Shift in Marketing Strategy

“Many destinations for many markets,” is what Mexico will be shooting for in the years ahead, Mexico Tourism Board CEO Rudolfo López Negrete announced during the Madrid International Tourism Fair this week. Although the United States remains by far the home of most travelers to Mexico, it now accounts for only 57 percent of the total air arrivals compared to 67 percent recently. South America and Europe are becoming increasingly important. Aim now is to get away from selling Mexico as a sun-and-sea destination, concentrating more on cosmopolitan cities, enchanting small towns and archaeology, among other things. Meetings, conventions and medical tourism also are seen as offering great potential.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

A break for spring breakers

Immigration authorities have agreed to postpone a requirement that travelers under the age of 18 either be accompanied by a parent or carry with them a notarized statement signed by both parents authorizing the trip. The rule was aimed at halting abduction of children as a result of family disagreements.  Objecting, people in the tourism industry protested that the measure would hamper travel abroad organized by high schools as well as the arrival of thousands of spring breakers who fly into Mexican beach resorts during the lull between university semesters during February and March. Most spring breakers, to be sure, are at least 18 years old. Most, but not all. High school students usually are not. Notary fees in Mexico can be high and separated parents may not be willing to meet with former spouses to sign the needed documents.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Promotion for López Negrete

Rodolfo López Negrete now is general director of the National Tourism Promotion Council (known abroad as The Mexican Tourism Board). Under the previous administration, the tourism minister herself held that title. While the appointment has won general approval within the private sector, disappointment has been expressed — according to “Excelsior” columnist Carlos Velázquez — by the replacement of Eduardo Chaíllo by Cecilia Cruz Urquiza, formerly sales director at the Toluca Fiesta Americana. Toluca is the capital of Mexico State where Enrique Peña Nieto served as governor before becoming president. Chaíllo had been with the Tourism Board for many years and is highly regarded in the industry.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Cozumel getting fewer visitors

Travel to Cozumel, Mexico’s original Caribbean destination, has dropped by nearly 50 percent since 2008, according to the newspaper “Reforma.”  Cancun and the Riviera Maya now seem to be getting all the business. Cruise ship arrivals have declined sharply at what still is Mexico’s top cruise ship destination. Unemployment has led to an increase in crime, the newspaper quoting one former merchant of tourist trinkets as saying that drugs are the only thing that sells these days. The increasing crime rate may be another reason that tourists are staying away. Most resorts on the island now are all-inclusive. As a result, many restaurants and night spots have closed their doors.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Suites become members of Relais & Châteaux

The 13 suites at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel have become members of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux organization, it was recently announced.

   Renamed Inkaterra Machu Picchu Suites, the suites now comprise the first and only Relais & Châteaux property at Machu Picchu, and the second Inkaterra property to be accepted into the organization - Inkaterra La Casona became Peru's first Relais & Châteaux property in 2010. 

   “This is an incredible honor,” said Jose Koechlin, CEO/founder and chairman of Inkaterra Hotels.  “We have always understood the importance of providing guests with a luxurious, unforgettable experience, and now with two of our properties being accepted by Relais & Châteaux, we must be doing something right.”

   Relais & Châteaux is a non-profit hotel organization that has set the standard for luxurious hospitality since 1954. The company is comprised of more than 500 of the world’s most exclusive, privately owned and operated hotels, restaurants and chefs in 60 countries. 

   For more information about Inkaterra, visit: www.inkaterra.com. For more information about Relais & Châteaux, visit: www.relaischateaux.com. —Submitted by Inkaterra

