The canopy is the aereal vegetal layer, which in the neo-tropical forests normally is defined as the conglomerate of sprouts, leaves, branches, flowers and fruit of the various species of plants that grow and are found above 20 metres of height. From its english name “canopy” derives the word “canopying” relating to the activity of climbing and moving within the tree tops.

A tourism canopy infrastructure is a kind of specialized infrastructure built inside or preferrable above the tree tops, which allows the undertaking of specific activities regarding theinvestigative research, recreation and eco-tourism in the heights of the forests with safety and professionalism.

Since the decade of the 90s. and thanks to the intervention of the biology investigators in tropical forests, this activity of climbing into trees and placing oneself in the highest spot of said forests, presents itself to the world as a touristical alternative for adventure and aquiring of knowledge of nature, which today moves the economy of countries like Costa Rica, capturing the attention of millions of visitors per year.

Since 1.998 and until today these activities are developed with great sucess at the Reserva Natural Palmari with whom SelvAventura holds an out-sourced contract regarding the providing of said services, resulting in one of the mayour atractions of the Reserva Natural Palmari for the visitors from abroad and the surroundings.

The undertakings of tree-climbing and canopy activities must not be offered as extrem, high risk and adrenalin-rush adventures. On the contrary, eventhough it actually is an adventure, the main objective of these undertakings on a recreational basis is to summon the magic, the tranquility and the embrassing mistic of the neo-tropical forests. The canopy traveller will enter himself while entering the canopy, with full patience and calmliness he will hand himself to the harness and the ropes in search of the light that lies further beyond from were the view normally reaches. The canopy traveller ascends from the forest floor, where the leaflitter slowly decomposes, advances between vines, branches and short rays of light at the same time conquering fears and overcoming difficulties, until, at the height, his experience opens his mind to reflexion and contemplation. There, like in a mirror, the most vivid image of the forest presents itself to the canopy traveller. This new vision of the forest allows mankind to tighten his ties with nature, represented in new values for the still standing forests.

Luis Felipe Ulloa Arango

Regarding the canopying activity, SelvAventura offers as a final product the design, the construction and instalation, the operation, mantainance and administration of the complete set of the tourism canopy infrastructure. The final product as such is a variety of components and different methods according to the circumstances, depending on the client, his target market, the terrain caracteristics, the tendency or style depending on the project at hand (adventure, family recreation, nature observation, scientific research, the combination of various from the aforementioned, or others), this, between other relevant aspects.

The various products are detailed as stations or platforms, ascent/descent ramps, hanging bridges or aereal walkways, pulley traverses installed on steel cables, ascent/descent installations by means of ropes, as well as specialized materials and equipments. The operation of the chosen installations include the training of guides, the manufacturing of informative material for the clients, the control of the operation (weight load/capacity, safety, administration and efficency) as well as the follow-up of the business according to the demands of our clients.

Item 5) Using of the SelvAventura installations with own canopy equipment, per person, per day. The use of at least one trained guide from the SelvaVentrura staff is compulsory. SelvAventura retains the right to cancel the activity without refunding of the rental fee, if the contracting client does not hold the necessary expertise regarding the activity and/or handling of the equipment and if the client´s equipment is not sufficient and/or in unsafe condition and/or to old.