A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT Year in Review | Celebrating 50 Years of Adventures!
Dear Friends,
It seems only a short while ago that I wrote the letter for our 2024 calendar introducing our 50th anniversary. It’s hard to believe that I’m now writing to share news about how that year went and to welcome 2025. Our anniversary was celebrated in true Holbrook style—through adventures and by coming together.
This year, Holbrook staff led trips to Cuba, Brazil, Tanzania, and Ecuador with you, our leaders and travelers. We also gathered for a retreat at our headquarters in Gainesville, bringing together staff from Holbrook Travel, Selva Verde Lodge, the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center, and our local office in Costa Rica (Best Adventures Travel). It was very special for all of us to gather in one place to share, learn, and enjoy time together.
We’re excited to continue the celebrations in 2025, as we recognize the 50th anniversary of an organization that we’ve had the honor of serving for over 35 years: Road Scholar. The commitment to quality, integrity, and learning within the Road Scholar organization has always been an inspiration for Holbrook and the many suppliers that work with them through Holbrook. Congratulations to everyone at Road Scholar on this accomplishment!
These milestones remind us that even though our industry and the destinations we visit are constantly
This year, we were thrilled to join Road Scholar in celebrating their chosen “Campus of the Year” for 2024: Costa Rica!
“At Costa Rica’s Selva Verde Lodge, I found myself immersed in a rainforest bursting with wildlife, exotic plants, colorful birds and a river roaring with howler monkeys—a banquet for all of my senses.”
— Lizzie Gerecitano | Senior Specialist, Writer & Editor at Road Scholar
Gainesville Retreat Road Scholar
In April, we celebrated our 50th anniversary by gathering our teams from the U.S., Costa Rica, Panama, and Argentina for a week of fun and inspiring activities in our Gainesville, Florida office.
We participated in team-building exercises, insightful discussions, and even fun-filled moments visiting bat houses, birding, picking blueberries, and watching the partial solar eclipse. We spent a day at Silver Springs State Park and enjoyed a 5-mile paddling adventure, spotting manatees, alligators, and other wildlife along the way.
We also honored the influential people who shaped Holbrook’s mission by planting trees in memory of Giovanna Holbrook, Tom Carr, and Frank Richmond, whose lasting legacies continue to guide our work.
evolving, there are important through lines that endure to the present. Mrs. Holbrook’s vision of creating a true connection between travelers and the communities and environments of our destinations still inspires us every day. We carry on her idea that travel with a purpose is built on each and every relationship within our community of staff and providers, in the same way that it relies totally on our relationship with you, our clients. These are all links in an enormous chain of trust—one in which we are honored to be a part.
If you haven’t already seen it, we invite you to enjoy Holbrook’s 50th anniversary video by scanning the QR code below. In Mrs. Holbrook’s words, we hope you “enjoy it fully.” Like the amazing photographs in this calendar, the footage was submitted by you and our team in the field, and it shows firsthand the magic and adventure of connecting with the world through travel.
Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season and in the year ahead, from all of us at Holbrook Travel!
Anniversary Trips
We commemorated our 50th anniversary year with special trips to four destinations that represent the meaningful bonds we’ve built with the remarkable places we’ve brought travelers to throughout our history—Cuba, Tanzania, Brazil’s Pantanal, and Ecuador and its Galápagos Islands. The unforgettable memories made during these celebratory adventures are hard to convey through our words, so let our staff’s own photos and experiences illustrate them for you!
“So many wonderful adventures in Cuba with old friends and new, from snorkeling the azure waters of the Bay of Pigs and enjoying dinner on a balcony overlooking the mogotes of the stunning Viñales Valley, to learning about the reconstruction of Old Havana from one of the architects and spending time with Pepe and Cecilia Viera to understand the complexities of life in Cuba.”
— Andrea Holbrook
“This was my first-ever trip to Africa, and the wildlife we saw was just amazing. One of my favorite memories is watching a jaguar lounging in a tree at sunset. But the whole experience was made extra special by our guides and the many other people we met throughout the program, who so generously shared their time and knowledge with us.”