Deal of the Week

ROW Adventures is offering a Feb. 16 departure special on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. The offer is a free round-trip flight from Guayaquil, Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands. This is a $450 value per person.  If you ever had the desire to stare a Blue-footed Booby in the eyes, play with sea lions, swim with sea rays and sea turtles, hike with giant land tortoises (or all of the above), now is the time.
ROW Adventures’ Galapagos Unbound trip is a special trip to a special place.
   ROW revolutionized land-based travel in the Galapagos. Its tour provides a holistic view of the entire Galapagos ecosystem including the human element since that is also very much a part of the landscape. The adventure includes sea kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and amazing wildlife viewing. Because ROW travelers stay in small, local hotels, eat most meals at local restaurants, use local transport and services and, buy all of their supplies in the islands, this trip represents the best in responsible, sustainable tourism.
   The Galapagos Islands is one of a few places on earth that allow for such intimate contact with a dazzling array of wildlife. Most tours to the islands are cruise-based and carry between 20 and 100 people. ROW’s journey, the only one of its kind, allows a small 12 to 14 person group to visit sites that are not on the main tourist routes. You leave the crowds of visitors and well-worn paths behind to enjoy the peace of walking, snorkeling and paddling your way through this island paradise.
   To book this limited offer, call (800) 451-6034 or go to info@rowadventures.com.

‘We are competing with the World’: Ruiz Massieu

“We need to offer international travelers a quality product and unique experiences,” said Tourism Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu as she prepared her departure for Spain where she will attend FITUR, an international travel exposition.  She noted that Mexico is competing with the world in its drive to seek more tourists. Tourism is Mexico’s third source of foreign exchange, after oil exports and remittances by Mexicans working abroad. Of the three, tourism — an $11 billion industry — holds the greatest possibility to grow. Last year 23 million foreigners visited Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Xcaret to invest millions in new attractions

Located near Playa del Carmen (about an hour’s drive south of Cancun), Xcaret — Mexico’s largest theme park — will benefit from an investment of $26 million in the months ahead. The base park focuses on archaeology and eco-tourism while an adjoined facility specializes in adventure. The firm also manages facilities at Xel-Ha, a vast natural aquarium. Last year, 2.29 million visitors made use of its facilities, an increase of 13 percent over the year before.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism Law regulations to be announced soon

Although a new federal tourism law was enacted more than two years ago, specific provisions provided for by the statue have yet to be announced. For example, the Tourism Ministry is authorized to establish hotel categories, but just what these will be and how they will be determined has yet to be revealed. Some years ago, the ministry began with a star system, but later allowed hotels themselves to award the number of stars they wanted. In the future, another, more complicated arrangement may be announced, such as designating hotels “boutique,” “resort,” “all-inclusive,” “full-service,” “limited-service” and so on. An announcement is expected within two or three months.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

7% Growth in Tourism from US Forecast

Alex Zozaya heads the recently-formed Apple Leisure Group, which combines Apple Vacations with Zozaya’s AMResorts, fortified by Bain Capital (you may recall that name), which intends to finance the construction of 18 hotels during the next three years. Zozaya, in turn, is predicting that travel from the United States to his native Mexico will increase by 7 percent during that period. Last year, figures indicated stagnation. Until now, Zozaya has concentrated on all-inclusive resorts.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Crime costs hospitality firms $12 billion

According to Pablo Azcárraga, the perception of Mexico as a violent, crime-ridden country since 2009 has cost the tourism industry $12 billion. Tourism began to decline in 2009, although this had been blamed in a severe flu outbreak that year as well as the economic crisis abroad. Azcárraga, president of the National Tourism Business Council, also heads Posadas de México, the country’s largest hotel chain. On Thursday he called a press conference to demand that the government take a more active role in improving the country’s image.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

López Negrete keeps his job

Rodolfo López Negrete will continue as chief operating officer at Mexican Tourism Promotion Council, known abroad as the Mexican Tourism Board. This organization is charged, as the name implies, with promoting tourism at home and abroad. A travel industry veteran, López Negrete  assumed his position in April, 2010 when Gloria Guevarra became tourism minister. It was to be assumed that he would leave when she did when a new federal administration took over Dec. 1. The industry, however, in the past has complained about constant changes, which is why the Tourism Board was created in the first place. Also, López Negrete has many friends in the right places.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Adventure, Boulder, Colorado Style

Me rock climbing, gliding and biking in Boulder, Colorado. Below is a view of the Flatirons. 

(Stan Wawer photo)

Story By Stan Wawer

Pilot Dave Mencin pulled the release knob and off we went, banking to the left in search of thermals. We soared like a bird high above Boulder, Colorado’s Flatiron mountain range. It was like floating on a cloud — if that was possible.

