A
growing number of canopy tours let visitors
explore the elevated ecosystem of the rain
forest canopy, a luxuriant and little-known
realm that is home for most of the jungle's
plant and animal species. It has only been
in the last two decades that biologists
have begun to seriously study the canopy,
using such varied devices as mountain climbing
equipment and construction cranes, and tourists
now have the opportunity to follow them
into that biological frontier.
Those
opportunities range from a ride on a modified
ski lift that takes passengers floating
through the tree tops to platforms set in
the crowns of massive tropical trees, more
than 100 feet above the jungle floor. All
those tours offer a monkey's-eye view of
the rain forest canopy, where thick branches
serve as platforms for an incredible diversity
of smaller plants, and such animals as tree
frogs, vine snakes, sloths and hundreds
of bird species.
Adventurous
travelers may want to try one of the more
rustic canopy tours, which entail strapping
on a mountain climbing harness and pulling
yourself along suspended cables to a series
of small wooden platforms built in the tops
of trees. Several private biological reserves
also have platforms in the canopies of large
trees that people are simply hoisted, or
hoist themselves, up to. One private reserve
even has a small hotel room built in the
top of a tree, for those who want to spend
a night in the canopy.
A
growing number of canopy tours let visitors
explore the rain forest canopy’s high-altitude
ecosystems, a luxuriant and little-known
realm that is home to most of the jungle's
plant and animal species. Ecologists started
only two decades ago to seriously study
these high-altitudes, using sophisticated
devices as mountain climbing equipment and
construction cranes, that tourists now have
the chance to use to cross the biological
frontier.
Those chances include from boarding an aerial
tram that goes through the tree tops of
a tropical forest, over 100 feet above the
jungle floor. All those tours offer a monkey's-eye
view of the rain forest canopy, where thick
branches serve as platforms, and an incredible
diversity of smaller plants, and such animals
as tree frogs, vine snakes, sloths, and
hundreds of bird species can be seen.
Adventurous
travelers may want to try one of the more
rustic canopy tours, which entail strapping
on a mountain climbing harness and pulling
yourself along suspended cables to a series
of small wooden platforms built in the tops
of trees. Several private biological reserves
also have platforms in the canopies of large
trees, where people are hoisted up to. One
private reserve even has a small hotel room
built in the top of a tree, for those who
want to spend a night in the canopy. Awaken
to a tropical chorus of motmots, toucans,
and fruitcrows.
Your
bedroom is at treetop level, no more than
40 feet from the birds. Up
a flight of stairs in the dining room, a
cup of coffee and rolls await you. Settle
down at a table next to the window. The
hooting of a distant troupe of monkeys punctuates
the birdcalls. You keep your field guide
open on the table in front of you beside
your rolls and fresh orange juice. In complete
comfort, you greet the morning sun. Nothing
obstructs your view. Through the unscreened
open window, nature carries on its morning
business.
This
is the best tropical birding canopy you
can have, and you should experience it at
least once in your life. |
