Sunview Adventure Park with longest zip-line in Andalucía to open in May

OPENING new zip-lines in Spain is a competitive business, but one with no north-south divide: Just weeks after a town in Aragón's Pyrénéen province of Huesca launched the tallest, steepest and fastest in the country, the longest one in Andalucía is due to set off in Alhaurin de la Torre.

Based at opposite ends of the mainland, the zip-line in Fiscal close to the French border is capable of reaching speeds of between 130 and 160 kilometres per hour (81 to 99.4mph) without any special efforts – even though specialists have been experimenting with parachutes to see if they can break the current world record, held by a line in Italy, of 172 kilometres per hour (just under 107mph) – has a 20% gradient, a 400-metre slope, and runs for 2,036 metres, being just over two kilometres, or 1.27 miles.

The one on the Costa del Sol is not as long or as fast, although for most mere mortals, even serial thrill-seekers, it will be plenty long and fast enough: If you ride it in 'Superman' position, you cut down your wind resistance and will get to around 100 kilometres per hour (62mph) along its full length of 1,300 metres – 1.3 kilometres, or 0.8 miles.

To find out what either experience, in the north or the south, feels like, you could pop your head out of the window whilst riding as a passenger in a car at full throttle on the motorway and take a selfie of the skin on your face being distorted out of shape.

Or better still, don't, because that's not very safe.

However, zip-lining is, in fact, very safe, even if it doesn't always feel like it – qualified, experienced experts are on hand to ensure every possible security step has been double-checked and is in place, and to position and anchor you properly.

Like every adventure activity or sport that, in theory, looks to involve a very real mortal danger, the actual stringent procedures followed by highly-specialist professionals mean these are typically some of the safest ways of spending a few minutes of your time, and even more so if you have little or no experience, when these processes are more watertight than ever.

This is so much the case that even very small children are allowed to ride zip-lines, provided they meet at least the minimum weight required.

How much this is has not been confirmed for the Alhaurín de la Torre line, although the one in Fiscal lets people between 40 and 125 kilos (6st 4lb to 19st 10lb) on board.

Whilst a very young child alone would probably not be heavy enough, the forthcoming zip-line in the province of Málaga offers the chance for customers to ride in tandem, two people seated side by side.

One person can also go for a slide in a sitting position if the idea of flying flat like the red-caped Marvel hero seems a little too daunting.

Based at the brand-new Sunview Adventure Park, the zip-line, and other features and activities designed specially for daredevils, will open on May 15 and will operate from 10.00 to 22.30, Thursday to Sunday, and also bank holidays and the day immediately before these.

The Vallejo family, which owns the land, had planned to open the adventure complex in the last few months of 2020, but movement restrictions imposed to contain the pandemic delayed it.

Still, once visitors ride up to the zip-line launch point in the standard 4x4 vehicle – included in the price – they will immediately see that the spectacular views from the summit were worth the wait, even if they just go along for the ride and to watch friends or family 'take the plunge' rather than doing so themselves.

Zip-lining 'trips' do not require any previous experience at all, but customers must follow staff's instructions at all times.

The cost is similar to that of the fastest zip-line in Spain, in Aragón - €26 for one person, either in a seat or 'Supermanning', or €45 per pair for tandem seating.

Groups of six people or more get a 5% discount.

Also, visitors to Sunview Adventure Park can go out hacking on horseback, subject to advance booking, at a cost of €30.

Available rides and horses are tailored to every ability, from complete beginners to those who have spent a lifetime in the saddle, although hacks will only go ahead if at least four people have booked to take part.

At the moment, tickets are not yet on sale for Sunview Adventure Park activities, but the management says it will soon have a website up and running for the public to book their slots ahead of the May 15 opening.