Primeval, impenetrable and atmospheric, jungles and rainforests are where life on Earth is at its most extraordinary. Many secrets lie in the misty wilds of the jungle – from art installations, ancient ruins and abandoned anomalies to natural wonders and luxurious hotels, all obscured beneath the canopy. Here we venture deep into the undergrowth, combing the continents for the most fascinating jungle-dwelling attractions.
Click through this gallery for the most extraordinary attractions hidden in the world’s jungles...
Tucked away in this Caribbean island’s forested interior, in the ominously named Valley of Desolation, is the world’s second largest boiling lake. A steaming pool of unknown depth, it is a fumarole (volcanic vent) flooded with bubbling water heated by the molten magma below. Hiking to the lake is one of the most rewarding activities on Dominica, though it’s recommended you hire a knowledgeable guide for the demanding trek. While it’s not possible to swim in the cauldron of blue-grey water, it’s an awesome sight to behold from a safe distance.
The ancient ruins of Caracol represent the largest Maya settlement in Belize. Entombed in deep jungle near the border with Guatemala, the once-powerful city has been preserved as an archaeological site and off-the-beaten-path tourist attraction. Laced with temples, palaces, plazas, roads and other structures, Caracol covers some 75 square miles (194sq km) and was home to more than 100,000 people at its height around AD 650. It's well worth the admittedly intrepid expedition to get here – a two-to-three-hour drive from San Ignacio.
During the Second World War, Thailand (then Siam) was invaded by the Japanese. To create a transport route into occupied Burma (now Myanmar), Japan forced Allied prisoners of war and conscripted Asian workers to build the notorious Burma-Siam Railway. Better known today as 'the Death Railway', it’s estimated that around 100,000 labourers died during its construction. Parts of the line still survive, and you can ride a stretch of it over the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. The jungle province of Kanchanaburi also holds several sobering museums and memorials to the railway’s tragic legacy.
Towering above the emerald canopy of Canaima National Park, Angel Falls – also known by its Indigenous name Kerepakupai Meru – is the tallest waterfall in the world. Plunging 3,212 feet (979m) into the swirling river below, it was given its English name after American pilot James Angel crash-landed nearby in 1937. Because the jungle surrounding Angel Falls is so dense, it’s a wonder best enjoyed from the air, though you can hike to a scenic viewpoint too. Note that the UK Foreign Office and US State Department currently have advisories in place against travel to Venezuela.
Among the world’s finest luxury resorts, the Datai Langkawi is where the serene beauty of Malaysia’s tropical rainforest meets the teal waves of the Andaman Sea. Nestled on the paradise island of Langkawi, the lavish 5-star property is frequented not only by well-heeled holidaymakers but by vibrant local wildlife. Guests share their space with butterflies, dusky langur monkeys, great hornbills, tokay geckos and flying lemurs during their stay. The tranquil jungle envelops you even inside your suite, and the hotel arranges guided walks through the forest.
Once the capital of one of the Maya’s most powerful kingdoms, Tikal rises from the Guatemalan jungle like something out of Indiana Jones. The ruined complex comprises more than 3,000 structures, some of which date back to the 4th century BC, ranging from grand acropolises and sheer-sided temples to paved causeways and canals. The old city’s open spaces have largely been cleared of vegetation, but trees and vines still frame its monuments, the earthy scent of damp dirt lingering all around. Look out for wild turkeys, toucans and other colourful creatures stalking the surrounding forest.
Sometimes called Jackie’s Blue Hole, Nanda is one of several crystal-clear pools that can be found along the East Coast Road of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island. Formed like a sinkhole by fresh water gradually carving a crater into the limestone bedrock, the Blue Hole’s sapphire hue contrasts magnificently with the shifting greens of the trees that fringe its edge. The impeccable clarity of the spring makes swimming here a delight – you’ll spot plenty of fish and be awed by reflections of the leafy scenery on its surface.
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Symbolic of the fall of President Mobutu Sese Seko’s 32-year-long dictatorship, his former residence is now a tangle of ruins overrun with wild foliage. Dubbed 'the Versailles of the Jungle', Bamboo Palace dates back to when the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was still known as Zaire. Once a luxurious mansion – complete with indoor swimming pool, nightclub and Concorde-sized private runway – the compound was abandoned when a coup in 1997 ended Mobutu’s rule. Note that the UK and US advise reconsidering travel to the DRC.
Beng Mealea has spent the years since its construction in the 12th century being slowly reclaimed by the jungle, with roots and vines twirling around its sandstone walls. It’s a far cry from the pristinely-preserved Angkor Wat, roughly an hour’s drive away in Siem Reap, but nature's invasion has only served to make the ruins even more compelling and mysterious. The remote temple complex sees far fewer crowds than its better-known sibling, leaving you to wander its galleries, libraries, chambers and sanctuaries in relative solitude.