— Lindsay Taulbee
“There were so many interesting behaviors to watch at close range. From the eye-level observation tower at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge, we witnessed the iconic Jabiru male filling his giant bill with water and coming back to the nest to cool the female and eggs. The Pantanal of Brazil is one of the very most memorable wildlife experiences of my career!”
— Debbie Jordan
Watch our 50th anniversary video!
Scan or visit holbrook.travel/ht50video
“I absolutely loved the snorkeling in the Galápagos! I couldn’t believe how crystal clear blue and turquoise the water was, and the biodiversity blew me away. There were so many different colorful fish but also urchins and sea stars. A sea lion with a piece of driftwood in its mouth swam towards me quickly while swimming in circles! Another day a green sea turtle swam right by me!”
— Jill Hays
New Horizons
In October, the inaugural Raptor Migration & EcoFest took place in Costa Rica. Thanks to the collaboration of numerous organizations and community members and generous support from the Municipality of Sarapiquí and the Dallas Zoo, the event was a great success!
As we continue to expand our programming in Panama, it was a delight to see the trailblazing students of Centerville High School in the field.
And as always, our team was busy on the road as part of our continuous efforts to nurture our long-standing relationships with our local partners and ensure that our new and long-time guides are up-to-date on our current protocols, preparing to welcome you on future journeys!
Special thanks to Lizzie Gerecitano, Sandy Doss, Jackie Kramer, Lisa Ernest, and our staff for use of their photos.
& Galápagos
ABOUT THE IMAGE
I didn’t know what to expect a cock-ofthe-rock lek to look like. After walking up, down, and around a few hills of the reserve/farm, we arrived at a large, long blind built on the side of a tree-covered hill. Andean Cocks-of-the-rock were calling, not on the ground but in the trees beneath us, obviously there but not visible. Patience was the order of the day as the birds finally came into view between gaps in the leaves and branches. It was a wondrous experience and difficult to leave when the time came to move on.
Ecuador | Birding and Photography with John Winnie Jr.
JANUARY 2025
New Year’s Day
NOTES
DECEMBER 2024
2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Groundhog Day
STEVE ZEHNER
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Our adventure to South America included three countries, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, and nine flights covering some 20,000 miles. After a brief stay in Lima, we visited the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. On a cloudy morning, you’re in a blue and white world. Aside from being unable to tell where the sky ends and the salt flat begins, when the sun is out, it’s intense because you’re at 12,000 feet, then you add the sun’s reflection off the salt, and where there is water, you’ve got that added reflection. At 4,086 square miles (about the size of the Big Island in Hawaii), this salt flat is the world’s largest, and contains 10 billion tons of salt! We were blown away by the vastness of the flat. In the wet season, which is when we were there, you get the mirror effect from a twoinch layer of water on top of the salt.
After visiting the Atacama Desert, our last stop was Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, which is famous for its monolithic carved statues called Moai. There are nearly 1,000 on the island, almost half of which are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry. Seeing them up close and personal was quite surreal. We couldn’t believe we were actually there.
RON AND DIANNE FARB
South American Adventure with the Climb for Cancer Foundation
FEBRUARY 2025
Groundhog Day
NOTES
Presidents’ Day
Valentine’s Day
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Above: This Sanford's brown lemur was spotted on Amber Mountain, located in the northern part of Madagascar. During our vacation, this species was our most commonly seen lemur. This particular lemur seemed content to sit in one place, making our photo taking that much easier. While we enjoyed exploring different areas of Madagascar, Amber Mountain was our favorite location given the biodiversity.
Below: This Amber Mountain chameleon was also found on Amber Mountain. This chameleon has a characteristic “elephant ear” appearance to the back of its head. The Amber Mountain chameleon was first observed in 1989 and first described in 2006. It is only found on and around Amber Mountain National Park. We saw many species of chameleons during our vacation, with most of them found in Amber Mountain.
