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My Planet Blog
My Planet Blog is your gateway for the latest Wild Planet Adventures news, e-specials, videos, stories from the field and traveler reviews. Scroll down to read all previous posts.
Transform your kids' lives through travel
May 16, 2013
 As a kid growing up in New York, my parent’s commitment to
traveling with me and my sister transformed our lives. It exposed me to new
perspectives, and gave me respite from the small and sometimes cruel social
world of high school. The farther I went
away from home, the more it challenged me to see myself differently than the
kids at school did. I saw people who had none of the material possessions we did,
but were bursting with joy. I met local
people whose values seemed inconceivable to me yet allowed them to live a rich,
fulfilled life. As I grew older, the
seed that had been planted blossomed into a full-blown desire to make the most
of my own life. Each destination taught me something different. In Costa Rica I saw that life could be as fun
as Disneyland and I could have a career doing something I loved. In Asia I felt the impact of Buddhism in the
peace and joy that permeates the people.
Africa taught me humility and gratitude.
In 2005, I was fortunate to return the favor to my parents. In their early 70’s at the time, I took them on their first adventure travel trip to Costa Rica. My mother had a fear of water, and hadn’t been in the ocean since she was a child. I got to hold her hands in the 85 degree water as she bounced up and down with the gentle waves, at first shaking in fear, then relaxing and laughing as a child. It is one of the most profound memories I have of her. As the President of Wild Planet Adventures, everyday I hear from parents who want to give their kids a summer vacation that is more than just a fun time full of jet-skis and beaches. They want to expand their kid’s perspective on life’s possibilities, feed their passions for nature and animals, and impact their life choices by exposing them to sustainable, responsible ways of being. The great thing about travel is that it can accomplish all of this without compromising fun, excitement and a relaxing time for Mom and Dad as well. What about your family? If you have a story about traveling internationally, exhilarating wildlife encounters or a life-changing moment for you and your kids on vacation, please share with us on our Facebook page.
-- Posted by Josh Cohen, Director, Wild Planet Adventures
Top 7 Trips for Animal--Crazy Families
May 14, 2013
If you have animal-crazy kids, there comes a point where watching re-runs of Animal Planet and endless visits to the zoo to see the baby marmosets AGAIN will no longer appease them. Its time to take them to see the real thing! We’ve selected our Top 7 Trips for Animal-Crazy Families based on careful criteria: activities that are kid-friendly but not commercial, a diversity of experiences that appeal to kids sensibilities and attention spans, and 23 years of feedback from families.
SUMMER FAMILY TRIPS
Visit the world-famous sloth sanctuary where the cuteness factor is off-the-charts, enjoy hands-on interaction with animals at a wildlife rescue center, meet biologists studying the rainforest at La Selva Biological Preserve, plus visit Costa Rica’s extraordinary national parks, enjoy moderate whitewater river rafting, flat-water wildlife float-trips, cloudforest canopy tours, volcanoes, hot-springs, beaches, night hikes for nocturnal animals, sea-kayaking with dolphins, and snorkeling at night in the bioluminescence. With flexibly designed activities that cater to all levels, 100% safety record over 23 years, and 10% of the world’s biodiversity, there is no better family wildlife experience than our award-winning Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife Eco-Tour, named one of the world’s "Top 10 Must-Do Trips” by FODORS.
Nowhere else in the world can you get as up-close and personal with animals than in the Galapagos. Our three 20-passenger yachts have special family departures, kayaks on board, and 2 naturalist guides per nature cruise who specialize in families. The diverse itinerary of our Galapagos Ultimate Wildlife Cruise includes walking amongst colonies of sea-lions, tracking giant tortoises, witnessing the mating and courtship rituals of the sea-birds, and snorkeling amongst penguins and other marine wildlife. Great for families who love the ocean!
With 200 species of mammals including 13 species of primates, Manu Biosphere Reserve is the #1 most biodiverse park in the world. This area of the Peruvian Amazon is also home to Tambopata Reserve, where you can see nearly 1,000 macaws and parrots turn the sky full of color and sound at a clay lick – truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle of nature. Our family-friendly activities include our exciting “Jaguar Kayak Float ” and special expeditions to see the world’s smallest – and cutest – primate, the pygmy marmoset – both Wild Planet exclusives! Plus rainforest wildlife viewing, oxbow lakes, meeting an authentic shaman and learning about the medicinal value of rainforest plants. Add a cultural segment to visit Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the enigma of the Nazca Lines, or the world’s deepest canyon, and you’ve got a dream trip suitable for families of all ages and skill levels.
FOR ADVENTUROUS FAMILIES
Take your family to visit the world’s fastest disappearing rainforest before its gone, and one of the world’s most breathtaking and endangered barrier reefs. Family friendly activities include visits to an Orang-Utan sanctuary to see the most human of the great apes, plus electric riverboat cruises to see pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys with their huge noses. A highlight of the Borneo Weird & Wonderful Wildlife EcoTour is Wild Planet’s special expeditions to see Borneo’s unique flying and gliding mammals, and night excursions to see tarsiers and slow loris, two of the world’s smallest and cutest primates.