   The two-seat glider quietly, gently soared at about 10,000 feet, occasionally catching a thermal, breaking the silence and reminding me that I was in an aircraft without an engine.

   “Everything you like to avoid in a plane, you like in a glider,” Mencin said.

   According to Mencin, Boulder is an ideal place to glide. “High, dry air is needed to glide and this area has perfect conditions.” Mile High Gliding flies all year round, including in snow and rain. As long as you have good visibility, says Mencin.

   “Winter’s great from the pilot’s point of view,” he explained. “You get great altitude. But it’s not as good for passengers because you get lots of turbulence.”

   Mencin is a physicist turned glider pilot. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and a graduate degree from the University of Colorado. He did earthquake research for JPL in Pasadena, while centered at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.

   “JPL wanted me to move to Pasadena, but the work was boring,” Mencin said, laughing. “That’s when I decided to become a glider pilot.”

   He trained by making 15 flights a week for 18 months. He has been flying passengers for more than a decade. “You can’t beat this for work,” Mencin said.

   I had to agree with him, as I looked out the front cockpit canopy and at the mountains, downtown Boulder, the plains to the east and the University of Colorado football stadium, the field painted and awaiting its Saturday game against the University of Washington.

   We took off from Boulder Airport, our tow plane pulling us skyward. “Most people don’t like the tow plane when they’re taking off,” Mencin said. “It can get really bumpy.” Not on this idyllic afternoon.

   “Once we’re on our own, I tend to stay under 110 knots, about 122 miles per hour,” Dave explained. “When you’re thermaling, you want to go about 40 knots.”

   I didn’t care how fast he went; I felt like Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

   Boulder’s mild climate makes it a perfect place throughout the year for outdoor activities. The average winter temperature is 46 degrees, with a nighttime low of 26 degrees. The rest of the year, the average daytime temperatures run from 62 (spring) to 83 degrees (summer).

 “Don’t look back,” Melissa shouted as I reached the halfway point of my first rock climbing experience. I’m not a very good listener. I turned and looked out and down as I heard the roar of the crowd. I thought it was for me, but it turned out the roar was coming from the football stadium where the Buffaloes and Huskies were carrying on a rivalry on a clear, warm early September Saturday afternoon.

As I gazed at the little people below me, I suddenly realized I had climbed higher than I really wanted to go. I had entered gut-check territory. “You’re doing great,’ said Duncan, one of my two instructors, guide and confidence booster. I later found out that Duncan lies a lot.

Behind me was a hysterical football crowd; to my left were the impressive Flatirons, Boulder’s trademark; above me was blue sky and rock. I took a deep breath, grit my teeth and continued my ascent to the summit. I made it in what seemed like an eternity.

Courtney, a twentysomething from Miami, was the next climber. She was having trouble getting high enough to dunk a basketball. “I’m climbing at the pace of an anemic turtle,” she said, forcing a smile as she held tightly to the rock.

   I made it to the top because I put my confidence in Duncan and Eric and my equipment (the rope and the rubber-soled shoes). About halfway up, I couldn’t find a spot for my right foot. About five minutes later, the stubborn foot found a crevice and from there, it was all up hill. The repel down was not unlike one I made at Air Force basic training 48 years ago — exhilarating.

   Duncan and Eric are instructors with the Boulder Rock Club, considered one of the nation’s premier climbing schools and accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association.

I attempted one more climb at a higher degree of difficulty. I ran out of arm strength about three-quarters of the way up. I blamed it on my mountain biking trek earlier in the day.

   I worked out a breakfast of granola, with strawberries and soy by mountain biking down the Boulder Creek Path. I started four miles up in the mountains on a gravel path, which eventually turned into a paved road that’s shared by runners, bikers, hikers and roller bladers. It’s considered a novice ride. I don’t know what they call it if you turn around and make the four-mile trek back up hill. I made about two and a half miles of the return ride before my legs begged me to lighten up. I recommend mountain biking one day and rock climbing another day.

