Most visitors to the Riviera Nayarit take advantage of the various tours offered by area companies such as Vallarta Adventures, WildMex, Vista Paraiso and Mi Chaparrita.  Without a doubt, the most amazing zipline experience in the area is found right here in Higuera Blanca with Vista Paraiso’s canopy tour.  Not being overly fond of tourist excursions, which often feel forced, we were somewhat skeptical about booking this activity. However, a local resident’s special rate and our son’s 13th birthday convinced us otherwise.

Arriving at Rancho Montalbeña, home of Vista Paraiso, one realizes the rancho is actually a mini-zoo.  While you wait for your excursion, you can roam around the beautiful property and interact with tejons (coati), peacocks, pigs, turkeys, water buffalo, horses, guacamayas, deer and even a crocodile.  The VP staff gives an excellent safety orientation about their two-cable zipline system and then you take a ride up the hillside through lush jungle as the guides orient you to some of the native flora.

To say that the views on the way down are breathtaking is an understatement.  As you sail through the jungle down 10 lines at speeds of up to 40 mph, you experience 270 degree views of all of Bahia de Banderas, the Islas Marietas, Punta de Mita, the town of Higuera Blanca, the million colors of green in the jungle below (our personal favorite), and the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see.  The experience was not only worth every single penny (even at normal rates), but more importantly, it was an incredibly exciting reminder of how lucky we are to call this beautiful paradise home.