Back-to-nature escapes: rainforests

Being in a rainforest is to be fully immersed in a primal environment. These rainforest destinations are full of vitality and sheer aliveness of the natural world. They’ll envelop you, heighten your senses, and ignite your wonder. Despite deforestation and any number of threats, there are still thriving jungles around the world that have remained intact over millennia. These are ancient places where 1,000-year-old trees create mini ecosystems and outlandish birds, insects and animals have adapted and evolved over centuries.

There are sometimes people there, too – Indigenous tribes whose communities can offer precious insights into these primary rainforests and how to live in harmony with them. In this article, we’ve chosen some of the best rainforest destinations to visit responsibly – because sometimes, one of the most effective ways to help protect an environment is to visit with due care and respect. In doing so, you could help support the people on the ground who are working to protect these precious places. So, which of these rainforest destinations will you explore for your next rainforest vacation?

Costa Rica: best for habitat diversity and forest canopy ziplining

Famed for its progressive conservation practices and pristine environments, Costa Rica is a wonderful destination for a rainforest vacation. Some 50% of the country is cloaked in vibrant, wildlife-rich rainforests of several different types, from lofty cloud forests to lowland tropics. With 25% of the country protected by nearly 30 national parks, there are numerous forest trails to follow and wildlife experiences to revel in. One favourite is the Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-sand Pacific beaches are backed by lush tropical rainforests. Visitors can snorkel amongst multicoloured fish and corals, then wander forest trails to encounter sloth, iguanas and capuchin monkeys.

At an elevation of some 5,000ft, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve presents a whole other diorama of wildlife and vegetation. Lichens, moss and bromeliads drip from the trees, orchids bloom, and lizards and frogs flourish in this moist environment. Then, down in the mangrove swamps and lowland tropical forest of Corcovado, you’ll find tapirs, crocs and over 100 species of amphibians. In Arenal National Park, there’s an active volcano to explore and rainforest canopy ziplines for zooming along. Amidst the treetops, colourful quetzals flit while jaguars prowl the forest floor. This is just a handful of the best rainforests to visit in Costa Rica, and in a relatively small country with good infrastructure, it’s a breeze to visit several in one trip.

Canada: best for a bear hunt in a temperate rainforest wilderness

The cool climates of Canada might call to mind snow and ice rather than rainforests, but Canada is indeed home to one of the largest and most beautiful rainforests in the world. The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is one of the planet’s few coastal temperate rainforests and stretches for over 20 million hectares.

This ancient wilderness is home to fjords, mountains, rushing waterfalls and 1,000-year-old cedars soaring skyward. On the forest floor, lichens and mosses envelop stone and wood, and wolves, grizzly bears and cougars hunt amongst the trees. This is also the realm of the rare and endangered Kermode bear (or spirit bear), with its distinctive white coat. These remarkable animals are only found in this corner of the world, where they fish for wild salmon in glacier-fed streams and pluck fruit, berries and nuts from the trees.

Thailand: best for ease of access, boating and bountiful hospitality

Thailand always welcomes travellers well, and in the lowland jungle of Khao Sok National Park, things aren’t any different. This expanse of dense, primary forest is one of the oldest tropical rainforest destinations in the world. Located in southern Thailand, it’s easily accessible from the beaches of Phuket and the surrounding sun-blessed isles. The park can be explored solo on several well-marked trails, but a local guide will reveal much more about the forest’s wildlife and vegetation. Explorers might like to take to the water on rafts or canoes along the Sok River. Alternatively, paddle across the great Cheow Lan Lake with its dramatic limestone castes rising above jade-tinged waters.

The wildlife here is diverse and beautiful, including elephants, tigers, tapirs and pangolins, along with around 300 species of birds. Floating raft houses and luxury eco-resorts offer the chance to spend the night amid the jungle. You’ll be surrounded by the calls of gibbons, the evening cricket symphony, and the incredible cacophony of the jungle morning chorus.