CORVIN LAZAR (ABOVE) & TIBOR LAZAR (BELOW)
MARCH 2025
NOTES
St. Patrick’s Day
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Above: The Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) is a massive stork with a prehistoric appearance. It has a huge black bill and a featherless black neck with a large red patch at the base. In fact, Jabiru means “swollen neck” in the Tupí-Guaraní language. They forage in shallow water, energetically splashing the bill about to flush all types of aquatic prey, including young caimans, snakes, crabs, frogs, insects, and fish. Habitat conversion and climate change threaten wetlands that are critical to the survival of these storks. Fortunately, the Brazilian Pantanal is a stronghold for Jabirus.
We spotted this Jabiru while slowly cruising secluded backwaters in the Pantanal looking for wildlife. It allowed our small boat to approach closely for a good look. Being avid birders, this was one the highlights of our trip.
Below: Our Holbrook Travel guides were amazingly skilled and diligent searching the thick vegetation along the river banks in their pursuit of jaguars in Brazil’s Pantanal. Often the first indication that a jaguar might be lurking was the subtle movement of tall river grasses. The less experienced might easily dismiss such disturbance as the wind blowing the grass. This jaguar was completely hidden, but the guide told us where to look and to be alert. As a result, the camera was ready when this big cat popped its head up to scan for its favorite prey, caiman.
DEBBIE AND RUSS METLER
Brazil's Pantanal | A Holbrook Travel 50th Anniversary Trip
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Although Galápagos wildlife appear unaffected by human presence, it is always important to maintain a proper distance. The sea lion appears to be very close, but this photo was taken with a long lens and respects all legal and ethical considerations for the approach of wildlife.
GREG TAYLOR
Ecuador & Galápagos with KS Nature
Photography
MAY 2025
NOTES
ABOUT THE IMAGE
The Salta and Jujuy provinces of Argentina are located in the northwest corner and border Chile, Bolivia, and Paraguay. While here, we learned about Pachamama (Mother Earth) and her stunning landscapes. The untouched desert terrain was breathtaking as we stopped along RN40 to climb the viewpoint at Mirador El Ventisquero, which allowed us to see the otherworldly rock formations that went on as far as the eye could see.
The next day we visited the charming village of Purmamarca. I can’t tell you how much I wish I was a better photographer after only half succeeding at capturing the magnificent colors of Cerro de los Siete Colores (The Hill of Seven Colors) that surround the main square craft market featuring local artisans.
JENNIFER BRUCK-MOBLEY
ABOUT THE IMAGE
About the overall size of Washington state, the Pantanal (the world’s largest tropical wetland) is mostly located in Brazil’s Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states. Through my long tenure at Holbrook, I first learned about this magical place and these photogenic jaguars nearly 25 years ago! I’ve always loved wildlife and landscape photography, and last June I got to share this dream with nine amazing travelers on our special 50th Anniversary Holbrook Explorer trip. In addition to 16 sightings of jaguars, numerous Jabiru, giant otters, Brazilian tapirs, and ocelots, we were very lucky to see the odd-looking and beautiful giant anteater from the Transpantaneira Road. Much of the trip was on rivers in small boats, making it easy to capture incredible bird and wildlife images from a vantage point that does not disturb the animals. Unforgettable.
DEBBIE JORDAN
Brazil's Pantanal | A Holbrook Travel 50th Anniversary Trip
JULY 2025
NOTES
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Shining Sunbeam, a large high-elevation hummingbird that shows its rainbow display on its back. I photographed this individual at Yanacocha Reserve, Ecuador during the Hawks Aloft, Inc. trip to Ecuador and Galápagos Archipelago in June 2024.
GAIL GARBER
HAWKS ALOFT, INC.
Ecuador & Galápagos | Nature and Birding with Hawks Aloft
AUGUST 2025
NOTES
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Our first full day in the Galápagos led us to Santiago Island and its barren, Marslike scenery. As we hiked along the lava flow, we came across a nice hole that I dared the kids to get in for a great group shot. This set the tone for an amazing week of fun, learning, and exploration in the islands.
