Zip Line
A Fast Track to Sustainable Business
Three hundred twenty-eight feet above ground in the Monteverde cloud forest, securely fastened in my harness, I lift my feet off the platform and let gravity do its work. Swirling masses of pressure blow against my body as I take in the view: immense, awe-inspiring mountains and the mist-obscured ocean.
I was excited to zip line, having heard about the experience from my parents who visited Costa Rica eight years ago. As a ten year old the idea of soaring above canopies hundreds of feet in the air had blown my mind, and experiencing it for myself at the ecotourism destination, Costa Rica Sky Adventures, was surreal.
The zip line, called Sky Trek, mimicked our group’s week in Costa Rica. We zipped constantly from one location to the next, taking in the amazing events unfolding around us and only resting for short, interspersed periods of time.
And like the rest of our journey, we each had the opportunity to mold our experience into what we wanted. While the majority of our group chose to zip line above the canopies, Marygrace, Erin, Rebecca, and Dave chose to embark on the Sky Walk, a trek through the landscape’s mixture of primary and secondary forests. It included six suspension bridges, each high up in the trees to allow visitors to experience the canopy ecosystem. They even saw our group flying by on the zip lines. Marygrace commented that she could easily distinguish Leah screaming as she enjoyed her ride.
Of those who chose to zip line, each encountered the same physical aspects — the squealing apparatus and persistent wind — yet each of us, coming in with different expectations, had a different experience. Becca and Dr. Simrill had ridden these zip lines before, but many in our group had never stepped foot into a harness for any reason. Joe and Leah were afraid of heights, while Becca was weary of the rickety green staircases that led to the start of each line. Leah was afraid of riding alone, Karsen scared of riding with others. And many of us were simply looking forward to the adventure ahead. Yet, for all the differences in histories, expectations, and fears, the group as a whole came to a unanimous opinion — zip lining had proven to be absolutely incredible.
And it seems this sentiment is universal, for everyone we crossed paths with was enjoying themselves, from the large group of older Chinese ladies and gentleman to the employees who are native to Monteverde. The guide who rode the Sky Tram* up the mountain with us has lived in Costa Rica for his entire life. Born and raised in Monteverde, he has never travelled outside of his country’s borders. All of the guides are proud of their community; it is part of the Pura Vida culture that binds them together. Yet even with this pride, they are extremely welcoming of visitors, and used to them as well. When we thanked the guides at each station with a “gracias,” they would respond with “you’re welcome.” It was confusing at first, since most of the Costa Ricans we had talked to so far only spoke Spanish, and I expected them to prefer their native language. But the employees here were obviously accustomed to speaking in English at work.
These guides bring enthusiasm to each day of work, drawing visitors into their communities and lives. They monkeyed on the zip lines, riding sideways, upside down, and one handed. I even saw one employee dismount just as he reached the platform, while still coming in full tilt, a bit of goofy play while on the job to add to the culture of the community, and of the business.
Because that’s what they are — a business. It’s so easy to get lost in the beautiful landscapes and friendly nature of the people, and forget that they are charging $57 per head for this excursion.** That this is in fact a business, an organization aimed at providing value in return for profit. Perhaps we forget because oftentimes American businesses get a bad reputation for greed, the antithesis of the Costa Rican culture which permeates through this organization. In our case, perhaps it’s only because our outing was paid for prior to our arrival with part of our program fee.
Regardless, Costa Rica Sky Adventures is selling more than just a thrilling ride. They advertise a bird’s eye view to “one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges worldwide,” according to their website. Business and economic growth are often viewed as nature’s enemy, but in this case, the cloud forest and the wildlife housed within are protected by the business that stands in the area. The operation cannot exist without the forest. The whole area is untouched, allowing for the infrastructure of the zip lines, and to destroy any part of the area would be to destroy business.
And contrary to perpetuated belief, this meshes well with the meaning of economics. It isn’t about money and profits; it’s about the efficient allocation of scarce resources. For example, the four workers who facilitated our ride on the lines followed us down and set themselves up at the subsequent stations to continue helping us through the course. This effectively used the labor capital the business employs by not having any idle workers waiting for customers to progress to their station. This also goes well with the seventh principle of the Earth Charter:
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.
Costa Rica is truly a snapshot of the future of sustainability, as confirmed by our experience with Costa Rica Sky Adventures, where the three pillars of sustainability — economics, ecology, and culture — merge to form an atmosphere of fun, prosperity, and diversity.
Unfortunately, an operation of this scale is not feasible in every location around the globe (after all it is based out of the cloud forest, and a large chunk of it at that), so Costa Rica cannot serve as an exact template for future sustainability. But we can still learn from the culturally, economically, and ecologically sustainable practices of this enterprise. And perhaps, with any luck and determination, we can adapt and implement these practices worldwide, allowing Costa Rica to provide the inspiration needed to create such a future.
*Sky Trek’s name for the gondola that brings you up the mountain
**For students; Adults start from $71 and kids from $45
Costa Rica Sky Adventures website: http://skyadventures.travel/monteverde/