   Park Ranger Burton Stoner, a biologist from Bradley University, was my hiking guide in Boulder Mountain Park. We started the hike at 5,400 feet and went to 7,200 feet where I had a breathtaking view of Longs Peak, the Continental Divide, the Flatirons and the town of Boulder. We started the hike at the Gregory Canyon Trailhead, up Gregory Canyon to Green Mountain Lodge and looped back to Saddlerock. Bring lots of water on any hike in higher altitudes. You get dehydrated fast.

   Stoner pointed out the fauna and flora of the area. Western tanagers, magpies and a variety of plants can be seen along the trail, which is a former road used for travel to gold mines near Central City.

I “cast” all my cares away on my final adventure — fly fishing in Boulder Creek with guide Mike Mansfield of Kinsley Outfitters/The Orvis Shop. Boulder Creek is Boulder’s main recreational artery, running through the middle of town. Mansfield picked out a pair of waders for me, handed me an Orvis fly rod and reel and took me down by the bridge where the water was running swiftly downstream.

   I don’t want to brag, but I caught the only trout in our group. OK, it weighed about an ounce and I didn’t know I had it on my hook until I started to cast again. I spotted what looked like a sinker at the end of my line. I practiced the catch and release method of fly fishing, tossing “Big Ben” back into Boulder Creek.

   The timing for my Sunday morning massage, at Boulder College of Massage Therapy, was perfect. My muscles couldn’t thank me enough.

Where to Stay

   Boulder Marriott — 2660 Canyon Blvd. At the base of the Flatirons in downtown Boulder and within walking distance from the University of Colorado. It is in the heart of Boulder’s shopping and restaurant district. 155 deluxe guest rooms. Indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness room. Call for rates. For reservations, call (303) 440-8877. Web site: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/denbo-boulder-marriott/.

   St. Julien — 900 Walnut St. Luxury hotel and spa with world-class accommodations. Great views of the Flatiron Mountains and doorstep access to the famous Pearl Street Mall. (720) 406-9696. Web site: www.stjulien.com.

   Historic Hotel Boulderado — 2115 13th St. It opened New Year’s Day 1909. It is Boulder’s first luxury hotel and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Meticulously restored to its original turn-of-the-century grandeur. Special packages available. For reservations, call (866) 600-2224. Web site: www.boulderado.com.

   Briar Rose Bed & Breakfast — 2151 Arapahoe Ave. Jessika Kimes and Gary Hardin (a Zen monk), innkeepers. They are the first members of the Green Hotel Association from Boulder County. Each of the 10 rooms has its own distinctive character, but all rooms have private baths, personal phones and organic cotton sheets from Coyuchi. For reservations and information, call (303) 442-3007 or toll free at (888) 786-8440.  Web site: www.briarrosebb.com.

If You Go

   Gliding — Mile High Gliding, Accessible to those with disabilities. Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations recommended. (303) 527-1122.

   Hiking — Chautauqua Ranger Cottage, (303) 441-3440.

  Fly Fishing — Kinsley Outfitters/The Orvis Shop, guided fly fishing in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Full- and half-day trips. Includes Orvis rod and reel, waders, transportation from the shop and picnic lunch. (303) 442-7260.

   Mountain Biking — The Boulder Bikesmith. Only minutes from the bike path. All kinds of bike rentals. Rentals include a helmet, lock, map and protector pads. (303) 443-1132.

   Rock Climbing — Boulder Rock Club. Programs for children and adults. Indoor climbing wall. Offers an incredible array of classes for beginner to expert, both indoors and outdoors, summer or winter. (303) 447-2804.

   Boulder College of Massage Therapy — 6255 Longbow Drive. (303) 530-2100 or (800) 442-5131; www.bcmt.org.

   All information is accurate at the time of publication but prices, dates and other details are all subject to change. Confirm all information before making any travel arrangements.

15 free things to do during National Park Service fee-free weekends

Some of the best things in life truly are free, particularly in our national parks.  The National Park Service knows this, and so does concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

The National Park Service is offering five opportunities in 2013 to enjoy national parks without paying an entrance fee. Those dates are Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. day; April 22-26, National Park Week; Aug. 25, National Park Service birthday; Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day; and Nov. 9-11, Veterans Day Weekend.

