Day five was the one I was the most nervous about. Not because of the tree planting, which was a little messy, or the walk through the rainforest. It was the zip lining that made me a little anticipatory.

For those who don’t know, zip lining is similar to rock climbing, but horizontal. You are strapped into a harness and given a helmet, then told to climb. We went up a very tall platform where a guide was waiting. He clipped us onto the horizontal wire and gave us a push, and we were off. It only took a minute or two to arrive at the next platform, where the process was repeated. At the third platform though, there was something a little different.

Until that point, we had been travelling only short distances (think a few hundred metres) per run. And it was through the forest, relatively close to the ground. But this one was just a touch different. For one, it was over the forest. Yes, as in above the trees. Yikes. And the other thing: it went on, and on, and on. It was at least a kilometre long. Holy cow. Cue second thoughts running through my head.

But before I knew it, the guide had me strapped in and evicted me from the platform. And I must say, the view was incredible. I felt like I was flying, and then the guide at the other end was telling me to brake, otherwise I was going to knock him over when I landed. After that I eagerly went on every run, although it’s not like we could turn around or anything. And then I was thrown another curveball.

We had to walk from one platform to the other through the rainforest, and most of the platforms were built on trees. So when we came to a platform — no tree — we were a little confused, until the guide explained the concept of what they called “the Tarzan swing”. I’m sure you can imagine what it was, but just for clarification: we were to climb up a terribly high platform, wait at the top for the guide to attach us, and then be pushed off the platform where we would, instead of travel, swing back and forth, several metres above the ground. I wasn’t the first to go, but I was the first girl. And I’m not going to try to tell you that I didn’t make a lot of noise when he pushed me off; it just wasn’t as much noise as some of the others made.

After lunch we were set free to wreck havoc on Costa Rica… I mean, we were given free time. Shopping and chilling by the pool were the popular choices. The hotel also offered Internet and rented movies. Reading e-mails from home was the perfect way to end such a busy day.

Day six wasn’t as busy, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t as exciting. Once again we loaded our luggage before eating and then got back on the bus, and back into the air conditioning, for the next adventure. Our only planned activity for the day was a boat tour, with the intent of finding, and feeding, crocodiles.

We loaded onto a pontoon and set sail down the river. Birds were abundant and the shores were lush and green. And then our guide pointed out the first croc. We were absolutely shocked when, with a grin, our driver stopped the boat and took off his socks and shoes. He opened a Tupperware container and pulled out half a chicken, and then stepped off the boat and into the muddy water. We would have panicked had not the other guide warned us that it would endanger the man in the water. We were as silent as the grave, and tense as springs.

The guide in the water waded out a ways, then started slapping the chicken against the water, splashing and generally creating a ruckus. The croc was hooked. He started idly swimming over, but as the splashing and noise increased, he slipped underwater. We all held our breath as he surfaced about a metre from the guide, who was still making noise. To our utter disbelief, he held the chicken just out of reach for the crocodile, so that it had to rise out of the water. The man then handfed it, as if it were a baby bird. After gulping down the chicken, the croc swam away and the guide returned to the boat, calm as if he had just gone for a swim rather than risk his life with a creature twice his size.

After such an adventure we were glad to calm things down with an afternoon of free time, spent on the beach. I went into an ocean for the very first time and, being a rather slight person, was swept off my feet by the first wave that reached my knees. I went down, inhaling saltwater, but came up laughing. I loved it, which is why the next day when we had the whole day to ourselves, Cassie M., Kara M. and I spent the whole day in and out of the ocean, minus about an hour in the morning when we strolled through town.

After being battered by the waves all day, the perfect way to wind down was in the hot tub with a few strawberry daiquiris — virgin, of course. Everyone slept well that night, with salt in their hair and the sound of the waves lulling us to sleep.