Prior to bungee jumping in Costa Rica I only had one such experience which was in Gunma alongside a Japan-based postgraduate classmate. It wasn’t what I hoped for for the reason that the elastic cord was attached to the waist and not to the ankles. (Choosy pa?) Nonetheless, it was still as fun and exhilarating. And oh, did I mention that on a cable car 143 meters high, at the time of writing jumping Monteverde Extremo Park’s is the highest bungee jump in all of Central America?
It was 20 minutes past two and I had just returned to the reception area of Monteverde Extremo Park after ziplining through the lush forests of Monteverde. By the way how I kept asking the receptionists, one could judge me infer how thrilled I was for my next activity, which I’d say stands next to skydiving.
Within ten minutes, those who were bungee jumping were called and off we went to meet the cable system. There were eight of us and they were loading the tram with a maximum of five persons including two guides so we were divided into—do the math, honey. The first to go was an Indian couple and apparently they were doing the Tarzan swing as well.
Icebreaker
When the tram reached the heart of the valley, I made my way to the observation platform to get a perspective of how crazy the shit’s gonna be. After seeing the two lose a portion of their breaths, my I’m-already-here-so-might-as-well-do-it disposition took over like a poltergeist that I came back to the rest of the group with an additional wristband indicating that I’m also doing the Tarzan swing.
I was going in with a Canadian couple and while waiting for the first group a handful of conversations transpired, which included me sharing to everyone how “disastrous” my first bungee jump was. Also…
Someone (to the couple): Where are you guys from? Couple: Canada. American woman: Fucking Canadians. Everyone: *laughing* Canadian guy: That’s the first time I heard that!
The icing on the cake was the presence of another Filipino who was accompanying his workmate who was also doing the jump! Dunno why he didn’t jab me at all when my jersey was literally bellowing “Pilipinas”, but when his companion gave him away, I jumped the gun and was delighted to know that despite having moved to the United States their household is still using Tagalog.
Bungee Extremo
At 18 minutes past three, my ankles were already bound while the cable car was settling between the mountains. I was the first sacrifice and without any fuss, was already on the edge of the platform about to throw my life away. If there’s one thing I learned about leaping off things such as cliff jumping, it would be to jump off as soon as you can; the more you prolong being on the edge, the more your legs will wiggle the way Jason Derulo sang his song. (Unless we’re on a different context, of course.) In fact, the guides only had two things to say:
If you have acrophobia (they didn’t actually use the term; too fancy), don’t look down and just look ahead.
Without looking down, jump forward as far as you can!
There was a GoPro mounted on the helmet and another one held by one of the guides. I wasn’t going home without any proof souvenir of the activity so paying extra for the video was out of the question. Still, I asked the Canadian couple if they didn’t mind recording my jump on my phone. They obliged and later on I was more than happy to return the favor.
Oh, yeah, about the actual jump. I didn’t save a second when the guides’ countdown ended in that I immediately plunged into the valley. Remember: He who hesitates is lost! As usual, I was howling at the top of my lungs. It’s an extreme sport, for Pete’s sake. You’re not supposed to stay quiet! If I find free fall to be the best part of skydiving, for bungee jumping it would have to be the recoil, particularly the first ones. *fist pump*
I mean, why wouldn’t you pay for a video, right? Aberrant Titan in the house!
My being “off the hook” (you need to fasten yourself to another cord to be pulled up) lasted for almost a minute and, from the moment I jumped, it was just about two minutes and 40 seconds until I got back on the platform. Time does fly jump, doesn’t it?
Here’s me feelin’ thee vibe~! #muntanga #hithitPa
Extreme Tarzan
Monteverde Extremo Park’s Canopy Tour was essentially ziplining across canopies in Monteverde and already included a Tarzan swing. I didn’t research enough to know about the latter so when the hostel attendant told me about it, I was swayed on my decision to do the Extreme Tarzan and only booked the Canopy Tour and bungee jump.
But as I already mentioned, I became adamant about the Extreme Tarzan swing again by just seeing the first group being transported by the tram to the middle of the valley. My company wasn’t doing the activity so they were more than happy I was more than eager to ask them to record me again.
I guess there’s only one way to describe the Extreme Tarzan swing: It absolutely felt like my body left my soul, which is the opposite of how it should theoretically be. If you’re doing the activity and not shouting your lungs out, I will judge you as the most lifeless thing on the sole planet that allegedly harbors life.
Unfortunately, no video was taken from the guides’ GoPro as they didn’t coordinate with each other. After initially faking my release, I was easily let go as if my feelings didn’t matter while the countdown was still at three! The guyde (see what I did there?) on the right was still preparing the action camera but I was already “Tarzaning” away.
Me: Do you need to countdown or something? Guide: Yes. 3, 1! Me: *leaves soul behind*
As for the recording on my phone, it was fortuitously cut a split second after I started baying. The Canadian lady was apologetic about it but who was I to complain when—and she knows it herself—her video of my bungee jump was badass? And so that left me with the footage of the GoPro on my helmet, which will make you realize that my pores are clearer than your future. So… Nope, taking a pass on showing that one for now. The entire swinger activity took around four minutes.
I snapped a photo with my group in my good-morning hair (thanks to the helmet) and, while it didn’t materialize because of how busy the season was (or simply because it was only a spur of the moment), it was very nice of them to offer swinging me around Niagara Falls on my freezing visit to Canada the following month. At five minutes past five we were back on land and wished the third group, which was almost overtaken by another group, good luck.
I took one last look from the observation deck to relive what just panned out, before bustling excitedly to secure a copy of my files.
Tips
Check with Monteverde Extremo Park on the weight requirements. We can’t afford any disappointment, can we?
The first item on the two-item list above. It will help!
Don’t prolong your agony and just jump off that damn tram.
Like when skydiving, try not to close your eyes as you dive head first. Savor it.
If your stomach really can’t take it no matter how hard you attempt to get your ass off the platform, you might consider having the guides just push you hold you while you lean forward and then let them release you at their disposal. Okay, that might not have sounded encouraging but you get the point. It was like that in Gunma. You just gotta do it, bruh.
Bundled tours can be cheaper, so I would’ve saved some bucks if I booked the three activities—Canopy Tour, Bungee Extremo, and Extreme Tarzan—from the start. Ho(s)tels can also do the booking on your behalf and sometimes could further slash the price.
