Costa Rica Canopy Trees

Sometimes you can't see the rainforest for the trees, especially on a zipline canopy tour such as Dream Forest near the Rio Savegre. Or in a typical forest that might contain over 80 species of trees in less than three acres.

A casual stroll along a shaded path is the way to discover more about the trees that make up the forests here.

Trees such as the one in this photo are used as bases for the platforms and zip line cables used by canopy tours.

In the dry Pacific forests, you might see such unusual species as the naked Indian tree, whose fruit is a favorite of the carablanco, or white-faced monkey. This land's southern zone on the Pacific is dense with the milk tree, whose fruit is edible and whose bark and sap are used by indigenous villagers for a variety of purposes.

TREES AND CANOPY TOURS

The ceiba, or kapok tree, produces fluffy seed pods that are used to stuff pillows, life preservers and to manufacture clothing. Its lightweight bark is employed in the construction of canoes.

This country's national tree is the Guanacaste. It is the tall one with branches spreading out almost at a 90-degree angle in pastures and open fields, providing shade for the livestock and scenery for the tourists. They are found throughout Costa Rica, not just in Guanacaste, as the name might imply to some.