Automobile magnate Henry Ford had the eccentric idea for Fordlandia in the 1920s. In order to access the affordable rubber that he needed to make car tyres, Ford wanted to establish the world’s largest rubber plantation in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest. Spanning over six million acres, Fordlandia was equipped with a hospital, library and power plant, as well as bakeries, restaurants and shoemakers to be used by employees. But utopia it was not; the rubber trees weren’t thriving, malaria was spreading and, in December 1930, the workers revolted. Some of Fordlandia’s abandoned buildings can still be visited on tours.
Crowning an ancient bulk of bronze rock, the fortress of Sigiriya stands nearly 600 feet (180m) above the jungle floor. Around 1,200 steps snake around the monolith known as Lion Rock, with two giant paws marking the last stretch of climb up to the 5th-century palace. Due to the immense heat that bears down on Sigiriya during the day, you’re best off summiting it early in the morning (this also betters your chances of beating the sunrise crowds). On your way up, stop to admire the 1,500-year-old frescoes painted onto the rock.
Strung through thick jungle in southern Ghana, this dizzying network of suspension bridges offers adventurers an ape’s-eye-view of one of Africa’s most underrated national parks. The Kakum Canopy Walk involves navigating an elevated trail across seven separate bridges draped around 100 feet (30m) above the ground. While the bridges may look like they’re made of normal rope, they’re actually made from sturdier materials like wire, aluminium and hard wooden planks. There’s also a safety net below, in case you're worried about the structural integrity of the 300-year-old trees supporting the walkways.
Just outside the small highland town of Xilitla, amid a swathe of humid La Huasteca rainforest, rises a surreal sculpture garden. Las Pozas ('The Pools') is the work of British poet and philanthropist Edward James, a patron of Surrealist painters like Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali. Living in semi-exile in Mexico, James started Las Pozas in 1947 and worked on it continually until his death in 1984. He filled the space with exotic plant sculptures, staircases to nowhere and other architectural elements inspired by Surrealism. Channelling water from natural streams, he also created the nine pools that give Las Pozas its name.
The world’s largest single-drop waterfall, Kaieteur Falls lies so deep in Guyana’s stretch of Amazon jungle that tour companies have to either charter planes from Georgetown to reach the trail that leads to it, or take an epic expedition over road and river. Formed by the coffee-coloured Potaro River as it gushes over a limestone plateau, the spectacle is accompanied by several legends concerning men who allegedly went over its edge. Its name is thought to translate as 'old man fall' from the language of the Indigenous Patamona people.
Nature has run riot at this abandoned housing development on the island of Kauai’s lush northern shore. Beginning life as a hotel in the 1960s, the site was transformed into a Club Med resort in the 1970s, but only operated for a few short years. It's possible that the rainy jungle climate wasn’t quite what vacationers had in mind for a Hawaiian break. Plans to replace the resort with condos got underway in the 1980s, but the project never came to fruition and only the eerie concrete foundations remain.
Enter the yawning mouth of Hang Son Doong in central Vietnam and you’ll feel like Jonah being swallowed by the whale. This is the world’s largest cave, discovered by a logger in 1991 and then explored by British cavers in 2009, before opening to public tours in 2013. Translating from Vietnamese as 'mountain river cave’, Son Doong was sculpted between two to five million years ago by water eating away at limestone. In places the rock ceiling has collapsed, opening up huge natural skylights that reveal glimpses of the jungle canopy above.
A hidden gem of the Peruvian Amazon, Sandoval Lake belongs to the Tambopata National Reserve, an area of exceptional biodiversity. You can take a boat safari across the lake, watching for giant otters, alligators and turtles, as well as harpy eagles gliding overhead. The lake feels extremely remote, wrapped in only the sounds and smells of the jungle, but it's surprisingly easy to reach on a day trip from the city of Puerto Maldonado. But, if you have time, it’s definitely worth treating yourself to a longer stay at the Sandoval Lake Lodge.
The dream of Taman Festival was never meant to be. Despite boasting a fake volcano, a crocodile pit and a completely inverted roller coaster, the Bali theme park was shut down in 2000. Still unfinished when it opened in 1997, the launch of Taman Festival was poorly timed: Southeast Asia’s economy was in tatters, and a period of political unrest had scared away tourists. Since its closure, the park has been consumed by the jungle, with creeping vines choking its remains. Today, you can pay the gatekeeper a small fee to explore the site.
Inscribed by UNESCO in 2023, this archaeological complex of temples and sanctuaries was constructed across 23 years in the 10th century AD. Now partially concealed by the untamed jungles of northern Cambodia, Koh Ker was once one of two rival Khmer Empire capitals (the other being Angkor Wat), and the sole capital until AD 944. The sacred city contains 42 major structures, including a magnificent seven-tiered pyramid and Prasat Pram, a crumbling tower slowly falling prey to the hungry roots of a banyan tree.
Costa Rica’s youngest stratovolcano, Arenal's last major eruption was in 1968, but it continued to spew lava into the early 2000s. It stands like a smoking giant above the rainforests of Arenal Volcano National Park, its slate-grey and moss-green cone making the surrounding ensemble of trees and plants seem all the brighter. The volcano is girdled by miles of hiking trails catering to travellers of all fitness levels. Listen as the jungle sings with the voices of 131 mammal species, 135 reptile species and countless birds, from the quetzal to the hummingbird.
