2O2O
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Celebrating our 45th year!
UPHOLDING AND EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY
Dear friends, As the year comes to a close, we reflect not only on the past 12 months, but also on a larger milestone: it is with great pride and gratitude to you, our extended community, that we celebrate our 45th year in operation. I know I echo each and every person at Holbrook when I express how satisfying it is to help create meaningful, memorable experiences for our travelers. In our view, each photo in this calendar represents just such a moment: watching a gray whale come up for breath (March), witnessing millions of monarch butterflies fill the sky (October), or getting sprayed by the surf as a hatchling sea turtle enters the ocean for the first time (cover). Experiencing the world in all its diversity is a tremendous gift; at the same time, we stand at a crossroads knowing we must respond to climate change, with everything that this implies. We are only beginning to understand the massive changes required from us as a global society, encompassing everything from how we eat, to how we use energy, and yes, even how we travel. And yet, the answer is not to stay home—or at least, not always. Instead, we must travel responsibly whenever possible, by offsetting our carbon emissions, going off the beaten path or traveling off-season to mitigate overtourism, and making travel choices that protect critical habitats and benefit local communities.
"MARCH MADNESS" COMPANY GATHERING
Throughout the year, Holbrook's staff regularly heads out into the field. Group leader conferences are a vital opportunity to connect with our field partners, both personally and professionally. Members of Holbrook's operations and development teams attend as well, fostering a strong bond between coworkers, in-country partners, and destinations.
In March, the whole Holbrook staff – from California to Costa Rica – came together to reflect on the past, look to the future, and even float down a river! The three-day event featured workshops, guest speakers, and collaborative breakout sessions. The company's founder, Mrs. Giovanna Holbrook, was the guest of honor at the culminating event, a catered dinner on our back deck. The next morning, we all gathered for a relaxing float down the Ichetucknee River. The entire occasion was a wonderful opportunity for long-time coworkers to reminisce and tell stories, and for all to share in the strong community uniting our staff.
PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELD
We strive to meet these challenges headon. For this reason, I am very glad to be a board member of CREST, the Center for Responsible Travel. Through research, publications, and projects, CREST is a resource to the travel industry and to destinations regarding how to confront challenges like overtourism, biodiversity loss, and income inequality in the tourism economy. I recently received an email from CREST’s new executive director, Greg Miller. Greg was a Galápagos guide in the late 1970s, and he recalled guiding Holbrook groups led by our founder and my mother, Giovanna Holbrook, back in the day. He even shared this photo (see bottom right) to prove it! It was a full-circle moment that put a huge smile on my face. On behalf of everyone here at Holbrook, thank you for helping us reach this milestone of 45 years! It is an honor and privilege that we so enjoy. We are eternally thankful to our community of travelers, as well as our partners overseas who make the magic happen. We wish you and your loved ones the very best for 2020 and beyond.
FLORIDA MUSEUM RAINFOREST FAMILY CAMP In June, the Florida Museum of Natural History and Holbrook Travel partnered for the second annual Costa Rica family camp held at Selva Verde Lodge and Reserve. The event brought together family and friends of both organizations for a week of learning and discovery in the rainforest! Enriching activities included meeting with local school children, participating in a reforestation project, embarking on rainforest hikes and boat rides, conducting science experiments, and sampling local pineapple and chocolate at agricultural demonstrations. We hope to continue growing our "camp family" for next summer's adventure!
GLOBAL STUDIES WORKSHOP
July brought educators to Selva Verde Lodge for a conference on global studies, where participants could share best practices and collaborate on common topics − all while enjoying the nature and adventure of the rainforest. The professional development program combined field learning with workshop topics, plus fun activities like whitewater rafting and a cooking class. In addition to the Global Studies Workshop for educators, Holbrook Travel regularly holds international programs for professionals. Professional development opportunities that foster hands-on learning in a fun environment make for a magical experience.
With every good wish,
ANDREA HOLBROOK
P.S. Being music lovers here at Holbrook, we had some fun creating a short playlist to accompany this year’s calendar. Visit holbrook.travel/ht2020cal and see if you agree with our choices to accompany each image.
