A zip-line (also known as a flying fox, foefie slide, zip wire, aerial runway, aerial ropeslide, death slide or tyrolean crossing) consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley.
They may be short and low, intended for child’s play and found on some playgrounds. Longer and higher rides are often used as a means of accessing remote areas, such as a rainforest canopy.
Zip-line tours are now fast becoming popular vacation activities, found at outdoor adventure camps or upscale resorts, where they may be an element on a larger challenge or ropes course.
Today we highlight 13 of the best!
1. Pronutro Zip 2000 – Sun City | South Africa:
2,000 meters/ 6,561 feet long
The is the world’s longest zip line. It is located in Sun City South Africa. It descends at speeds up too 160km/h(100 mp/h).
http://www.zip2000.co.za/
2. Icy Straight Point – Hoonah | Alaska:
1,625 meters/ 5,330 feet long
The zip line in Hoonah Icy Straight Point, Alaska takes 90 seconds to complete a 1,300 foot vertical drop at 24 degrees.
http://www.icystraitpoint.com/General/Zipline#r3PTFhpfpJE
3. Pena Aventura Park – Ribeira de Pena | Portugal:
1,538meters/ 5045 feet long
The Fantasticable is a cable which connects Lamelas and Bustelo. With a top speed of 130km/h it is considered the largest Fantasticable the world!
http://www.penaaventura.com.pt/
4. Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park – Orocovis | Puerto Rico:
1,446 meters/4,745 feet long
Have you ever wondered how birds feel free to fly through the sky? This tour allows you to experience it firsthand. You’ll be flying in the same position of a bird with a special harness ensuring your chest and waist.
http://toroverdepr.com/site/tours.html#zipline
5. Finca Mi Universo Zip Line – Cali | Colombia:
1,200 meters/ 3,937 feet long
South America’s longest zip line near Cali, Colombia. Two zip lines cross the gorge twice.
6. The Kapohokine – The Honolii Mountain Outpost | Big Island of Hawaii:
1,036 meters/ 3,400 feet long
The Kapohokine Offers views of the Umauma falls and zips 160′ above 14 other falls.
http://www.ziplinehi.com/tours/zipline-tour.html
7. The Heavenly Flyer – Lake Tahoe | USA:
1,006 meters/ 3,300 feet long
Heavenly Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe, California. It has a 525 ft vertical drop over 80 seconds and reaches 50 mph.(closed)
8. Skyrider Tour – Hunter Mountain | USA:
975 meters/ 3,200 feet long
The SkyRider tour is the 2nd largest in North America, 600′ above the ground.
http://www.ziplinenewyork.com/top-mountain.html
9. The Zip Zone – Bukidnon | Philippines:
840 meters/ 2,756 feet long
The Zip Zone is Asia’s longest zip line. It is located in Bukidnon, Philippines. Zip Zone’s Dual Carrying cables are each 840 meters long point to point with a drop in elevation of 100 meters and speeds between 60-100 KPH.
http://www.dahilayanadventurepark.com/attractions/asias-longest-dual-zipline/
10. The Dragon’s Breath – Ladadee | Haiti:
792 meters/ 2,600 feet long
The Dragon’s Breath zip line runs over Labadee, Haiti and is the longest zip line over water. It runs to the beach below.
11. Skyline Zipline – Calgary | Canada:
550 meters/ 1804 feet long
You will ride in a comfortable harness and fly down a unique cable system, reaching speeds between 120 and 140km/h. Calgary’s highest vantage point, the Ski Jump Tower at Canada Olympic Park, provides a jump line that is 550-metres long with a vertical drop of more than 100 metres.
http://skylineziplines.ca/calgary/index.html
12. The River Valley Ranch – Mayland | USA:
518 meters/ 1,700 feet long
The River Valley Ranch zip line is in Maryland located at a summer camp.
http://www.rivervalleyranch.com/
13. Great Wall of China – Simatai | China:
400 meters/ 1312 feet long.
After hiking along the Great Wall at Simatai you can jump on a zipline that will speed you over a lake to the carpark below.(currently closed)
and a bonus that we missed…… thanks Gerald
Sky Trek – Monteverde Park | Costa Rica:
750 meters/ 2460 feet long
Michael is the founder of TravelByU.com
After backpacking around Europe he worked for Club Med in the Whitsundays and Mauritius before becoming a travel agent.
He is a passionate traveller and has recently set a goal to spend a year visiting the best festivals around the world.