“Everyone loves a bargain, and national parks are among the bargains around,” said Betsy O’Rourke, vice president of sales and marketing for Xanterra. “Watching Old Faithful erupt, seeing the sun rise over the Grand Canyon…these are the kinds of experiences that travelers will remember for a lifetime. And you can’t put a price tag on memories.”

And even those experiences things that aren’t free are still an incredible value, in part because every item with a price tag in every U.S. national park has the approval of the National Park Service and the commitment of concessioners like Xanterra Parks & Resorts to offer a fair value for services and products.

“Whether it is an activity, a restaurant meal, gift shop purchase or hotel room, travelers are seeking value as well as a memorable vacation experience, and our national parks offer both,” said O’Rourke.

Xanterra operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, tours and activities in Yellowstone, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Xanterra also operates Grand Canyon Railway, which provides daily train trips to the Grand Canyon.  

Many visitors plan a variety of free experiences as well as select a few interpretive experiences to round out a vacation. “It is great to experience a park on your own and in your own way, but a guided tour is one of the best ways to learn about the history, geology and wildlife of any national park,” O’Rourke said.

Here are 15 ideas for free national park activities on fee-free weekends and throughout the year.

1. Skate. Yellowstone National Park’s two winter-season lodges – Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel – feature free outdoor ice-skating rinks. Guests can borrow skates at no cost. Yellowstone’s two winter-season lodges opened for the season in mid-December and will close again in early March. Lodges begin reopening for the summer season in early May.
2. Discover borax. Xanterra’s Borax Museum at the Ranch at Furnace Creek in California’s Death Valley National Park shows how a simple chemical was largely responsible for the fortunes and misfortunes of many a miner, and it was largely responsible for bringing tourism to this California desert. Many ancient mining tools, antique stagecoaches and even a steam locomotive are on display.
3. Write a letter — and actually post it. Old fashioned writing desks in Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Old Faithful Inn draw a surprising number of inspired guests, who ditch their devices in favor of stationery and post cards, pens and stamps.
4. Compare china patterns. The Bright Angel History Room in Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Lodge includes displays of early Fred Harvey Company china patterns. Harvey was the restaurateur who is credited for bringing tourism to the Grand Canyon and throughout the West by offering excellent food at a good value in restaurants at stops along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad route.
5. Watch American Indian dancers. An American Indian troupe performs authentic tribal dances outside the historic Hopi House gift shop in the Grand Canyon during the summer season. Schedules are posted in lodges and other buildings throughout the park.
6. Hitch a ride. The National Park Service offers free shuttles throughout Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks. The environmentally friendly vehicles transfer visitors to specific points throughout each park.
7. Listen to music. Yellowstone guests can experience free live music on summer evenings in the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Inn. The string quartet concert on many summer nights in the  sunroom of Lake Yellowstone Hotel is so popular that in-the-know visitors arrive early for the seats with the best views of the sun setting over the lake. The pianist in the Mammoth Hotel is happy to accommodate requests — and he knows nearly all of them by heart.
8. Be a train spotter. Join the throngs of tourists who wave at passengers aboard Grand Canyon Railway when they arrive and depart the park.
9. Watch an otter outfox a fox. Part of the fun of wildlife watching in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park and other parks is discovering the personalities of the park’s permanent residents. Yellowstone river otters, for example, are cagey — and cute — and their clever ways ensure a steady population and a fascinating show for travelers lucky enough to spot one. One employee reported watching an otter tease a hungry fox by repeatedly diving into a river and popping up in a different place once the fox moved into position again. You could practically see the smirk on the otter’s face each time his mischievous moves foiled the fox.
10. Get high.  Some hikers have called it one of the best short hikes in a national park. Though only five miles round trip, the hike to Angel’s Landing in Utah’s Zion National Park is a strenuous but breathtakingly beautiful hike. The view from the top of Angel’s Landing is worth the 21 steep switchbacks — called “Walter’s Wiggles” — and the final white-knuckle half mile. This is a hike for experienced trekkers who have no fear of heights. Take a deep breath at the top. And then look at the view. You won’t forget it.
11. Go low. At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin in California’s Death Valley National Park is one of the lowest places in the world. The vast salt flats are typically bone-dry but can turn into a ready-made lake after a big rainstorm. Look up at a mountainside sign marking sea level posted well above the Badwater Basin viewpoint. No, up a little higher. Feeling small yet?
12. Wish on a star. Stargazing is a simple, free, safe and rejuvenating activity for the whole family. Because there is already minimal exterior lighting surrounding the lodges in most national parks, guests need only walk a few steps away to observe the night sky in relative quiet. Death Valley National Park in particular is known for its dark skies initiatives. The National Park Service also offers a variety of free stargazing programs in Yellowstone.
13. Walk in the footsteps of presidents. Six presidents — and Three Stooges — have stayed at Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn. It was built for $140,000 in 1904 and is one of the most famous buildings in any national park. A Xanterra historian tells travelers about the inn’s colorful history during free walking tours offered several times a day throughout the summer.
14. Make a snowball — in June. In Oregon’s remote Crater Lake National Park, winter weather appears from October through June, when the very last of the snow melts. Snow in July isn’t uncommon either. Historic Crater Lake Lodge is open mid-May through mid-October and guests are advised to be prepared for any kind of weather.
15. Soak. There are two ways to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon — by foot or by mule — and in the warm months both of them can be sweaty experiences. The Bright Angel Creek running alongside Xanterra’s Phantom Ranch on the floor of the Canyon offers a welcome, chilly and free way to cool off. On any afternoon, you’ll see campers, hikers and mule-riders soaking on rocks and enjoying the cool creek water while staring up at the soaring canyon walls — and probably wondering how the heck they’ll manage to get back up.