CHARLES TIAN, STUDENT (ABOVE) & DAVID KNIGHT, TEACHER (BELOW & TEXT)
Galápagos Islands with University High School
SEPTEMBER 2025
NOTES
Autumn begins
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Above: Our trip to Rwanda had many special and unique experiences, but a big highlight of the trip was the day we hiked into the Virunga Mountains to see a troop of golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are endangered, and the remaining few thousand individuals live only in the Virungas. Spotting the first few monkeys, we all grabbed our cameras. I think we all took a ton of pictures of them before we realized that there were monkeys all around us—in the trees, in the bushes, on the ground—dozens of them. Several troops have been habituated to people so they mostly ignored our small group of larger primates and went about their business. They ignored us so completely that when I sat on the ground, several passed so close I could have touched them. Of course I resisted that temptation, but it was incredible just to sit in their space and soak it all in. Getting close-up pictures was not a challenge, but my big camera let me capture lots of detail and composition. I love this one because the youngster looks so contemplative.
Below: Our group opted for two days visiting the mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park. This silverback is leader of the Kwisanga group. Both days we had extremely close encounters with the gorillas. Just watching them eat, groom, and play was so fascinating. Several of us were moved to tears at how special the encounters were.
GEOFFREY REEVES
Rwanda with Drs. Dieter and Netzin Steklis
NOTES
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Above: On the way to see baobab trees at sunset on the red dirt roads in the bush of Madagascar, we stopped as the young goat herders crossed directly in front of us, looking like majestic figures in the sunlit, dusty glow. It felt like the scene of a movie, and this photo captured the feeling of that moment perfectly.
Below: Our travels took us all over the country where we saw over 20 species of lemurs. Some adventurous travel, and an hour and a half boat ride, brought us to a beach paradise at Hotel Palmarium Lodge and Reserve in the middle of nowhere. Our guide escorted us around the beautiful grounds of the island where we saw multiple lemur varieties, one of which was the adorable indri lemurs. The wide-eyed indri baby, just a couple weeks old, awoke and peeked out with curiosity from where it was nestled for only a few minutes, hugging tightly to its mother as she leapt from tree to tree, just before falling back to sleep.
TRACEY ROBERTSON
Madagascar | Photography with Ann & Rob Simpson
NOVEMBER 2025
NOTES
ABOUT THE IMAGE
Above: The critically endangered Great Green Macaw ( Ara ambiguus ) is a magnificent species native to the rainforests of Central and South America. These macaws heavily rely on the mountain almond tree for food and nesting, making deforestation a significant threat to their survival. After days of searching for this elusive bird throughout our trip, we finally found a small flock in an almond tree near the Selva Verde Lodge. It was the highlight of our journey—watching these vibrant macaws contentedly snacking on almonds, oblivious to our presence, while we stood in silent awe. The moment filled our hearts with joy and wonder.
Below: This photo captures a howler monkey mother and her baby, taken during a river tour while searching for birds. We spotted various birds from the boat, but as the trip was winding down, a troop of howlers appeared directly above us. They were incredibly curious, observing us just as intently as we were watching them. It was my first close encounter with monkeys in the wild, and the experience felt truly magical.
Costa Rica | Selva Verde Lodge
DECEMBER 2025
NOTES
KARALEAH REICHART BERCAW
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE
These are Honduran white bats. They are in a family called “tent-making bats.” Here you can see how they have clipped the spine of a heliconia leaf so that it collapses and makes a “tent” for them to roost in. Eight to 16 bats typically share a roost. One of the challenges in photographing them is how to light them in the dark underside of the leaf. I don't like using flash, so I have a small LED light panel. It creates a soft, even light that doesn't disturb the bats. They are the cutest little bats I have ever seen. Fun fact: they are not found in Honduras. There are lots of ways I like to photograph this species. A macro lens works well to show details, but here I used a wide angle fisheye lens to show them in their habitat. I just love the green leaf!
TODD GUSTAFSON | Gustafson Photo Safari
JANUARY | ECUADOR
JULY | BRAZIL
| BOLIVIA
| ECUADOR
| MADAGASCAR
| GALÁPAGOS
| BRAZIL
| RWANDA
ARGENTINA
| COSTA RICA
COVER | COSTA RICA