Costa Rica Spotlight: Canopy Tour With Sunset Tours in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Spotlight:  Sunset Tours-Adventure Travel Company located on the square in La Fortuna, Costa Rica- near the mighty Arenal Volcano and lowland rain forests is the adventure tour company you should use if you are looking for exciting, adventurous outdoor day trips in the Arenal Volcano Area. From white water river rafting, horseback riding, rain forest swinging bridges, river floats, sky tram, butterfly farm, zip line tours, organic self sustaining farm tours, and more!
I was fortunate to have spend several days there experiencing a variety of these fun filled tours.

First, the canopy tour operated by Arenal Mundo Adventura, the ultimate rain forest "Tarzan and Jane " zip line. High over the tops of tropical rainforest, from platform to platform- twelve in all!
We were strapped into our swing which would sustain us as we sped over the tree tops. At first I was really scared, but by the third or forth platform I was getting in the groove. Rain began to fall, but hey! Aren't we in a Costa Rica Rainforest? Luckily I had a rain jacket- also available thru SunSet Tours Costa Rica

One middle aged lady behind me, upon reaching the top of the first platform refused to take the plunge and choose to turn back. I could almost say I didn't blame her. We were at least 80 feet above the forest floor, and looking down was... well....frightening.

We could hear howler monkeys in the near by trees. They seemed to be peering at us, and probably thinking...crazy humans, what are they doing with those funny looking straps around them and helmets on their heads?

A group of Costa Rican teachers from the near by town of Puntarenas had ridden the public bus two and one-half hours just to do this one zip line tour. Several of them were on the platform with me and I heard one say "My husband said that I would never do it, that I would chicken out..well this photo will be proof."

I'm gliding, like a bird, high above the canopy floor, in a pristine rainforest, with toucans and howler monkeys near by. Wild orchids and bromeliads cling to the arms of the trees...and everywhere one looks it green..green...green. Exhilarating , breath taking!

Go for it with Sunset Tours! www.sunsettourcr.com

Cost of Canopy Tour $70.00 per person with reservations required
Duration of tour--- morning pick up...tour takes all morning... afternoon pick up, tour takes around 4 hours from time you depart your hotel until your return to the hotel

Not recommended for small children

Spotlight Costa Rica: Canoe Trip Lake Arenal Costa Rica Rainforest

Just as the sun rose above the horizon, we set out on our early morning photo session on Lake Arenal, located near the little town of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. We are going in a wooden canoe. The sun cast a haunting shadow on the mighty Volcano- extending along the entire south face of the lake. Only the sounds of the cranes flying overhead interrupted this peace and serenity.

We paddle along the edges of the lake- the old red wooden canoe swaying back and forth in the morning breeze. Sounds of howler monkeys greet us from the tall rainforest canopy.

Our guide is a amiable middle age Costa Rican, speaking in broken English. "Yes, visitors come here to the mighty volcano to experience it's special powers..it's fields of positive energy. Uplifts one's mood and raises the senses."

Warm drops of summer rain begin to sprinkle the lake's surface, and we try to focus on our goal: Photograph as well as film this unique adventure. A journey of sorts into the "Third Dimension".

And photograph, we did.....birds sprinkled along the shoreline... cranes, wood storks, herons, and egrets while a flock of large green parrots swarmed overhead.

Coming close to the treeline we spotted a family of black howler monkeys, babies on their back, playfully swinging from branch to branch. A photographer's dream.

The mountains to the west raised our interest. The current took us in that direction and we saw just over the hill, a giant Ceiba Tree...so tall and regal that Guatemala choose it to be their national tree and seems it was to the Mayans- "the sacred tree of life", so tall that it connected earth to the heavens. Click, click- now captured by the camera lens, an image..stunning and mystical.

The shore line is dotted with small hotels, and happy tourists wave to us as we slowly paddle by.
Horses and cows graze in the verdant green pastures, a reminder of days gone by.

This was truly a great adventure; and I yearn to return once more... to experience that unique journey in Costa Rica.

Cost of canoe- we paid $40 for 2 hours. There are larger boats with covers which hold around 30 people. This is less expensive . To get the tour go north out of La Fortuna , approx 6 miles you will see Lake Arenal on your left, keep going a short distance until you see the boats docked. You can stop by and make arrangements for the following day or if the boat is vacant you can take the tour right then and there.
Best time of day to take tour: Early morning or late afternoon (Sunset tour)