A Best Day Ever

The following is a review I wrote for our Excursion in Puerto Vallarta. 

This tour started out with our guide telling us that their goal will be for this to be our Best Day Ever. That it will beat out when your kids was born, when you got married and all other prior best days. After that speech you expect for this excursion to be a very good decision. We were then escorted to our speed boat, after all 30 of us piled in and put on our life vests we made our way around the very large cruise ships at dock and hit water and increased speed.


 After almost 10 minutes we docked and got off the boat in a secluded village in the Forest. That's when we got into our Unibog. Thankful for seat belts we made our way up bumpy roads. Lots of laughs and photos being taken. The get to know you questions of fellow travelers.

Once at base we changed into a rash guard, slightly wet and provided for our protection for future water slides. We then put all of our stuff in a locker and got our harness and helmets on. And are given gloves also still wet. No one wanted to put them on. Wet leather is not welcoming. But a few lines in you don’t even remember how gross they are. We meet our red helmet guides, go over a few basic need to knows and leave bass by way of a rope bridge over a stream. On the other side of this stream is where we met our mules.

After being matched up with a mule each person started up the mountain in a single file line. We were all enjoying the ride when our guides came up behind us and made our mules all want to race. This just made us all laugh. I think mostly nervous laughter. But, it was fun trying to slow down my mule and steer it aroundthe holes and rocks. After about 10-15 minutes we reached the end or should I say top. There we got off our mules and walked a bit more to the very top.

Where all you see it everything. This is the point where you wish you have a camera, but those were all left in the locker below.  Nerves start to stir as you wait in line for the first zip line.  Once hooked in and ready with a smile for the camera you sit down and are off. As you remember all the short training they told you, you look around and feel peace as you calmly fly through the air above the forest below and then all too soon you are breaking and coming in to land. After being stopped and unclipped you continue on the perfectly marked path to the next one. This continues a couple more times till you reach a platform that is almost directly above the waterfall. You are guided down a line and then stand in line on top of a waterfall.  The guides give you pointers and one by one your adventure companions go over the edge backwards. I’m sure all pretending to be Bear Grills. I know I did. Then its your turn. A little drop in my stomach right before I gave up all control and leaned back. Then a “simple” walk down the waterfall.

A few smiles for the camera.  At the bottom your shoes get wet for the first of many times. The water feels good and just spurs you on. This starts the beginning of many more zip lines and repels thru the forest till the end. The front guy keeps going and you do everything in the time you need to do it. There is no waiting for everyone before beginning. Our family was able to do everything together and sometimes were the only ones at something. Many rope bridges were crossed. Once we repelled off a floating platform strait down into water. Another time we zip lined into the water. Which was a bit cool. Towards the end an opportunity to zip line upside down, tests everyone's courage. Even mom was up for it. The afternoon was ended with a rather large waterfall that will give you a wedge if you are lucky enough to not be given a mat to ride. You are even equipped with a hockey helmet and elbow pads for this. At the top you have no idea what to expect.

After you readjust and take your helmet off there is the rest of your group snacking of fresh fruit and juice. You wait for everyone out of you and make your way back to the lockers. You get your dry clothes, that extra set you packed because you read the reviews and that is what people told you to do, PACK A EXTRA SET OF CLOTHES, and go change out of our wet clothes and shoes. Then you go look at your photos and eat some really yummy salsa. After everyone ordered their photos you get back into your Unibog and go back down the bumpy road then back to the speed boat.

Once back on dock next to your ship you decide that was the Best Day Ever, at least of your cruise. Maybe it didn’t be the birth of your children or your wedding day but its something not to miss out on.