Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Zip lining and ropes course in Trinidad and Tobago

There are 2 options.

1. Victory Heights, Arouca




If you want a fun afternoon and a unique experience then you definitely have to try this. Victory Heights in Arouca has been open to the public since 2010 and they have a zip line and ropes obstacle course. The experience was originally closed to people who attended the summer camp but now it is open to the public. You should wear jeans, t-shirt (no baggy clothes-for your own safety) and sneakers for this... and remember to empty your pockets... you have been warned! There is ample parking and the vehicles are close to where you will be, although not in direct view due to trees and corners.

It is about $35 per person for an afternoon session. You pay on the day when you arrive and before you gear up. Ideally you should carry a group of 10-15 so that everyone gets to have 3 or maybe 4 trips down the line for the normal time allotted for the zip line. Also, there are approx 15 harnesses so with any more people, some would have to switch out harnesses to give to others. The fear of walking off a cliff is not easy to overcome, but when you do you will wonder why you were worried in the first place! The ride on the line itself is approx. 20-25 seconds depending on how fast you start off. The line is slant enough so you would not get stuck in the middle of it. The equipment is well scrutinized before each use. There is a self imposed limit of 300 lbs per person for the harness which is below the real rating. The only tough part is the end where you are caught by the guy on the end of the line.... and having to walk back up the road after the ride down! You walk back up on the same paved road you drive up on so no mud/bush involved.

The zip line was just a little more fun that the obstacle course session. On the course the group is split into teams and you go through a web of ropes or over logs in a certain way and before the other team to win. If I give any more details I would spoil the surprises! Call to book your session about a week before or longer if you have a special date in mind.

I definitely recommend this to any tourists to Trinidad, old and young. The view from the hill is nice too. This is one of the little treasures around the island and well worth the price! In fact it would not hurt to tip! The group who runs it are great people and are running this very well.

More details here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Heights-Zipline-and-Ropes-Course/153223981408393




2. Macqueripe Beach Facility.

There is also now a zip line facility in the Chaguaramas area at the Macqueripe Beach Facility.
Opening hours and contact info is found on their Facebook page below.
https://www.facebook.com/Trinidadzipitt?fref=ts 

There is a $20 parking fee on entrance at the guard booth to the beach facility compound whether you are going to zip line or not. You can pay cash for the zip line at this same gate or card at another office inside the compound.

After parking you start by walking past the beginning of the course to go to the office up a small hill on the right of the stairs going down to Macqueripe. You have to sign a release form and get geared up there. The equipment was cleaned with Lysol and you everyone gets a new hair net before putting on the helmet. Back down the hill is an intro the technique you have to use, then the fun begins.

It has 7 cables and 5 bridges on the course. You go on each of the lines along the course once. Between most zip lines are bridges made of planks inside netting which is shaky and exciting to walk on. There are also a couple flights of stairs in between. One important thing to note is that you are given thick construction gloves to wear because you use your hands as brakes by grasping the cable you are sliding on to slow down at the end of the lines. There were three guides with my group of six people taking the tour. One guy was bare footed for the tour and it was not a problem although there was a risk of splinters from the wooden platforms we were on. A couple of the platforms were hard to manoeuvre on because they are only a few feet across and you have to duck and bend around and through the cables used to hold the platform up and the zip lines themselves.

 I felt completely safe during the course and enjoyed it much more than the Victory Heights course. This is the one to go to. I will not be going again very soon because I think I will get too accustomed to it and not enjoy it as much.

The name of the company managing this facility is ZIP-TT and it is being done in conjunction with a St Lucian zipline company and a team of Trinidad and Tobago investors.

Here is a video of the whole thing:



http://www.ustream.tv/channel/commotion-tv/theater


You may also like:
Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tour
Top things to know about Trinidad
Playdium
Aerial Tours

1 comment:

  1. lol, my google search, as u suggested, led me to your page... u could've just TOLD me u knw :P

    ReplyDelete