San Agustín Lanquín – Day 3: Ziplining Above the Fog
SAN AGUSTÍN LANQUÍN
Day 3: Ziplining Above the Fog
October 11, 2022
On my third and final day there, the sky had cleared just enough to allow me to finally partake in at least one activity – though none of the ones I had planned to do beforehand.
It was yet another El Mirador – a viewpoint set high atop a hill that affords a stunning vista of the surrounding mountains and valley. I found out about this from a local who recommended to me as a consolation prize the second he saw my look of desperation when he told me Semuc Champey was still a no-go. And so, I hopped on a tuk-tuk which dropped me off at the viewpoint.
After spending the better part of the previous few days locked up in my room, I gotta say that having the lush jungle at my feet was quite the feeling. It was like being released from prison – or at least that’s how I’d imagine it to feel. The air was fresh, the leaves were still wet, and a light blanket of fog still enshrouded the jungle – it was so, so reinvigorating. I felt alive again!
Into the View
And what better way to enjoy such a view other than ziplining over it? With nothing else planned for the day, I decided to just go for it.
I gotta be honest – I’m not much of a fan of ziplining. Mostly cause it’s usually terribly underwhelming – at least to me. I honestly have no idea how it gives people an adrenaline rush. Knowing you’re strapped on for dear life, and that people do it all the time without anything ever going wrong, kinda kills the “wow” factor for me. Sure, there’s a view you can only appreciate from the middle of the great nothing — but you enjoy it for a few split seconds to maybe a couple of minutes tops. That’s it. But hey, I had no better alternative, and so, I found myself being strapped into ropes and harnesses.
I was explained the whole procedure once again: keep your dominant hand above and slightly behind the one that’s circling the zipline, while the other holds the O-ring attached to the line and your waist strap. Hold onto the line firmly when you want to brake — and only when the guide on the other end gives you the go-ahead. That’s basically it, really. “If you start spinning, move your dominant hand further back, never brake before they tell you to, and — most importantly — have fun!” said the guy in charge.
With that, we did a short hike to the first zipline, and off we went. It was fun, but nothing too special — though I have to admit, the view was quite breath-taking. After a series of around six ziplines, each revealing a different slice of the spectacular mountains and valleys shrouded in dense jungle, I can’t say I was disappointed. And after being so devoid of adventures and natural wonders over the previous few days, I’ll admit — this kinda made my stay in Lanquín.