In February 2024, we were on the Pride of Panama cruise itinerary offered by TUI (Marella) Cruises. As part of this, we docked at the port of Limon in Costa Rica. We’d booked TUI’s Veragua Rainforest ziplining excursion, ready to make the most of our short time in this beautiful country. From soaring above the treetops to a quick stop at the market back at the port, Costa Rica promised us an action-packed day – and it didn’t disappoint.
After disembarking, we boarded a coach bound for the Veragua Rainforest, winding through lush scenery that hinted at the adventure ahead.
The Original Canopy Tour
Our first port of call was putting all our belongings into a plastic box, and then we were given a demonstration of how to zipline and what we needed to do. It didn’t seem like there was much to remember: pop a finger in this loop and twist if you start turning, keep this hand on the line to brake if needed, and lift your legs when landing – easy enough, right?
But once you’re on that line, zooming over the rainforest floor, it’s easy to get flustered. Case in point: on my second traverse, I mixed up my hands and ended up knocking myself on the head with my GoPro – a true rookie mistake!
The pressure was mercifully lifted, as every line after that, we were told we wouldn’t need to hit the brake.
Despite my earlier nerves – which caused my legs to shake so badly that I actually shook the wooden platform – I settled into it, enjoying the rush of air as I flew through the rainforest. It was a fantastic experience, and I was sad when it ended.
If there was one downside, it was the wait. Being towards the back of the group for a popular excursion meant a lot of standing around, waiting for others to take their turn and for the guides to get to the next platform. But even with the delays, it was absolutely worth it.
I had to compile a video with some clips in, it’s got bloopers and all sorts!
Eco-Adventure
We then met our guide, Roxanne, who led us on a walk to the frog habitat and reptile house. The reptile house was packed with fascinating species, especially the snakes. Each exhibit shared details about the species’ habitat, diet, and whether they were venomous. Having encountered a snake in Panama the previous day, we were curious to learn it was a giant parrot snake – thankfully, not venomous!
Lunch was included in the excursion: a hearty meal of chicken with rice, beans, veggies, and plantain, which fuelled us up for the next part of the day. It’s easy to forget you’re sitting in the middle of the rainforest until you see all the lizards and spiders around you. There was even a venomous eyelash palm-pitviper nestled in a bush, adding a bit of excitement to lunchtime.
After lunch, we boarded the aerial tram for a descent through the rainforest. The views from the tram were amazing and we even spotted a Capuchin monkey, though that was the only significant wildlife sighting – aside from some impressively large spiders and ants!
Once we reached the bottom, we took a short walk past a massive ‘Dussia Macroprophyllata’ tree, before heading to a waterfall.
Unfortunately, the waterfall was a bit underwhelming, but the peaceful surroundings made the walk worthwhile.
After returning on the tram, we watched a short video on the Veragua Foundation and their conservation efforts before heading back to the bus. Just as we were leaving, we finally caught sight of a toucan – the perfect way to end the day.
Back at the port, we got dropped off at a souvenir market – it was mega! There were so many stalls selling a whole assortment of souvenirs , it was great to walk around and have a look at what was on offer.
Overall, it was an awesome way to spend a day in Costa Rica!
