Filed in archive Adventure by Terah Shelton on October 21, 2007

Rainforests are ripe with outdoor opportunities and I know a thing or two about rainforests. I've trekked through the rainforest jungle in northern Laos, where I observed live wildlife, slept in a treehouse, zip-lined from tree to tree. I got lost on a hiking trail in a rainforest on Montserrat. Even though I was lost for four hours, the beauty of my surroundings intrigued me. Both times were some of the best experiences of my life.

An article on MSNBC lists a few of the top rainforest destinations. They include the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in Ecuador, the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, and the Khao Sok National Park in Thailand.

Rainforests see more than 50 inches of rain a year. There are close to 4 million square miles of rainforest in the world, according to the Rainforest Alliance, an organization based in New York City, which works to conserve the biodiversity in rainforests. The majority of them, such as the Amazon, which is the largest on the planet, are concentrated in Latin America; but others, such as the Congo Basin, the world's second-largest rainforest, are found in Africa and parts of Asia.

"Really, the best way to experience a rainforest is to hike through it. That could mean trekking through dense jungle or following well-marked trails," says Diane Jukofsky, director of communications, marketing and education at the Rainforest Alliance. "This gives visitors a chance to really absorb the scenery and see the wildlife, plants and flowers that make the rainforest special."

But experts say it's not the best idea to venture through a rainforest on your own.

"These environments have challenges, so it's a good idea to hire a guide or go with a tour company specializing in back-country adventures," says Margaret Kelly, a travel editor at Fodor's, the travel-guide series.

The biggest danger in attempting to explore a rainforest without a knowledgeable guide is getting lost in the jungle, but experts also say that not knowing where to look for certain wildlife is another major reason to not go solo.

If you visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, for example, a guide can help search for the emerald-green Quetzal, a rare bird that often hides among the towering strangler fig trees there. The Quetzal is one of 400 kinds of birds in this rainforest, which is located 7,500 feet above sea level and has cooler temperatures than traditional rainforests due to its high altitude. Other wildlife here includes 100 species of mammals, including jaguars and howler monkeys. In addition to hiking the 17 miles of trails here, visitors can take ATV tours, walk on bridges suspended between trees, ride down zip lines and even tour a coffee plantation inside the forest.