Ecuador: best for meeting Indigenous communities and dipping a toe in the Amazon

Descend from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains, and you’ll soon be enveloped in the vivid green of the Amazon Rainforest. Deep into the Ecuadorian rainforest, the Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on earth and is recognised as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can explore on foot with local guides or by small boat along Amazon tributaries.

In this glorious forest, there are hundreds of tree species. Howler monkeys holler noisily while capuchin and spider monkeys play in the treetops. Sloths hang upside-down to ponderously chew on leaves, and elusive jaguars merge magically with the undergrowth. The human guardians of the forest are the Indigenous Quichua, Huaorani and Achuar people. They will usually be your hosts and guides in the rainforest, where much of the accommodation is within homestays or lodges run by local communities on the fringes of the national park.

Malaysia: best for ancient forests and mega-diversity

The magnificent rainforests of Malaysia stretch across its mainland peninsula and eastern Malaysia (on the island of Borneo). Taman Negara National Park on the mainland is a vast area of forested mountains and jungle-fringed rivers. At some 130 million years old, parts of the forest are ancient and home to a staggering diversity of species. Its precious inhabitants include Malay tigers, macaques, tapirs and sun bears. The park wardens have installed stilted hides close to watering holes and popular clay links, so human visitors have a good chance of seeing a range of wildlife. Over on jungle-clad Borneo (shared with Indonesia), the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak offer multiple forest adventures. The rainforests of the Kinabalu National Park, the Danum Valley Conservation Area, and the Bako National Park are probably less visited than those on the mainland and offer a great diversity of habitats to explore.

Australia: best for setting foot in the most ancient rainforest of all

When we think of Australia, we often picture the vast desert lands of the Outback or the country’s bounty of golden beaches. But as well as all this, Australia is abundant in rainforests. At some 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest in North Queensland is the oldest tropical rainforest destination in the world and one of the most biodiverse.

This exuberant forest touches on magic and inspired the fantastical forest scenes of the Avatar films. Over 200 butterfly species flutter between thousands of plant species, while waterfalls rush into river pools shaded by tree ferns and bromeliad-clad branches. This stretch of ancient forest reaches the eastern coast, where it meets the Great Barrier Reef just offshore. There’s plenty more besides, including the vast Gondwana Rainforests of tropical Australia and the temperate rainforests of Tasmania.

Brazil: best rainforest destination for river cruises and big-name kudos

With the lion’s share of South America’s mighty Amazon Rainforest, Brazil is home to the most famous tropical rainforest in the world. The Amazon Basin accounts for more than half of the tropical rainforest on Earth, and is known as the ‘lungs of the planet’. The gateway to the Amazon in Brazil is the tropical city of Manaus, not far from the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ where the Negro and Solimões Rivers meet to form the Amazon. These two rivers have distinct colours and flow alongside each other for some time before they mix and combine. Heading downriver on a boat trip is one of the best ways to experience the jungle. You’ll hear the startling cries of howler monkeys on shore, spot pink river dolphins playing in the rapids, and go ashore to visit Indigenous communities and learn about life in the forest.

Indonesia: best for beach-fringed rainforests and orangutans

A tropical nation of some 17,000 islands, Indonesia is home to some of the most important rainforests in the world. Rich in peat, these forests are powerhouses for storing carbon and are home to some 15% of the world’s known plant, animal and bird species.

This amazing biodiversity can be experienced on many of its islands, but some of the best rainforests to visit are on Sumatra. Although long exploited for their natural resources, national parks now protect much of the remaining primary forest. These exuberant ecosystems are home to flame-haired orangutans, Sumatran tigers, elephants, and hundreds of colourful bird species. For more Indonesian rainforest destinations, venture into the densely jungle-clad realms of Borneo or far-flung Western New Guinea, just north of Australia.

Make it happen

Celebrate World Rainforest Day with a commitment to support the world’s endangered places. Our travel experts are based on the ground in these rainforest destinations, full of insider knowledge to create a trip that’s just perfect for you. Get in touch to tell them about your ideal holiday today.

1. Costa Rica
2. Canada
3. Thailand
4. Ecuador
5. Malaysia
6. Australia
7. Brazil
8. Indonesia