As Holbrook's 45th year comes to a close, we reflect on the paths that brought us here, and look to the journey ahead. September marked Andrea Holbrook's second year serving on the Board of Directors for the Center for Responsible Travel, a partnership affirming Holbrook's values of sustainable and ethical tourism. In a full-circle moment, CREST Executive Director Greg Miller shared an old snapshot from his time as a Galápagos guide - with a familiar face alongside him. Greg writes, “I finally found the photo of [Giovanna Holbrook] and me in Galápagos taken sometime in early 1979 on Punta Suárez, Hood Island. This is when I was working as a young naturalist for Metropolitan Touring.”
LOOKING BACK TO EARLY BEGINNINGS
ABOUT THE IMAGE 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 turns making images as it moved from plant to plant, and I got lucky when it landed on this beautiful fern to sun itself in light that made its colors come alive. With bodies about two inches long and weighing barely more than a penny, White-bellied Woodstars (Chaetocercus mulsant) are among the smallest hummingbirds in Ecuador. They are slow, methodical feeders, often pausing while they seem to contemplate the flower they are about feed from. We'd been photographing birds at and near the feeders at Guango Lodge for most of a rainy day, when I decided try for some woodstar images at nearby flowers. This is surprisingly difficult to do, as there are always beautiful birds coming to the feeders, whereas flowers only get a visit every 20 minutes or so. So, staying focused on a flower for 20 minutes, while your companions are ooh-ing and aah-ing over birds at the feeders is a major test of willpower. This male woodstar worked his way towards the flowers I had focused on and proceeded to methodically visit each one along the stem. The wait paid off!
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JOHN WINNIE, JR. Ecuador | Birding and Photography
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ABOUT THE IMAGE 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 shots against the blue sky, and cheetahs with temporarily stained faces after a successful hunt on the vast grass plains. Everyone agreed, if we went home right then the trip would be worth every penny − and we had not yet reached our lodge. Remarkably the trip got better every day with three Mara River crossings in one day, including a crocodile vs. wildebeest encounter where the gnu got away... applauded by an audience of cheering onlookers! As long time professors, with teaching in our veins, it is very rewarding to help our “safari students” set their camera equipment and coach them so they can bring home extraordinary photos. Complementing the photo preparations, our local Holbrook guides strategically maneuvered us into the right angle for superior images. This wildlife wonderland never disappoints. Bang for your buck, this is “The Greatest Show on Earth” − not under the big top but under the great blue Tanzanian sky.
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ANN & ROB SIMPSON Tanzania | Safari Wildlife and Photography
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ABOUT THE IMAGE My husband & I were on an adventure of a lifetime with Marin Nature Adventures (sharon@marinnature. com) 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.
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LINDA V. LA BARGE Mexico | Marin Nature Adventures
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ABOUT THE IMAGE 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 the volcano, but I was also expecting to see some wildlife. I was not disappointed. The volcano was still visible through the early morning clouds. I also was witness to some howler monkeys in the trees nearby, which I heard before but until now had not photographed. It started to drizzle a bit, when I noticed this green Anole lizard in a tree next to the porch. It was motionless most of the time but occasionally it would stick out its tongue to catch rain drops or lap water from the leaves. Just beautiful. Near La Fortuna we stopped at Arenal Vida Campesina for lunch and a tour of the farm. Their purpose is to educate people on traditional Costa Rican ways of farming, local crops, and food preparation. After a demonstration on tortilla making, we had a wonderful lunch of home grown foods, great coffee, and a tour of the farm. The tour was interactive and quite informative about Costa Rican plants and farming. Our guide Andres kept us entertained. RUDY GARNS Costa Rica | Birding and Wildlife
