This female motmot was waiting to access her nest, which was in the earthen wall of the trail at Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, as visitors passed by. Our guide spotted her and we made a few images before we realized that she was waiting to feed her young. We then moved along to clear the...
While on our first game drive in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya searching for elephants, we spotted a troop of giraffes. They were not bothered by our presence, and we enjoyed watching them munch on their acacia dinner. We were struck by their height and amazed by how they still managed to blend...
Nothing in nature is guaranteed. I was prepared to be disappointed. But, suddenly, swirlingly surrounded by the magical magnitude of the massing monarchs, the emotion welled up inside and burst forth with a flood of tears. As the flapping wings of the delicate, determined butterflies caressed and...
Above: I like to add two or three new-to-me places on each of my Holbrook tours. These gems are often small, mom-and-pop family operations that have recently opened, and depending on location, have certain species of birds that show up regularly to their feeders. Some of the star attractions at...
Each year, we ask our travelers to submit their favorite photos from their journeys with us for a chance to be featured in our annual calendar. This year, as always, we had many great submissions, and it was a challenge to narrow it down. We're excited to share the finished result! Thank you to...
To celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, we joined Holbrook and the Tropical Audubon Society on their August 2022 Costa Rica Birding Trip. It was full of wonder and beauty. Our trip’s success owes a lot to the excellence of our guide, Gilberth “Chito” Molina. He brought a great deal of local...
"All I remember was being breathless. It was so magical,” recalls Pelin Karaca, Holbrook’s Vice President of Product Development, about her first encounter with the mountain gorillas. “I was together with a group of eight of us. All of a sudden, I hear this rustle from the trees and bushes around...
Cordova, Alaska was full of adventure for three generations exploring Alaska for the first time. We hiked under massive Douglas fir and heard Bald Eagles, Pacific Wrens and Varied Thrush calling through the misty forest. The views show the picture-perfect mountains in the Chugach Wilderness, and...
I traveled to Madagascar in May of 2022 with Holbrook, and our group was led by the great photographer and filmmaker Todd Gustafson. Early in our trip, we traveled to Morondava on the West Coast of Madagascar and then traveled by four-wheel-drive vehicle to the famous Avenue of the Baobabs. These...
Rare, unique and extraordinary are words that you will use repeatedly during a visit to the Galápagos Islands. With every hike, panga ride or swim, you will observe amazing wildlife in spectacular habitats. Upon first encountering the tortoises on San Cristóbal Island, Charles Darwin referred to...
The beach photo is from Water Cay. We took a 40-minute boat ride from Utila to this small cay and spent the day snorkeling, fishing and hanging out. No one lives on the island so we had the entire island to ourselves. During the snorkel tour around the entire cay we saw yellow-spotted rays,...
Night hikes on the grounds of the Selva Verde Lodge reveal a variety of interesting insects seen and photographed with bright headlamps. This harvestmen (above) is an arachnid and a close relative of spiders. These species of Opiliones are very diverse and abundant in the tropics. They are harmless...