The snow has melted and with the final water droplet falling from soggy leaves into greener grass on the other side of the Earth’s rotation, Spring is in season! The trees are full again with leaves as bright as the Green Lantern, the skies are their brightest blue, crashing waves are coming from the deep blue warmed by the glistening sunshine on its face. It is Maxi dress and straw hat season in the northern hemisphere. Although, the Caribbean has other plans for the season. Pack your cargo shorts, tank tops and sneakers and catch the next flight to begin your adventure among the clouds or cloud adjacent treetops.
In the season of newness, we are taking the route less traveled and flying with the birds among the treetops as we zipline through the tropics.
These 3 islands have some of the Caribbean’s finest zipline experiences and we’re gonna tell you all about them:
Jamaica
Ziplining on its own is already a thrilling experience. In Jamaica, there are about 15 ways you can join the adrenaline initiative. You can enjoy a canopy ride from the treetops in different locations across the island (along the south coast, in and around Negril & Montego Bay and Ocho Rios), pairing the experience with an ATV/Buggy Ride, Rafting on a River,Horseback Riding, River Tubing , Swing and Swim and/or a Waterfall Experience; whatever the decision no experience on the lines are quite the same as the other. As a plus, most of these options come with a taste of the island’s famous cuisine for lunch.
All You Need to Know
WHAT TO BRING
- Valid driver's license
- Sunscreen
- Repellant
- Hat
- Towel
- Cash/card
WHAT TO WEAR
- Comfortable clothing; long shorts, tights, pants
- Sneakers/ water shoes
- Swimwear
WEIGHT, HEIGHT, AGE RESTRICTIONS
- Maximum Weight for ATV & Tubing - 300lbs
- Maximum Weight for Zipline - 265lbs
- Maximum Weight for Rafting - 275lbs (550lbs combined 2 persons)
- Maximum Weight for Horseback - 225lbs
- For 16 yrs and older
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR
- Pregnant women
- Physically challenged (tour is not wheelchair accessible)
- Persons that suffer from back/neck problems
- Persons that have had recent surgery
- People with respiratory or heart problems
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is such a small island that it could fit into Jamaica 18 times with room for another half to go. The island’s longest, highest and fastest zipline is located in the district of Dennery and covers 800ft along 12 canopies. Thrillseekers can join any of the island’s top 3 zipline canopies from Castries, Soufriere and Vieux Fort and see some of the local gems with the addition of a Buggy or Jeep Ride.
All You Need to Know
WHAT TO BRING
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Valid driver's license
- Repellant
- Cash
WHAT TO WEAR
- Comfortable clothing; long shorts, tights, pants
- Sneakers/ water shoes
- Swimwear
WEIGHT, HEIGHT, AGE RESTRICTIONS
- Maximum Height- 250lbs
- Driving for 16 years and older
- Zipline for 8 years and older
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR
- Pregnant women
- Physically challenged (tour is not wheelchair accessible)
- Persons that suffer from back/neck problems
- Persons that have had recent surgery
- People with respiratory or heart problems
Antigua
Ziplining in Antigua gives you some of the most scenic views across land and sea. You can enjoy any of the island’s 2 most popular zipline tours from the cities of Long Bay and St. John. Interestingly, you can pair your time in the air with an eco-kayak experience; taking you through the mangroves, inclusive of a little swimming and a lot of sightseeing underwater - snorkeling! If you choose to zip only, challenge yourself with a bit of parkour with 12 ziplines across 328ft, 9 obstacles, 2 suspension bridges and 1 treehouse. Lunch may be included depending on the activity you choose.
All You Need to Know
WHAT TO BRING
- Sunscreen
- Repellant
- Cash
WHAT TO WEAR
- Comfortable clothing; long shorts, tights, pants
- Sneakers/ water shoes
- Swimwear
WEIGHT, HEIGHT, AGE RESTRICTIONS
- Maximum Weight - 250lbs
- Maximum Height - 5ft
- Zipline for 8 years and older
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR
- None swimmers
- Pregnant women
- Physically challenged (tour is not wheelchair accessible)
- Persons that suffer from back/neck problems
- Persons that have had recent surgery
- Persons with a fear of heights
Watch the Wire
Apart from being a haven for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers, ziplining includes riding a cable from point A to point B with the rider fully equipped in safety gear. These gears include a helmet, harness and a trolley that is fit to your harness and attached to the cable to allow you to roll smoothly from one location to the other.
In its earliest days, ziplines were used for hunting, allowing natives to travel at greater speeds across land; which at that time was the preferred mode of transportation as it kept the natives out of harm's way from other native tribes and wild animals.
Today, there are hundreds of ziplines across the world used purely for entertainment purposes.
Companies like Island Routes, have employed thorough systems of checks and balances to ensure these rides remain not only entertaining but a safe addition to a traveler’s itinerary. With a 100-point approval process at the start and intermittent checks by internationally approved personnel throughout the year; coupled with daily tests by an internally qualified team; ziplining in the Caribbean is the highest quality.
Did you make it this far?
We are celebrating Earth Day month long and are inviting you to celebrate with us. For the month of April, you can visit any of the above destinations and a few others and pair your zipline experience with another top experience in that destination at the season’s lowest rates. Learn more about this promotion at www.islandroutes.com/specials.
