My personal adventures in Costa Rica got a new highlight last weekend: Canyoning with Serendipity. I did not know Canyoning before and for those who do not know this sport either: Canyoning means descending along a waterfall into the water – secured with ropes and a harness.
Preparation of the ropes
One of the typical characteristics of a Serendipity adventure is to stay away from touristy and crowded places. Therefore we had to do a 90 minutes ride in our 4×4-vehicle – 60 of them on tight and unsealed roads uphill. These rides are an adventure itself!
When we arrived in the no-man’s-land, our three guides explained the correct use of the harnesses and ropes. After that, we had to hike for a little while until we arrived on top of the waterfalls. This created a really thrilling and special atmosphere. On the one hand you see the steep and dangerous canyon, but on the other one, you can enjoy the peaceful sound of the flowing water and watch the various types of small animals. But to be honest, the worry about the steep canyon outweighs before your first descent.
The very first descent
One advantage of a group adventure is the following: You do not have to be the one who starts. After some of my colleagues arrived safely at the bottom of the waterfall, I felt comfortable enough to start my descent. At first, it was quite difficult to find the right position and the right techniques to handle the ropes. The most scaring moment is when you have to lay back and trust the ropes. If you overcome this moment, the descent can start!
You always have to be careful that you do not become unstable on the slippery waterfall. But even if you do so, the ropes keep you safe all the time – you just have to trust them.
My first descent took about two minutes, but it felt like twenty. I was really relieved when I finally arrived at the bottom. The next part was really funny because we were allowed to slip down from a small rock. This was hilarious, although the water was ice-cold. After passing two smaller canyons, the last challenge waited for us. This was a really huge waterfall. It took about 20 minutes per person to descend it.
Happy after the first successful descent
Without doubt, this waterfall was the most challenging one. You should not make the mistake to look across your shoulder, otherwise you will get very afraid. The waterfall just seemed to descend in the most steeply imaginable way and there was a lot of water on the way down. But I was successful in descending this waterfall, too. If you are at the bottom once, you are really glad that you made it. And you notice what you can reach if you just challenge yourself – this is an excellent feeling.