Day 6: Monteverde
We started the day early, with breakfast at 6:30. Breakfast at Endémica Restaurant is included with each stay. Breakfast is served a la cart and includes fresh bread, fruit, an entree, and a coffee or juice.
Treetopia Park Monteverde
A van arrived at 7:20 to transport us to Treetopia Park Monteverde. It’s an expansive zip line park with seven lines, six suspension bridges, and other activities for thrill seekers like a tandem zip line bike and Tarzan swing.
Did you know that modern day zip lining originated in Costa Rica? Back in the 1970s, a biologist developed a cable system to study the rainforest canopy. Recreational zip lining evolved from there.
A cable car ride is necessary to get to the first zip line platform. My son and husband aren’t fans of zip lining. They rode the tram with us, and watched as we launched into the forest.
From the zip line, we had 360 degree views of the cloud forest. It was a sunny morning and we had good visibility of the lush forest below. Several guides attended to our small group, making the experience both fun and safe. A few of the zip lines were tandems, so my daughter and I went together.
One of the most unexpected moments of the morning, was when we came across a wild piglet in the woods. A guide picked it up and let everyone get a look at the little cutie.
We got another surprise at the end, when we had a choice of taking the stairs down to the exit or bungee jumping off the platform. I took the stairs, while my adrenaline junkie daughter took the leap, squealing with delight as she landed below.
The zip line experience lasts a few hours. You can book different packages based on your interests. Not all members of your party have to do the same things. The minimum age to zip line is 5-years-old. If you have family waiting for you, there’s a cafe in the Treetopia office, and at the top of the cableway. Hotel pick-up and drop-offs can be arranged at an extra cost.
KidTripster Tip: The guides look lots of photos of us during our adventure. For a reasonable, price, about $30, we received several action shots.
The rain started as we headed back to our hotel. We felt fortunate to have had clear weather throughout our adventure.
Don Juan Coffee Tour
With the afternoon wide open, my daughter and I decided to book a Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Tour through the hotel. The concierge arranged to have Don Juan Tours pick us up at the hotel. It was a short ride from the Cloud Forest Lodge to the coffee farm.
The tour started with a sugar cane demonstration. Then we learned how chocolate is made, followed by a step-by-step explanation of the coffee process. A tasting was involved for each demo, which was our favorite part of the tour. We enjoyed fresh squeezed sugarcane, hand crushed cocoa, and steamy cups of coffee. We didn’t waste the opportunity to do a little souvenir shopping, stocking up on some delicious Don Juan chocolate bars.
After a busy day of adventures, we opted to dine at the hotel. In the evenings, the fire is burning. We enjoyed a drink by the fireplace, before making our way to the table. The menu consists of local fruits and vegetables, with a variety of meat and seafood dishes. Although the lodge has just one restaurant, each meal was consistently excellent. The menu was marked for allergies, and the staff helpfully navigated our needs.
Keep Reading: click “7” to follow along on the next leg of our journey, to the beach.
