The Aracuaria Forest, Chile

The Aracuraria tree, a Chilean pine which can live to be 1000 years old, is thought to have evolved its peculiar upside-down paintbrush shape to ward off plant-eating dinosaurs 180 million years ago. Chile's since given these Jurassic-era beanstalks National Monument status. The forest is most gorgeous in central Chile's Conguillio National Park and Tolhuacaca National Park, with some astounding mountain backdrops. But you'll also see these trees if you do the Villaricca Volcano summit, the most popular day hike in the area. You can book beforehand with Amity Tours or Summit Chile, but if you know some Spanish you can also pick up a guide in Pucón. Head there between November and December and you'll catch the coning season, which yields pineapple-shaped conifers that produce seeds the indigenous Penuenche use in local dishes.