Forest sights in South America
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Parque Universitario La Argelia
Almost 5km south of the center, the 90-hectare reserve, Parque Universitario La Argelia, has excellent trails.
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Penedo Forest
About one hour of uphill hiking from the end of the asphalt takes you into very dense forest with trails and opportunities to observe wildlife, including monkeys.
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Sinnamary
This friendly village of 3500 people includes an Indonesian community that produces fine woodwork, jewelry, pottery and folk art. Don't leave the area without hiking at least part of the 20km (12mi) Pripri Yiyi trail (trailhead at La Maison de la Nature just out of town) for great bird-watching.
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Santuario Chuchini
The Santuario Chuchini (Jaguar's Lair) is one of the few easily accessible Paitití sites - mounds belonging to an ancient civilization. This wildlife sanctuary and camp sits on an 8ha loma (artificial mound). From the camp, you can take short walks in the rainforest to lagoons with caimans, other larger animals and profuse bird life.
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Bosque de Ombúes
The Ombu is native to the Pampas, a hardy, fast-growing tree able to survive on very little water. A tour through Bosque de Ombúes (Ombu Forest) takes an hour by jeep or tractor, or two hours by foot. Your guide will point out unique forest flora, fascinating birdlife, and carpinchos - large rodents used traditionally to cure influenza and the common cold.
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Trésor & Kaw Nature Reserves
The Trésor Nature Reserve is one of French Guiana's most accessible primary rainforest areas. Wander Trésor's 1.75km (1mi) botanical trail to experience its rich diversity and protected wildlife. Trésor borders the mysterious forests and swamps of the Kaw Nature Reserve, an excellent place to observe caiman and spectacular water birds like the scarlet ibis.
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Parque Nacional Finca El Rey
Confined to a narrow strip no wider than about 50km (31mi), Argentina's subtropical humid forests extend from the Bolivian frontier south of Tarija almost to the border of Tucumán and Catamarca provinces. Comprising 44,000 hectares (108,726 acres), Parque Nacional Finca El Rey is the southernmost Argentine park protecting this unusual habitat, the most biologically diverse in the country.
The best time to visit the national park is between April and October - it's a bit cooler, but much drier! For all inquiries, contact the park office in Salta (España 366, 3rd fl).
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Delta del Orinoco
A deep green labyrinth of islands, channels and mangrove swamps engulfing an area almost the size of Belgium, the Delta del Orinoco is one of the world's great river deltas and a mesmerizing region to explore. Roaring howler monkeys, ravenous piranhas and screaming clouds of parrots are some of the wildlife that make this a naturalists' mecca.
The Río Orinoco reaches a width of 20km (12mi) in its lower course before splitting into about 40 major channels (and perhaps 250 smaller ones), which flow out along 360km (216mi) of Atlantic coast. As well as a rich natural environment, the delta is home to the indigenous Warao Indians, known as the 'canoe people'.
Tucupita is the…
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La Aripuca de Iguazú
Rainforests throughout the world are under threat from human activity, and Argentina's are no exception. This unique place aims to both preserve threatened native tree species, and expand visitors' appreciation of the local ecology.
Designed to 'capture the conscience of man' (an aripuca is a trap used by the Guaraní to catch small animals) this interesting structure is made entirely from the timber of 29 different endangered native tree species. While this might sound contradictory, the timber is all salvaged, and the trap itself is a work of art, looking remarkably like a 10m-high (32ft) beaver's lodge. Tours of the site are designed to raise awareness of forest…
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Iwokrama Rain Forest
Iwokrama, established in 1996, is a unique, living laboratory for tropical forest management and socio-economic development for Amerindians. Amidst 371,000 ha (916,760 acres) of virgin rainforest, this exceptional region is home to the highest recorded number of fish and bat species in the world.
Also calling this remarkable forest home are South America's largest cat (the jaguar), the world's largest scaled fresh water fish (the arapaima), and the world's largest otters, river turtles, anteaters, snakes, rodents, eagles and caimans.
Unlike a national park, Iwokrama is not funded by the government and must therefore take a very realistic approach of how to keep afloat…
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Parque Nacional do Iguaçu
You can’t miss the shiny entrance to the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, which houses bathrooms, ATMs, lockers, souvenir shops and vast parking facilities. Once you buy your ticket, you will be directed to board a free double-decker bus.
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Parque Nacional Huerquehue
A gem of the area, Parque Nacional Huerquehue protects 12,500 hectares (30,888 acres) of rivers and waterfalls, alpine lakes and araucaria forests. It's easily accessible and has an array of trails. Conaf sells decent trail maps at the entrance, where there's a Centro de Educación e Intepretación Ambiental (park information office).
The Los Lagos trail (one way 3-4hr; 9km/5.5mi) switchbacks through dense lenga forests with rushing waterfalls, then enters solid stands of araucaria surrounding a cluster of pristine and placid lakes.
Most hikers turn back at Lago Verde and Laguna el Toro, the largest of the cluster, but continuing on the northern loop to Lago Los Patos and…
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Parque Nacional Iguazú
Without being unkind to Puerto Iguazú, the national park, and the indescribably arresting falls that form its centerpiece, is the reason people flock to the area. Lush, humid, teeming with endemic flora and fauna, this is the South American rainforest as you've always imagined it.
The national park (67,620ha/167,092 acres) was established in 1934, securing Unesco World Heritage status in 1984. Home to more than 2000 species of plant (including orchids, ferns and bromeliads), 450 species of bird, and rare mammals such as the jaguar, its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity can't be overstated.
Its unquestioned highlight is the falls, created where the Iguazú River…
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