Turu Ba Ri park in Costa Rica
This item appears on page 14 of the July 2016 issue.
With some free time during my January 2016 visit to Costa Rica, I discovered the delightful Turu Ba Ri Nature & Adventure Park (San Juan de Mata de Turrubares, Costa Rica; phone +506 4052 0940, http://turubari.com/en). It’s an ideal place to visit.
The park is only 60 minutes from San José, 10 minutes from Orotina and 50 minutes from the Puntarenas pier. It’s open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The price of a visit is determined by the adventures you choose to do, totaling $34-$113 for an adult or $24-$98 for a child. All activities include the aerial tram. Lunch is available at $15, adult, and $7.50, child.
I selected the “Nature-Guided Tour” ($34 adult, $24 child). First, an aerial tram took us deep into the park, gliding above the forest canopy. I looked down on exotic flora, a river (I saw a crocodile looking up at me) and waterfalls.
An expert naturalist guide then took us on a trail to see iguanas, deer, a crocodile-breeding area, botanical collections of orchids and 100-year-old trees. This walking tour was on level ground and lasted 2½ hours.
We also visited a butterfly farm (25 species) and a countryside farm with tropical fruit trees and sugarcane. They have a mill where oxen walk, turning stones that grind the cane. We were allowed to feed the cane into the mill and, at the end, drink the liquid. We were shown how the cane is turned into sugar, which, again, we were able to sample.
The “Zip Line Tour” (age 6 and up) lasts about an hour. There are eight cables that measure about 1.8 miles plus 11 platforms, two hanging bridges and one tower. No previous experience is needed.
Remember when you were a child and put on a cape, pretending you were Superman? Well, now, without a cape, you can zoom at speeds up to 55 mph on the “Sensational Cable” (for anyone age 10 and up who weighs at least 90 pounds). The cable is about 3,280 feet long and 360 feet above the ground.
“Horseback Riding” (age 10 and up) lasts 45 to 60 minutes and takes you through lovely landscapes and mango plantations.
The average temperature at the park is 86°F. You can expect afternoon showers between May and October. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. Drink lots of water, and make sure you use sunblock and insect repellent.
PHILIP A. SHART
Tamarac, FL