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ABOUT THE IMAGE The Inca Trail is a bucket list item. When one gets the opportunity to go, you go. We each carry with us our histories, excitement, and nervousness about the days to come. Trekking four days in the footsteps of ancient people, experiencing the soul and emotional cleansing that the Inca experienced is an indescribable adventure. This photo (above) was captured approaching the end of the most challenging Day 2. We had suffered together and cleansed together. Our reward was the exhilarating natural beauty and camaraderie. This picture (below) was taken at the beginning of our Incan Trail adventure leading us to Machu Picchu. Many of us had butterflies in our stomachs, and we were excited to start our multi-day trek. We had no idea how amazing the experience would actually be and words cannot explain the beauty, rigor, serenity, and sense of accomplishment each of us felt during this amazing trip. LORRI & DAVE FECHTMAN Peru | Inca Trail with Climb for Cancer
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ABOUT THE IMAGE Nothing more exciting than watching the nuptial flight of the red-billed tropic bird. These birds put an amazing show as they fly in tight formation along the cliffs of Darwin Bay in Genovesa Island. On this day two males were courting a female in a synchronized flight reminiscent of an airshow delta formation. I had been watching for a while, but then I couldn’t let the chance go and I pressed the shutter. These are the moments I cherish the most, watching nature do its thing. Perhaps one of my favorite places in the Galápagos is Punta Espinosa in Fernandina Island. There are no words to describe the sun going down into the Pacific Ocean from this magnificent place. With the light low in the horizon I could not ignore the beautiful colony of lava cactus glowing against the lava rock. Sometimes ignored by many, this unique cacti are among the oldest inhabitants of the Galápagos Islands and the only species of the genus Brachycereus.
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REINIER MUNGUÍA Galápagos Islands | Wildstock Photography
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ABOUT THE IMAGE My trip to Tanzania was nothing short of breathtaking. There is nothing like the excitement of seeing all the wildlife that the Serengeti has to offer. Staying in gorgeous lodges in parks and surrounding areas, the smell of the campfire as Maasai Warriors escort you to your tents at camp after another exciting day, the view of the stars that fill and endless sky, and hearing the sounds of the night all reminding you that you are “one� with this beautiful place. Each day that the sun begins to peek over the horizon starts the thrill of the daily safaris to see the show of a lifetime, close enough to admire every detail of beautiful creatures big and small. As our land cruiser sat among a large group of exploring and playful baboons, this baby looked directly at my lens allowing me to capture his curiosity. The stripes mesmerize as a field of affectionate zebras huddle together. Truly amazing to see the unity of these social animals as they constantly protect and love one another. Many thanks to Holbrook for an adventure I will never forget, and to the wonderful guides and smiling hosts that welcomed us to their beautiful home.
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ABOUT THE IMAGE On a trip to the Pantanal the highlight is, obviously, jaguars. Being a classic rarity, they aren't always around so other photo subjects need to be found. Consider the amazing diversity of Brazil's bird life as a "photographic safety net!" Some of my favorites are the three species of macaws that we can see on the trip. Here is a Blue and Yellow macaw coming in for a landing. There were several flying around the grounds of our lodge. It seemed like they flew to different areas at different times of the day for, fruits, water, shade, roosting...Predicting flight behaviors gave us some spectacular flight shots of these colorful birds. Repetitive behaviors can allow you to get to the right place for a shot. Understanding where to be eliminates the "Oh, I just missed that moment," or, "I just got a miracle shot!"
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TODD GUSTAFSON To the Ends of the Earth
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ABOUT THE IMAGE I was imprinted with travel by living abroad at an early age. Foreign adventures have shaped my life and my Cuba trip this past June was a defining experience. I saw in this moment a chance to capture a time of looming change in a country familiar with economic hardship. Just a week earlier this same street was bustling with activity, a short distance from the Havana cruise port now abruptly shut down from the U.S. travel ban. What was this bicyclist discussing? Impending hard times with a business colleague or foreign relative? I was struck by the pattern of the building façade that framed my subject. I thought of my photography mentor, Diz, who extoled balance in composition and mixing textures and shapes. Cuba was eye opening and eye stimulating. And it is still accessible under licenses to support the Cuban people. Don’t hesitate, go.
