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Adventure Travel Blog

wildlife

Jaguars and Thunderstorms on the Tambopata River

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There was no choice but to wait the storm out. Night came quick on the Tambopata River, aided by the dark grey clouds producing the torrential rains pouring down on us. Branches, logs, and entire trees could be seen floating atop the water's surface, the result of flooding and erosion further upstream. Flashes of lightning illuminated the world around us, a foreign world … [Read more...] about Jaguars and Thunderstorms on the Tambopata River

The Love Lives of Blue Footed Boobies

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Blue Footed Boobies are an icon of the Galapagos Islands, and during an afternoon on Espanola Island, we began to learn more about these unique birds. What's With the Funny Name? The name is derived from the Spanish word "bobo" which means stupid. Aside from their colorful, webbed feet used for swimming and keeping eggs warm, they simply look silly in general. Because … [Read more...] about The Love Lives of Blue Footed Boobies

How to Book a Last Minute Cruise to the Galapagos Islands

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Here's a dirty little travel secret: you can show up at almost any popular tourist activity in the world and save serious cash by booking your trip at the last minute. Whether it's hiring a Nepali guide and porter for a trek to Everest Base Camp or going on safari in Africa, rare will be the occasion you can't get started within a few days of arrival. To exemplify this … [Read more...] about How to Book a Last Minute Cruise to the Galapagos Islands

Tracking the Elusive Chimpanzees of Nyungwe

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A few years ago, during my visit to the temples of Tikal in eastern Guatemala, a Brit with whom I was sharing a room convinced me to wake up before daybreak to catch the sunrise from atop Temple IV.  Earlier that day, it had been cloudy, and there was no reason to believe the sky would clear up on account of us. Despite my preference for sleep, I woke up around four in the … [Read more...] about Tracking the Elusive Chimpanzees of Nyungwe