If you ever have the chance to hike in a tropical jungle, take it! There is no place more lush, more exotic or teeming with life. Of course, jungles also come with danger to match their amazing biodiversity -- so I don't recommend plunging in unprepared. Use the following tips to make sure you come back safe, full of stories you can tell for the rest of your life.

Dressing for the jungle means long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes to ward off mosquitoes, ticks and all manner of creepy crawlies you might not want to think about.

Bring serious bug repellent, too. 

A note on ticks: Catch them before they embed, and you can just flick them off or squash them. If they've already latched on, it's time to upgrade your tick removal game.

Watch where you step. Conventional wisdom is that you should wear big boots for protection against snakebites, but when boots get wet in the jungle, they stay wet -- so some people opt for closed-toe water shoes instead. No matter what you have on your feet, stay on cleared trails whenever possible and never place a hand or foot unless you can see that wherever you're putting it is snake- and bug-free.

Look out for dangerous plants, too -- some of them have nasty thorns, are home to biting insects, or can give you a bad rash.

Prepare for rain. When it rains in the jungle it rains, so bring a good waterproof jacket or poncho. You should also have a broad-billed cap (or serious hood brim) to shield your eyes from the downpour. That goes triple if you wear glasses, because the rain can quickly blind you...

been there, done that. A dry bag will be your very best friend when it comes to keeping electronics and a change of clothes dry.

Everything is slippery when wet. Just a few minutes of tropical downpour are all it takes to turn trails into creeks, make all that vegetation into the biggest, most dangerous slip-and-slide you've ever seen, and render existing waterways too dangerous to cross.

Once things get wet, they'll stay wet for a very long time. That goes double for shoes or boots, so carry a pair of water shoes or sandals for water crossings, then do everything in your power to keep your other footwear dry. Rubber boots are great, until you step in too deep and the water comes pouring in.

When it comes to clothing, wool is almost always your friend -- but in a humid jungle, you'll be better off wearing synthetics or synthetic blends that will dry quickly. Check out the ExOfficio TriFlex Hybrid shirt -- it's now my absolute favorite for tropical climates.

Bring water. Water may be plentiful in the jungle, but never drink anything that hasn't been filtered or, ideally, purified as well. Staying hydrated is the key to staying healthy and strong, so always keep an emergency stash of clean water with you -- no matter how plentiful it may be in your surroundings.

Never explore alone. I understand the lure to hike alone, and sometimes I do exactly that. But if there's ever any place you shouldn't go alone, it's the jungle. The combination of venomous creatures, dangerous terrain -- and sometimes questionable people, too -- makes it all too easy for one person alone to vanish forever.

File a trip plan. Whether you're alone or not, always tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back. Here's how to file a trip plan that can save your life. Keep in mind that high humidity can you hike slower than you expect -- once you've done a few hikes, you'll have a good feel for how fast you can really travel.

Remember your essentials. You should carry the ten essentials anywhere you hike, but some items take on new importance in the jungle: Start with insect repellent, tweezers, a waterproof headlamp and spare batteries, and basic first-aid supplies to help keep infection from setting in.

Snakes aren't the only things to watch out for. Yeah, those monkeys might look cute -- but while one is distracting you with its antics, another will sneak behind your back and steal your food (or anything else that looks interesting). And that herd of pig-like critters? They're peccaries, and they're one of the most dangerous animals in the tropics.

Shake your shoes out. Just as you'd do in the desert, keep your shoes or boots in the tent with you and always shake them out before you put them on. In a similar vein, be careful about where you put your pack, jacket or any other gear -- and be even more careful when you pick them up, just in case any creepy crawlies have taken up residence in or beneath them.

There are people in that jungle. Because of their wild remoteness and relative impenetrability, jungles are also home to a variety of homo sapiens. Depending on where you are, you'll find everyone from fierce conservationists and fellow backpackers to narcos (drug traffickers), rebel fighters, poachers, miners and others exploiting the rich wealth of natural resources. Learn about the political and social climate of your destination before you go.

A Guide Can Show You the Way

No matter how experienced you are, I highly recommend hiring a guide the first time you venture into the jungle. Yes, it's partly so that he can give you a hands-on tutorial on how to avoid common hazards -- but it's also so that he can point out all the animals and interesting plants you might otherwise walk past, blissfully unaware.