above tall, strong rainforest trees, past entwining vine labyrinths and through misty showers of fine raindrops, was exhilarating to say the least. We took delight in the unbeatable perspectives of a bird's eye view of this jungle paradise on each platform that we landed on and the incredible dazzling tropical rainforests and scenery never ceased to amaze us. Sometimes standing aloft a platform that encircled a giant jungle rainforest tree we would be filled with the wonder of the patters of the leaves below and the brightly coloured tiny insects that seem to inhabit many surfaces of the trees leaves or bark. And then we'd be taken by surprise by a leaping monkey or the spotting of an ever-so-slowly inching sloth among a tree branch. Our guide said that there have been the odd times when they have come across a sloth inching its way across a cable and this usually means that the zip-liners have to abandon that section, climb down the stairs and continue on at the next station in order to complete the trail. Such is life in the jungles of Limon.
At each landing platform we had time to look around and enjoy the views across the forest canopy, or to look for sloths amongst the treetops. Our guides would point out interesting things and gave clear instructions, so at no time did we feel unsafe before continuing on another long glide over forest trails, streams and the lush green vegetation below. Ken would enthusiastically launch from the platforms, taking off at break-neck speed but I was a little more cautious because of my left ankle that I broke in Canada last year.
The rides were thrilling, fast and very zippy. Everyone from novice to experienced zip-liner had a ball but we all expressed some concern at the state of some of the platforms which were a little wobbly and sometimes displayed rotting wood panels or rusting stanchion poles. However, the zip-lines were in pristine order, having been greased regularly but some of landing platforms have begun to deteriorate due to the humid, wet, tropical conditions of the rainforest. In the future some expensive rebuilding with non-decaying materials like stainless steel will need to be made to prevent accidents occurring. All in all we only had one minor accident when one participant panicked and held onto the zip-line as he glided across it, burning a hole in his gloves and fingers. First aid was given and he retired to wait out the rides in a small restaurant at the end of the zip-line track.
Our group of guides spoke clear English and we were impressed with the attention to detail in their presentation and demonstration of safety procedures. 
They'd been well trained and had an obvious love of the jungle and their occupation. Our bird's eye views from the platform provided panoramic views of jungle treetops, vine mazes, swirling mountain creeks cascading down the mountain slopes and close encounters with palm fronds, tree ferns and sloths.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this Limon zip-line route because of the pristine jungle views, moist clear air and friendly guides who led us.
We also enjoyed some delicious bananas, watermelon and other fruits at the end of our zip-line route and as we ate and drank we talked with our guides and retold stories of our exploits on the zip-lines.
Before taking the challenging red mud drive back to Limon where we were to go on a river cruise in small barges we took some photographs of a large stand of gigantically tall bamboo growing in the jungle. The air was so cool and crisp under the canopy of the forest and we were dwarfed by the tall bamboo outcrops that graced parts of the rainforest. Adjacent to the bamboo were tall bright pink and green variegated plants that added a splash of colour to what is basically a multi-green world. Coincidently, Ken was wearing the same coloured shirt so the photo is well balanced. Above Ken's head you can see one of the landing platforms, high in a tree. Before boarding the mini bus for our river excursion we took one last panoramic view of the rainforest and distant mountain ranges.
However, someone spotted another sloth, hanging upside down in a tree near the restaurant entrance and we all rushed outside to take snap shots. The sloth was curled up, asleep in the fork of a tree. It sure didn't look comfortable but he seemed content. The sloth looked like an adult and he had huge pink hooked claws wrapped around a branch. (for safety?) His fur was a mouldy green colour and this gave him protection from predators.After a few minutes he woke up, looked around and promptly settled down for another sleep.
