Page 10 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

178 4 MORE RAIN FORESTS TO RIVAL THE COSTA RICAN FORESTS

NATURAL WONDERS

Bushwalkers admiring a cascading waterfall in the heart of the Blue
Mountains, Australia
Blue Mountains The thick canopy of lush green trees in a rainforest in the Cayo District

of Belize
Rainforests of
NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The Blue Mountains in */%0/&4*"
New South Wales, Australia, are Belize
approximately 30 miles (50 km) *OEJBO %BSXJO
northwest of Sydney 0DFBO $PSBM
4FB
VISITORS PER YEAR
About 155,000 NEED TO KNOW
"6453"-*"
DAYTIME LOCATION Almost half of
TEMPERATURES #-6& Belize is covered by rain forests; .&9*$0
Jan: 73°F (23°C); Apr: 61°F 1FSUI .06/5"*/4 you’re never more than an Of the many rain forests here, Cockscomb Basin,
(16°C); Jul: 50°F (10°C); $BOCFSSB 4ZEOFZ hour’s drive by 4WD from one
Oct: 63°F (17°C) 4PVUIFSO #&-*;& Crooked Tree, Western, Macal River Valley, Cayo,
0DFBO
VISITORS PER YEAR #FMJ[F $JUZ and the Bladen Nature Reserve are particularly
More than 100,000 #FMNPQBO
outstanding. All of them feature crystalline rivers
DAYTIME #&-*;&
Australia’s Blue Mountains range, set in arguably TEMPERATURES $BSJCCFBO coursing through blue-green valleys and hillsides,
4FB
the continent’s most beautiful region, defies Jan: 75°F (24°C); Apr: 80°F surrounded by untouched stands of tropical
(27°C); Jul: 82°F (28°C);
classification. Comprising seven national parks Oct: 79°F (26°C) trees, and myriad flora and fauna of every
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this (6"5&."-" description. Birders from all over the world flock
remarkable area is a mix of everything Australia to the Belize rain forests, where more than 600
has to offer. The mountain ranges, referred to as Costa Rica isn’t the only country in Central species of birds have been identified. If this wasn’t
Upper and Lower, are home to Australia’s only America to lay claim to pristine rain forests. Its enough to lure you, many of these forests are also
temperate rain forest and a wealth of flora, neighbor to the north, Belize, also boasts some of home to magnificent Mayan ruins, while others
including dozens of species found nowhere else the continent’s most marvelous expanses of border gorgeous, remote cays, and inlets running
in the continent. With numerous walking trails these rapidly dwindling forests. An astonishing along the country’s coast.
and out-of-the-way preserves just begging to be 65 percent of the country’s old-growth forests The Belize rain forests for the most part are
explored, there is something for everyone, served still remain and roughly half of the country is easily accessible and have a great infrastructure,
up against the backdrop of the Blue Mountains. covered by rain forests. Long a proponent of as well as top-notch guides. So, whether you
sustainable tourism with an ecological twist, decide to stay a day, week, month, or more, you’re
Belize has more protected land per square mile never far from what you need to be comfortable.
Practical Information
than any other Latin American nation. At the For the many visitors who prefer to rough it a bit,
Getting There and Around The Blue Mountains are easily reached from
Sydney by rental car, train, or private bus. same time, the government has gone to great there are campsites and tree lodges in most
lengths to keep these forests free from urban areas. Some of the private rain forests – yes,
When to Go The Australian winter, which occurs between Jun–Aug, is
quite chilly. Dec–Feb is warmer and a better time to visit, though sees development and has focused on their Belize has them as well, generally 490 acres (200
more visitors as a consequence. preservation. Around 44 percent of Belize’s forests hectares) or less in size – even offer luxury
Website www.bluemts.com.au are protected within national parks. accommodations carefully engineered to fit into

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