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CHRIS BENSLEY VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING HOLBROOK TRAVEL
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ABOUT THE IMAGE Visiting the over wintering habitat of the monarch butterfly has always been a top priority on my bucket list. After a few years of trying to arrange my travel time to include this trip of a lifetime I found myself on horseback trudging up a mountain in the Sierra Madre. As the sun warmed the mountain air I began to see a few butterflies flitting from bush to bush, flower to flower doing what butterflies do. The closer we came to the Sierra Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary the more numerous the butterflies became. I can’t express what a humbling experience it was to have thousands upon thousands of butterflies swirling around me and how privileged I felt to witness this great natural event. I marveled at the thought of these beautiful and fragile creatures making a four generation annual migration from Mexico to as far north as Canada and back again. If ever you crave a 'one with nature' moment that will make your heart soar, tag along with Holbrook and visit these small miracles in the Sierra Madre Mountains. HILDA MAIER
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Mexico | Mystical Migration of the Monarch
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ABOUT THE IMAGE Our journey to Chile to see the 2019 total solar eclipse started in La Paz, Bolivia, and took us through an amazing landscape. Perhaps the most otherworldly place was the Uyuni Salt Flats, in the high (and I do mean high!) desert along the eastern border of the Andes. The plain of salt stretches for miles and miles in all directions — about the size of the country of Belgium, our guides told us. This picture was made when we stopped for a picnic lunch somewhere in the middle of the flats. While our drivers prepared the meal and set the table (tablecloth and everything), we all got a chance to wander around this remarkable place. That night we stayed in a hotel literally constructed from salt blocks, and in the coming days we continued our trip over the Andes and into Chile. We saw the eclipse from the middle of an old stone corral in a tiny desert town that was swarming with people for the event. I was lucky enough to capture the “diamond ring” effect at the moment that the sun appeared from behind the moon: the end of totality. DILLARD BOLAND
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Bolivia & Chile | Solar Eclipse 2019
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Image by Todd Gustafson
ABOUT THE IMAGE They waddled, they strutted, they flung dirt in the air, they were adorably cute, and, as one person said, some were quite cheeky. This is one of those special bucket list naturalist activities: to walk with the penguins. This Magellanic Penguin colony has about 65,000 breeding pairs, and although they have a rope to provide a safe zone for the Penguins, it is no barrier to the birds. They frequently travel the path with you and seem quite curious about human movements, mimicking our head movements in a truly endearing way. The photographic opportunities are extremely varied – breeding, social interactions, swimming, digging burrows, feeding babies, close-ups of the head and feathers. Taking videos is great too; the penguins' territorial braying calls are a noise you will remember forever. There are nesting neighbors like Kelp Gulls, South American Terns, and Chilean Skuas that add more raucous calls to the chorus. This Patagonia trip is filled with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world plus amazing animals and plants, but the penguins rank right up there as a very special highlight.
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ANN & ROB SIMPSON Patagonia | Safari Wildlife and Photography
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JANUARY | ECUADOR
FEBRUARY | TANZANIA
MARCH | MEXICO
APRIL | COSTA RICA
MAY | PERU
JUNE | GALĂ PAGOS
JULY | TANZANIA
AUGUST | BRAZIL
SEPTEMBER | CUBA
OCTOBER | MEXICO
NOVEMBER | BOLIVIA
DECEMBER | PATAGONIA
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE Photography is about storytelling, so when Costa Rica's green sea turtles hatch and began their scramble to the ocean, the challenge becomes how best to capture that story in a single image. I feel like the defining moment is just as they enter the ocean for the first time. After years of trying to get the right angle, with limited success, I invented a "Turtle Cam." It's a clamp and rod system that holds a camera two inches off the sand, at eye level with the baby turtles. As they make their way across the sand, I am able to walk with them to the wave line and catch the very moment when they enter their new world. My creative compositions multiplied and my storytelling image rate improved dramatically. I also learned it's vital to pull up the camera just before it gets inundated by the waves...
COVER | COSTA RICA
TODD GUSTAFSON / To the Ends of the Earth
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