The Holbrook Explorer
Where we travel
Staff Picks: Our Experts Share Their Favorite Trips
From the rainforests of Costa Rica to the plains of Tanzania, we’re reminiscing about our favorite places to travel and dreaming about the day we can return. Our travel specialists share just a few of the itineraries they love and what makes each one so special. Costa Rica | Experiential Learning...
Recipes to Try from Around the World
For a taste of our favorite destinations, we’ve gathered recipes from around the world that you can easily try at home. Gallo pinto by Legendre17 - Own work, CC BY 3.0 Costa Rica: Gallo pinto Anyone who’s spent more than a day in Costa Rica has likely tried gallo pinto, the country’s national dish...
Ten Nifty Words With No English Equivalent
If you've ever tried to describe something and found yourself at a loss for words, this is the list for you. Although these eloquent words from around the world don't exist in English, we all know what they mean. 1. Iktsuarpok (Inuit) Remember the feeling of anticipation you felt as a child...
Guest post: Reflections on Monarch Conservation and Mexico
After returning from her trip to Mexico with the Florida Museum of Natural History in February, butterfly conservationist Julia Miller shared her reflections on the experience, and ways to continue advancing conservation efforts for migrating Monarchs. Read her guest blog post below, and make sure...
#HolbrookTravelStories - Tales from the Field
As we pass through a time of global pandemic when we're unable to travel, we find ourselves seeking to share favorite travel memories among our community, to keep us connected with happy memories and the anticipation for a joyful return to traveling again. Here, we compile just a few of our staff's...
Photo of the Month: April 2020
We were staying at a wonderful resort near Arenal. I got up before dawn one morning and sat on the porch of my cabin with a cup of coffee and my camera. I was hoping, of course, to catch a glimpse of the volcano, but I was also expecting to see some wildlife. I was not disappointed. The volcano was...
Photo of the Month: March 2020
My husband and I were on an adventure of a lifetime with Marin Nature Adventures in Baja California. We were in the Pacific Ocean at the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve near Guerrero Negro, Mexico, when this gray whale popped up on the side of the boat, and stayed, showing off his beautiful baleen...
Photo of the Month: February 2020
Long flights and dusty roads were quickly forgotten as we entered Serengeti National Park. While traveling to our lodge we saw an endangered rhino, regal lions, ponderous elephants, “necking” giraffes, a mother leopard frolicking with her baby posing up on the top of the rock kopi for dramatic...
Trip preview: Costa Rican Whales and Dolphins
Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast is known for its rich biodiversity both above and below the ocean surface. Guest contributor and trip leader and Alicia Amerson—marine biologist, PMP-certified project manager, and wildlife conservation storyteller—shares a preview of her upcoming trip, Whale...
Photo of the Month: January 2020
Our group was out birding in the Mindo area, when we spotted this Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) flitting about the vegetation alongside the trail. Its iridescent blues and greens rivaled many of the birds we'd been seeing and photographing, and we all scrambled for our macro lenses. We took...
Holbrook's 2020 Calendar
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, 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 everyone who...
Photo of the Month: December 2019
Would Costa Rica be the same after twenty years? I saw similar fauna and flora on both Holbrook trips (1997 Elderhostel Naturalist Study; 2017 Road Scholar Photography), but in different locations. Instead of hiking jungle trails in 1997 to spot birds and animals, abundant wildlife in 2017 were in...