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Monuments in Tropical Rainforests

The tropical rainforests South America are home to a variety of sites deemed as natural monuments by their respective governments. From rare natural land features to historic man-made sites, there are tropical rainforest monuments across the region that draw thousands of tourists a year to admire their rarity and beauty.

Arístides Rojas Natural Monument
- Near San Juán de los Morros, Venezuela, lies a rare geological formation known as the Arístides Rojas Natural Monument. The monument consists of a collection of morros, or rounded hills and mountains, formed by ancient coral reefs which were pushed above sea level to create coastal mountains by tectonic plate movement. The high peaks of the morros, reaching up to 3,500 feet, make the monument a popular spot among rock climbers.
Guayabo National Monument
- Guayabo National Monument, located in the tropical rainforests of San Jose, Costa Rica, is an important archeological site resting on the side of the Turrialba Volcano. Guayabo is the most significant archeological site in the country. Guayabo Park was once the home of an indigenous tribe that lived in the region more than 3,000 years ago. Visitors to the monument can tour parts of the continuous archeological excavation taking place and camp in the area with permission from the park ranger.
Barro Colorado Nature Monument
- Barro Colorado Nature Monument, located on the tropical rainforest island of Barro Colorado, is one of the oldest tropical research centers in the world according to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The monument includes six islands within the Panama Canal waterway; Barro Colorado, Buena Vista, Peña Blanca, Frijoles, Bohío and Gigante. A functioning research facility that focuses on studying the tropical rainforest ecosystem, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute offers hiking tours for visitors wishing to tour Barro Colorado Island.
Alfredo Jahn Cave Natural Monument
- The Alfredo Jahn cave is the largest cave in central Venezuela. Located close to Birongo, a town in the Miranda State, this national monument is the most visited cave in Venezuela. Consisting of a network of caverns and passages filled with enormous stalactites and stalagmites, the caves were established as a national natural monument in 1978. Visitors can take guided tours into the cave chambers to view the rock features that slowly continue to form from the humid atmosphere created by the nearby Cambural Creek.
Cueva del Guácharo
- Cueva del Guácharo, or Guácharo Cave, is located within Guácharo Cave National Park. Guácharo Cave was first established as a national monument in 1949, and it holds the designation of being the first national monument of Venezuela. One of the largest caves in the country, Guácharo Cave is more than 6 miles long and contains numerous large chambers. The cave is named for the bird species predominantly found in the area, the oilbird, or guácharo. It is estimated that approximately 15,000 oilbirds reside within Guácharo Cave, nesting on high ledges.

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