The morning started out as usual in our quiet little ocean front condo in Isla Verde. The sun came up at 6:15am, banana pancakes were made and the Puerto Rican coffee just finished brewing. Little did we know what the day had in store for us on our journey. We walked over to the Ritz Carlton hotel until Jamie & Roqui drove up in the maroon van - we were the first ones picked up in our pack of 10 which included us. We drove about an hour to reach our first stop which was our little break before the final destination. It was a cute little town in Arecibo where we were able to get snacks, drinks and last stop for the restroom. So we snacked on a rainbow sprinkled sugar cookie which would soon be burned off in the first 5 steps up the numerous mountains/hills we had in store for us. We then proceeded about 30 minutes on roads we never imagined existed nor have seen in our lives. The sights were breathtaking and so vivid in color; it looked like we were in a postcard!  We inclined up which looked as if it was only a one-way road; oh no, it was a two way one, that they actually had to honk ahead of time to let other passing cards & chickens know we were coming. We soon pulled up to the end of the road and that was where our journey was about to kick into high gear! We loaded up with helmets, gloves and harnesses which we would soon be used on our trip. We started hiking up the hill (what seemed to be big to us but later we would see it was definitely a small one) while Roqui was telling us about the red flower that's called in English the "little pisser".  This was one of the most popular flowers that you would see along the highways and roads in Puerto Rico and we found it quite interesting to know that this pretty flower could be used as a squirt gun; Roqui demonstrated to us.

We soon began to hear what sounded like a bubbling brook, it was the Tanama River; it was amazing! We wading in the river all the way up to our neck carrying our backpacks in our hands that were evaluated above our heads - this was quite fun except for the part where my camera dropped in the water. The good thing was that Roqui was very helpful and told me how to restore it and let it dry out along our hiking. Along the river there were so many different kinds of butterflies; Roqui made a game out of it to count all the different colors and kinds we saw.  Since we had two kids in our trip they found this quite interesting.  We also saw numerous kinds of plants, flowers, insects, and such a variety of wildlife - it was awesome!!!  We learned so much in this one day then our whole trip - we wish this could have been our first day in Puerto Rico and we would have seen a lot more.

It seemed like we hiked and walked for what seemed to be miles so it was now time for us to have lunch. We walked up to this house that looked like it was from the Swiss Family Robinson movie except it wasn't on trees it was on the ground. It was the home of Jorge, super nice guy and his family too!  They invited us in to have a feast to die for, it was simply amazing - the best food we eat our whole trip!  Not only was the food good, the view incredible but they were soooo nice!!!  Robin and I just wanted to stay there with them and become a local!

Now it's time for the good stuff....the zipline!  This was the best part about the adventure - Roqui and Jamie made you feel so safe and to let your fears aside.  Robin and I had never done this before so we both were a little freaked out but we knew we didn't come all this way from Florida to be chickens!  So....we jumped and on that first jumped it seemed as if your stomach had no muscles and you were floating in the air, no worries, so free and not a single thought about work!  On the other end was Jamie who would do this peddling motion to get you to start moving your feet to prepare for your landing.  We made it!!!!Unfortunately Linda who was in our group split the tree the first time but she was a good sport and was laughing hysterically - she was a trooper!

All in all this was an amazing adventure and something we will remember for the rest of our lives - thank you Acampa for such a memorable series of moments that we will look back on for a lifetime - you guys are simply AMAZING!!!!!

 We hope to come back next year to do the Rainforest one!

Jennifer Felton & Robin Appino
