18.4500° N, 66.1000° W: Puerto Rico

Highway 413 truly is the road to happiness. As the East Coast of Hawaii, Puerto Rico offers fresh mint mojitos, se vende “limber,” turquoise Caribbean waters, rippable waves and most importantly adventure at 
every turn.

Avoiding crowds, we planned our trip at the end of winter swell season. Averaging 1-3 foot waves, we tore up as many rights and lefts at Domes and Maria’s we could share in the lineup with locals, including magnificent hawksback and leatherback sea turtles. Unfortunately these splendid creatures are now on the endangered species list.

“As they majestically submerged, cruised, and bobbed by us, it reminded us to be always conscious of our surroundings; everything is an ecosystem within another and another and another.”

Exploring the west side of the island, we ended up on a switchback for miles and miles. The enchantments of the mystical road into hillsides led us on an unexpected expedition to San Sebastian falls in a residential neighborhood. Mindfully we passed through private property, listened attentively for running water then stumbled upon a dilapidated staircase that resembled a movie set from Indiana Jones.

Going for it, we slid on our rears down a steep muddy hillside. To keep from tumbling, with white-knuckled grips, we grasped onto suspended natural tree roots for support; our dangling body mass’ inertia became a mighty pendulum to swing back and forth, lowering farther and farther each time until our feet touched down. We were grounded. The soles of our shoes felt the sacred ground for the first time. A euphoric and timeless feeling came across each of us as we took a cool dip, soaking up its natural creation, awe-struck by its raw beauty; one that Mother Nature had provided for.

The next 80-degree day, we piled into our monstrous black rental of a Pathfinder and geeked out at the entrance of Arecibo Observatory. It’s a serious sight from the gate, think Bond in Golden Eye. Primarily focused on radio astronomy, atmospheric science and radar astronomy, the 1,000-foot diameter dish is the largest electromagnetic-wave-gathering capacity on the planet.

The enormous radio-radar telescope is the most accurate phenomenon machine that receives and calculates waves from unexplored galaxies and researches exterestial bodies. In the observatory, they have a world population count ticker is currently nine billion and counting. It’s a reminder how big or small we think we are.

“Tarzan does exist; we met him.”

Through the Utuado jungle to his private land, we held on for dear life (as I was the driver), ha. At a steep incline, all I could see was the hood of the SUV. There was no road in sight.

In a real, living and breathing tree house, we met Jorge, the “Modern Day Tarzan” and his beautiful family. They amiably shared bananas from his organic farm, explaining potassium would be needed before we climbed higher and higher.

With his bare hands, Jorge built a suspension bridge that crossed the Tanamá River so adventurers like us could tour his private land and farm on ziplines.

We swung back and forth as if we were part of the Tarzan family. Dangling high above the treetops on fancy thread-like wires, we flew above his magical land and experienced the beauty of his organic farm. It was blooming and teaming with fresh produce and vegetables. At the highest line, we zipped above exquisite fallen rock formations and caves only accessible by small rafts.

It took him six years to hand-build everything.

“It’s the most inspiring piece of work I have seen yet, living off the land, growing everything organically, he provided for his family and shared his private jungle gym with the world.”

From the real jungle to the concrete jungle, I then zoomed off to NYC.

Batey Zipline, bateydelcemi.com