With an astounding array of family-friendly adventure activities that exceeds even Costa Rica, Brazil is the new up-and-coming destination for family wildlife travel. Our Jaguar Safari in the Pantanal averages 1.5 jaguar sightings per day viewed from the safety of a riverboat. Options to view wildlife by horseback, foot, boat or jeep meet every family’s needs. See the purple hyacinth macaws, playful giant otters, giant anteaters and silvery marmosets. Then witness the transition from the world’s largest wetlands to the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest. Our exclusive Amazon primate program – designed by a primatologist – includes educational slide and video presentations each evening, with excursions each day in the Amazon. Plus options to see the spectacle of Iguassu Falls, Rio and more!
WINTER BREAK FAMILY TRIPS
Our #2 overall destination for families and No. #1 destination for women travelers, Thailand is the “Costa Rica” of Asia in many ways. Wildlife safaris by jeep, foot, long-tail boat, and kayak in the national parks combine with mindful cultural experiences and end with snorkeling and relaxing on Thailand’s incredible islands. The Buddhist culture oozes joy and openheartedness, and the extravagance of Thai food, Thai massage, and the Asian aesthetic combine to create a richly joyous experience. And did we mention feeding and playing with elephants and cuddling baby tiger cubs?
India will ignite your family’s passion to make a difference in the world. It will instill a genuine sense of gratitude and appreciation for your life, for the opportunities you have, and for the things you take for granted. It is ideal for families with teens and adult children who want a meaningful and potentially transformational experience. Our wildlife expertise shines at India's top national parks, wildlife reserves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites where you can thrill to the sight of wild leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, tigers and more. You’ll feel transported back to a romantic era of turbaned warriors, valiant princes, and colorful harems as you explore the forts and palaces of Jodhpur and Jaipur, the magnificent Taj Mahal, the remote villages of Rajasthan and the contrasting bustle of modern Delhi.
Why is July so special in Costa Rica?
April 22, 2013  In July, a little-known weather pattern occurs in Costa Rica which offers extraordinary opportunities for wildlife lovers. Early rains throughout May and June cause an eruption of flowering trees and fruits, which attract large numbers of animals. By July the rains taper off in a month-long phenomenon called veranito ("little summer"), leaving cooler temperatures that cause wildlife to be more active and visible. We tend to see more volume of wildlife as well as more rare and endangered species in July than any other time of year. The peak wildlife viewing is only one advantage of traveling to Costa Rica in July: airfares are at their lowest of the year, and a bounty of fruits reach their peak including the succulent mangostein, widely known as the "Queen of Fruits" for its incomparable flavor.
To spread the word amongst wildlife lovers about the veranito phenomenon, Wild Planet Adventures is offering a special "Wildlife Lover's Extravaganza" package for its 14-day Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife Eco-Tour, with five departures in July. Each couple (or two singles, double occupancy) will receive one free day in Corcovado National Park at the extravagant Laguna Vista Villas, a free pair of Denali 8 x 42 waterproof binoculars from Eagle Optics, and a choice of wildlife, bird or mammal field guides.
This 14-day tour offers nearly twice the value of any other tour in Costa Rica, including visits to over eight national parks and wildlife refuges, whitewater rafting, flat-water wildlife float trips, cloudforest canopy tours, volcanoes, hot springs, beaches on both coasts, sea-kayaking with dolphins, snorkeling at night in the bioluminesence, a scarlet macaw migration, world-famous sloth sanctuary and a hands-on wildlife rescue center. It has been named amongst the world's top ten "Must-Do Trips" by Fodors. Want to learn more? Click here.
July Wildlife Lover's Extravaganza Package includes:
This offer is limited to the first twenty couples (or two singles sharing double occupancy) for the following Costa Rica 14-day Ultimate Wildlife departures:
Offer is subject to change without notice. Reservations must be made by May 31, 2013. Not combinable with any other offer. Why is July so special in Costa Rica? July Wildlife Lover’s Extravaganza Package includes:
CNN Video: Our Sloth Bear Rescue Center's Big Success!
CNN Video: Dancing Bears in India April 19, 2013
Its not often we hear positive news in the world of wildlife conservation. Just this week a Chinese ship ran into a reef and was found to contain hundreds of poached pangolins (scaley anteater) a highly endangered species. In Africa, we heard more news of escalation in the war against rhino poaching, with a revised estimate of a tipping point in 2015 leading to total extinction within 10 years.
But there is good
news, too. This week CNN profiled the amazing success of our partners, Wildlife
SOS, in completely eliminating this gypsy tradition in India of “dancing” sloth
bears. When we first began running wildlife safaris in India, it was impossible to travel the roads within 75 km. surrounding the Taj Mahal without encountering a sickening sight; gypsies torturing captured sloth bears through intense pain so they "dance" for the amusement of tourists. For over 300 years, members of the nomadic ‘Kalandar’ gypsy community earned their living through this cruel and barbaric ‘Bear Dancing’
trade -- a form of street entertainment. Even until a few years ago, the Taj
Mahal as well as the road to Fatehpur Sikri witnessed this remnant of a brutal
tradition left behind from the Mughal period. Gypsies would accost tourist cars
& buses with a trained bear in tow and make the bear dance for a few
dollars. In the Mughal period this was a source of entertainment for the Mughal
emperors and their harem. Bears were trained by gypsies using cruel techniques
of piercing their muzzle with a red hot iron needle and made to dance on hot
coals. They spent their lives suffering at the end of a short rope and
performing a “dance of pain”.
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