The Holbrook Explorer
Where we travel
Photo of the Month: December 2021
This photo was taken from the rooftop of a home in Viñales, Cuba, showing a back street and how most locals get around. The home (below) is owned by a local artist, and we were lucky enough to have lunch with him. Cuban people are some of the most friendly and gracious we've ever encountered in our...
Photo of the Month: November 2021
My trip to Alaska with the Texas Association of Biology Teachers was brilliant! I believe people say “everything is bigger in Texas,” but I think Alaska gave them a run for their money. We had such an amazing and diverse travel group filled with teachers not only from Texas, but different parts of...
Photo of the Month: October 2021
Peru had been on my bucket list for a while, so I was thrilled to explore this country with a group of like-minded travelers. Although the Sacred Valley was certainly high on my list of “must-sees,” I was equally enthusiastic about time in the Peruvian Amazon basin. I had read about the amazing...
Photo of the Month: September 2021
Imagine the Grand Canyon draped in subtropical vegetation. Our Hiking & Natural History tour of Southern Africa featured Blyde River Canyon as we traveled the Panorama Route from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park. Our local guide escorted us, off the beaten path, to greet the morning light...
Photo of the Month: August 2021
Madagascar is one of the most amazing places on earth and a nature photographer's dream. The island split off from Africa over 135 million years and from India 88 million years ago, which has resulted in totally unique species of wildlife not found anywhere else on the planet. Our local guide,...
Trolls, Ponies, & Fermented Shark: Iceland's Weird Side
It's true that the Land of Fire and Ice gets its nickname from being covered in thick sheets of ice and its volatile volcanoes, but thanks to all the strangeness this country has to offer, Iceland could also be described in a number of different ways. 1. The Land of Magic and Wonder Europe's most...
Photo of the Month: July 2021
The Galápagos Islands have so many superlatives as a travel destination it is a hard pick when we ask our travelers, “What was your favorite experience?” Diving with the Galápagos Penguins, who really look like a miniature torpedoes, but much faster; walking among the flightless cormorants;...
Photo of the Month: June 2021
Costa Rica is a kaleidoscope of colorful and unique wildlife. Be it the scenery, numerous species of birds, mammals, reptiles or insects, everyone can find something awe-inspiring on a trip to this wonderful destination. Our daughter was only eight years old on our trip and was constantly...
Photo of the Month: May 2021
Brazilian tapirs are rarely seen in the open. They keep to the deep foliage for protection against jaguars. The best time to see them is when they are at a river's edge or even when they are swimming! This huge male was signalling that he was there to defend his territory. Taken in Brazil on the...
Fascinating Facts about the Andes Mountains
Stretching 4,300 miles down the western edge of South America, the Andes Mountains are the world’s longest continuous mountain chain, anchoring the continent like a backbone and spanning seven countries, from Venezuela down to the southernmost tip of Chile and Argentina. CAPITAL RECORDS: All three...
Photo of the Month: April 2021
The Bengal tiger is the preeminent apex predator in India’s forests. Because all other animals are its prey, they’ve formed a loose communication network to signal when a tiger is on the move. Langur monkeys are the principal lookouts and usually the first and loudest to alarm, followed by spotted...
Photo of the Month: March 2021
On our fifth day in Patagonia, we stopped for lunch at an almost unbelievably quaint hotel with stunning mountain views. After the meal, we relaxed on an adjacent grassy lawn, listening to the wind, the waves lapping on the shores of a black sand beach, and distant birdsong. As we meditated, eyes...