Costa Rica
Tour and Panama Cruise with CruiseWest
Costa Rica Sky Tram near
the Arenal Volcano - Text and Photos
by Jack
Yeazel
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GENERAL:
The Sky Tram increases altitude as it proceeds
along, reaching about half the distance to the Arenal Volcano as compared
to the Arenal Paraiso Hotel distance. However, the volcano itself
wasn't visible due to the clouds. Each tram car carries a bilingual
guide. There is an observation deck at the top with chairs where
you can spend time observing the volcano (if visible), Lake Arenal and
surrounding mountains.
Descending the mountain has three options.
Ride down with the Sky Tram, walk downhill on a spectacular trail, or choose
the Sky Trek (Zip Line) option: a Canopy Tour with high quality cables
supporting "passengers" in harnesses, running from mountain to mountain
zigzagging back to the base. There is a restaurant and another large
observation deck at the base of Sky Tram with different views than the
top observation deck.
The hydroelectric dam at Lake Arenal supplies
60% of Costa Rica's electric power. See (HERE)
for a location map. (Red is the tram span.)
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Main entrance to the tram.
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View of Lake Arenal from the entrance building.
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The trams travel in groups of two.
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Tram tower structure.
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Another view of Lake Arenal from the upper
platform.
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Platform at the top.
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The guide was a member of a very small
tribe of native Costa Ricans who are trying to keep their culture and language
alive.
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Practice run on the Zip Line.
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This lady disappeared into the clouds and
was never seen again!
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