Fly Like Superman Over the Costa Rican Rain Forest

Whoever thinks humans can’t fly has perhaps never been to MidWorld, home of Costa Rica’s longest Superman-style zip line, near Quepos and Manuel Antonio on the central Pacific coast.

For travelers unacquainted with a Superman line, it works something like this: A group of guides straps you into a body harness on a big table, picks you up, gives you a push, and off you go – gravity does the rest. Just over a kilometer in length, the line carries you at breathtaking speeds down the side of a mountain. While flying through the air, you get a truly bird’s-eye view of the surrounding rain forest.

Since opening in January, MidWorld has taken every effort to appeal to international travelers and Ticos alike. The park sits within 1,000 acres and is surrounded by five kilometers of riverfront and primary rain forest. In addition to offering Costa Rica’s longest Superman line, MidWorld has a fantastic canopy zip-line tour and the area’s only high-ropes puzzle course and fully automatic ATV tour.

The adventure starts with what guide Ricardo Chávez called a ride across the “Oh my God” bridge, a rickety yet safe suspension bridge over the Cañas River. After rumbling over the bridge, guests arrive at MidWorld’s rancho, a beautiful facility that includes a spacious dining area with high ceiling and large fans.

Chávez used the space to give a brief safety talk, going over the high-quality, frequently inspected equipment MidWorld uses. Surrounded by beautiful rain forest, the rancho is the ideal setting to begin your adventure. A solid meal of fresh fruit, gallo pinto, sausage and coffee gets you ready for a day of flying over the rain forest.

Simply put, MidWorld’s canopy tour is fantastic. After a brief ride up the mountain, a group of experienced, certified, English-speaking guides leads guests on the 10-line, 15-platform tour. Professional yet with good senses of humor, Chávez and his team make the tour twice as enjoyable, and take the time to point out wildlife and interesting facts about the rain forest. One piece of advice: wear insect repellent.

MidWorld is compliant with the highest international safety standards, and has a duel-line system in which guests strap into two lines instead of just one. In addition, all of MidWorld’s lines have an automated braking system that slows down participants to a comfortable stop.

The canopy tour also includes two rappel lines and a treetop suspension bridge. In addition, Midworld’s puzzle course adds to the fun with a series of game bridges that provide a challengingly good time. The course includes a Tarzan swing, rappel line and a monkey climb.

One last nice feature of the canopy tour is that it ends where it starts. The final platform is a lazy walk away from the rancho, where a hot lunch awaits exhilarated and hungry guests.

Going There

The MidWorld park is a 20-minute drive from the company’s office in downtown Quepos, just over two hours from the capital by car via the new San José-Caldera Highway. Buses to Quepos leave downtown San José from the Coca-Cola bus terminal (Transportes Morales, 2223-5567). Domestic airlines Nature Air (www.natureair.com) and Sansa (www.flysansa.com) serve the Quepos airport daily.

MidWorld offers several different tour packages. The Canopy Tour costs $69 person and lasts 4.5 to 5 hours. The Superman Tour is also $69 and lasts about 2.5 hours, and includes a motorized tour of MidWorld’s teak plantation as well as a guided nature trail walk.

To do both the Canopy and Superman tours, the cost is $109. The Super Combo package, including canopy tour, Superman line and high-ropes course, costs $129. All tours include transportation in the Quepos-Manuel Antonio area, a meal, fruit and water.