The beautiful region of Tuscany brings to mind vineyards, pretty small towns, the leaning tower of Pisa, and Florence. Most people think to leave their adrenaline activities for Interlaken, Chamonix and other places. Little do they know, there is the perfect spot in Tuscany for a day of fun! Canyon Park is located by Lucca and there is plenty to do from zip lining to paddle boarding to canyoning. Not interested in any of these activities? How about the views! Bright blue water, rock walls, bathing in the sun. Sounds like anyone’s cup of tea. Smart Trip Europe offers this tour for only 26 euro, without promo code discounts! Called “Canyon Adventure”, the fun starts at 7:30 a.m. when you start the journey to Cocciglia’s Canyon. You stop on the way at Bridge of the Devil (Ponte Della Maddalena), a cool steep bridge overlooking the Serchio River and small mountains in the distance. Once you arrive at the canyon you have the option to choose two of three activities: paddle boarding, the ropes course and/or the canyoning. (Photo cred: Smart Trip Europe) I can’t decide which part I liked more. But you can always go more than once and do a different activity each time! Canyoning was quite the adventure. You start by going up stream, swimming against the current in the refreshing cold water. I went on a blistering day and could not wait to jump in. You’re surrounded by beautiful rock walls and then you get to the first jump! It’s exhilarating to lift off the rock the first time. I’m not used to jumping in such a tight space, but it makes it all the more fun. You continue on to the second jump, which is not as high but is just as wild and fun! From there you climb up into the last cave in the canyon that’s reachable by this route. The view of the walls lurking over you and the waterfall ahead are unreal. The waterfall causes a bit of a barrier for further upstream travels so you turn around and allow yourself to float downstream, literally. The wetsuits keep you warm and smooth runs are ensured if you go feet first sliding down water falls! It’s one big natural water park! (Photo credit: Smart Trip Europe) You reach the main canyon, beautiful in a different way, and the water turns bright blue! You feel like you’re in the Maldives! Locals are cliff jumping above you and the whole experience is exciting and fascinating. You get a chance then to drink fresh spring water about 50 meters from the end - a much needed drink. For your last couple meters the water abruptly turns freezing cold, which is perfect when you are about to get right back out into the hot sun. But, I lied. I think I liked the zip lining better. Odd right? Because canyoning was soooo fun! Everyone I went with liked it the best. But I found the ropes course extraordinary in so many different ways. Now you’re above it all, with an entirely different view of the canyons you just swam through! However, I do not recommend this for anyone with a fear of heights. Part of the fun is the independence you’re given. You’re instructed on how to move your snap hook around different items in the rock to keep you where you need to be as you climb up. It’s no ordinary Zip lining experience, it is definitely more of a ropes course; a mixture of rock climbing and zip lining. After a couple of test runs, you come to your first big jump! There are 5-6 of them, I lost count. But there are a lot. I should also warn, once you are hooked in, you have to specifically request to be unhooked to exit the course since you continue along a line the entire time. You don’t unhook yourself from the cable then re-hook each time. So you’ve gone across the first zip line. Do you zip line back? Nope, in between many of the runs you have walks across! I’ve never tried slacklining and I never really had any interest until now. It is way easier than slacklining, as there is a rope higher up to hold on to the entire time, but it definitely had the excitement as well as the need for constant attention and care that slack lining would have. So, I’m ready to buy a slack line and start up! On top of slacklining and ziplining, you feel like you’re rock climbing! You’re hanging up high, over these beautiful canyons, figuring out your next step, the next place to put your hand. The planning and strategizing are the fun in it! Or, at least for me, I don’t believe it is for everyone. BUT I LOVED IT! Time to start getting into rock climbing now as well! You also have the option to have a totally peaceful day. The paddle boarding looks really pleasant, and by doing that you really get to enjoy new and different views of the canyon walls of all different colors and rock types (the guide was explaining them all! And how the beginning of the canyon is Jurassic!) from a middle ground, now above the water, and not within it either.
Regardless of what you do, or how you get there, it is a place to visit. It’s beautiful, fun and unique. You probably all know someone who has been to Cinque Terre, Venice, Rome, even smaller places like San Gimingano, do you know anyone who has been to this region?
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