Meaning 'pipeline trail', the Panama rainforest’s Camino del Oleoducto traces the length of an old fuel pipeline that formed part of the autonomy plan for the Panama Canal. It is particularly popular with birdwatchers, who come from all over the world to spot some of the more-than-500 colourful species that call the Camino home. Traversing the stunning Soberania National Park, the trail is composed of mostly flat gravel terrain and can be accessed via public transport from Panama City. Remember to pack your binoculars.
The Daintree Rainforest – called "the most extraordinary place on Earth" by everyone’s favourite naturalist, Sir David Attenborough – has been growing for more than 180 million years. This makes it the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, filled with awe-inspiring natural monuments, abundant wildlife and Aboriginal folklore. The Mossman Gorge, where the meandering Mossman River cleaves the forest in half, is especially remarkable. At the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, you can learn more about the area’s traditional custodians, the Kuku Yalanji peoples. Join the guided Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk for a more immersive introduction to their culture.
Easier to access than Caracol, but no less impressive, this Maya site is reached by taking a cable ferry across the Mopan River, which has to be cranked by hand. Much of the architecture to have survived into modernity at Xunantunich (shoo-nan-too-neech) dates from the 7th century AD, with the most famous structure being El Castillo. Thought to be a shrine to the ruling family’s ancestors, it is decorated with stucco friezes, astronomical imagery and carvings. Visitors can climb to the top of El Castillo, where panoramic views across the jungle await.
Bringing high-end wellness to the jungles of Bali, the COMO Shambhala Estate is a boutique retreat for those wishing to get very far away from it all. The daily schedule features pilates and yoga classes, hydrotherapy sessions, gratitude ceremonies and breathwork workshops, as well as gentle activities like walks and biking around the local village and rice fields. Fill the remainder of your time with Indonesian cuisine, massages and sauna visits, or get the blood pumping with a dawn hike up Mount Batur and white-water rafting on the Ayung River.
Better known locally as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Ross Island is the smallest island in the Andaman archipelago, set between India and Southeast Asia. In the early days of the British Raj, a brutal penal colony was founded here to house emaciated convicts and political prisoners shipped over from mainland India. For years they were forced to clear the island’s impenetrable jungle to make way for a plush colonial settlement, building everything from an opulent commissioner’s residence to a Presbyterian church (pictured). The island, eventually abandoned after the Second World War, can be visited today via ferry from Port Blair.
Colombia’s 'lost city' dwells deep in the jungle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. Built by the pre-Columbian Tairona peoples around AD 800, Ciudad Perdida lay forgotten and overwhelmed by vegetation for centuries before its rediscovery in the 1970s. Abandoned around the time the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, today over 270 terraces can be explored, featuring the remains of canals, ceremonial areas, houses, plazas, stairways and stone paths. But you’ll have to work hard to get here – it’s a challenging multi-day hike. Note that the UK and US currently have travel advisories in place for parts of Colombia.
Changing colour with the seasons, the waters of Kuang Si Falls take on a bluish tone in the dry season when rich with copper and other minerals. Switching to a deeper greenish-brown in the monsoon season when the falls are at their strongest, these cascades are best visited between November and May due to calmer flows and less slippery ground. A great day trip from Luang Prabang, it’s possible to bathe in some of the pools and hike to the top of the waterfall. Note that weekends and holidays can get particularly busy.
It may look insurmountable, but summiting Pico Cao Grande can be done. We wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re an extremely adept mountaineer (and a fearless daredevil), but a handful of climbers have touched the top of this unusual rock formation. Portuguese for 'great dog peak', Pico Cao Grande pierces the sky like an enormous canine erupting from the jungle floor. It's an ancient pillar of magma, the sole remnant of an old volcano whose soft outer shell has long since disintegrated. If Jurassic Park were real, this otherworldly landscape might be where you'd find it.
Perched where the sands of Antongil Bay (pictured) meet the largest remaining stand of protected rainforest in Madagascar, Masoala Forest Lodge provides an idyllic base for enjoying African wildlife beyond the big game reserves. Deforestation has scalped much of the jungle on the world’s fourth largest island, but the Masoala Peninsula is mercifully unspoilt. Guests at the lodge can venture inland to explore the habitats of rare, endemic creatures like aye-ayes and lemurs, sheltered by rosewood, Ramy and Madagascar dragon trees. Between July and September, you may also be lucky enough to see breeding humpback whales.
There's no shortage of cenotes hiding amid the jungles of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, but this one outside Tulum is perhaps the most photographed – and with good reason. The mirror-clear waters are home to freshwater turtles (keep a responsible distance if you see one) and are a haven for swimmers, snorkellers and divers. Gran Cenote is semi-open, meaning you can access its secluded caverns if you know what you're doing. To avoid sharing this beautiful spot with too many others, come first thing in the morning or late afternoon.