UNBELIZEABLE VACATION DAY 5 :: TIKAL NATIONAL PARK, PETEN DEPARTMENT, GUATEMALA :: On our way back to Belize from Tikal, we stopped at Canopy Tours just outside the gates of the park to experience zip-lining through the jungle. We chose the fast tour, because a few people in our group would be waiting for us and we wanted to get back to Chaa Creek before dark.

The fast option consists of nine platforms fastened to the trees, some as high as 130 feet! Our climb to the first platform was up a series of long, caged ladders, but it was mostly downhill from there. It was hot and humid too, but the views and the thrill of flying through the trees were definitely worth it. We watched spider monkeys swing through the high branches and tropical birds dart about the leaves.

The first line crossed the highway and we could wave to the rest of our group waiting beneath us. A couple of the lines were longer than 650 feet! We saw the line disappear into the forest and trusted there would be a safe destination. These long lines were fast and incredibly fun! During most of the zips, we were seated in our harnesses. On one line, however, the guides offered to re-harness us so that we could fly face-first, superman-style. Of course I couldn't resist, and it was awesome!

The guys helping us with our harnesses were very nice and funny. They barely spoke English, but Kristie and I have both studied Spanish, so we managed to communicate a few essential phrases. I could pretty much understand what everyone was saying, but whenever I spoke, I kept mixing German into my Spanish, which didn't help any, so I stayed silent.

After our zip-line tour, we hopped back into the van and passed by the beautiful lake, El Ramate. I snapped some drive-by scenes from the van window as we bid farewell to Guatemala. We wish we had more time to stay and see other parts of the country, but we had many more adventures planned back in Belize.