Academicians, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Authors To Co-Host Upcoming Cruises

Small ship, expedition cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/) announces a stellar lineup of academicians, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, travel writers and professional photographers as experts in residence for upcoming cruises as far-flung as Antarctica and Borneo.

“Choosing a cruise with a guest expert adds a level of fascination and learning beyond what you’d find on an ordinary cruise,” explains Todd Smith, AdventureSmith founder and director. “These professionals can offer a deeper understanding of a particular topic or add a global perspective to the regional experience. An important part of travel is gaining a deeper awareness and understanding of a destination and small ship cruises with onboard experts can help accomplish this.” Smith suggests booking one of these special departures well in advance as they sell out quickly:


Antarctic Explorer: Jonathan Shackleton (cousin of Sir Ernest Shackleton) and Falcon Scott (grandson of Robert Falcon Scott) will be guest lecturers aboard the 189-passenger Ocean Diamond Feb. 9-19,  from Ushuaia, Argentina.
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/172
 
Land of the Ice Bears: Arctic Svalbard:  Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor of Geography at UCLA will travel aboard the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer June 21-July 1. He is the author of “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” and the widely acclaimed “Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies,” which won him a Pulitzer Prize as well as Britain’s 1998 Rhone-Poulenc Science Book Prize. He is a founding member of the board of the Society of Conservation Biology and a member of the board of directors of World Wildlife Fund/USA and Conservation International.
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/69
 
National Geographic The White Continent: Ed Larson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for “Empire of Ice,” travels aboard the National Geographic Explorer to Antarctica Feb. 5, 2013 and Feb. 5, 2014 . A Pepperdine University professor, his latest book was published in May 2011, “An Empire of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science.” He places the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social and geopolitical context in this new history, much enlivened by his own Antarctic travels.
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/68
 
Ancient Sites, Rain Forests & Coral Reefs: Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Inc., joins guests on the 138-passenger Yorktown Jan. 26-Feb. 2 for a tour of the natural and archaeological wonders of Belize and Guatemala. On a Feb. 2-9 departure she will be joined by Sandra Brooke, director of Coral Conservation at the Marine Conservation Institute. For the Feb. 16-23 departure the guest speakers are Stephen Whittington, director of the Museum of Anthropology and adjunct associate professor at Wake Forest University, and Susan Perkins, an associate curator in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology and the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History.
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464
 
Baja’s Bounty: Ellen Barone joins a March 16 departure aboard the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour. She is a nationally recognized travel writer and photographer. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39. Giovanni Malagrino shares insights on a March 30 departure. He is a full professor in the Marine Biology Department at University of Baja California Sur, La Paz and devotes his time to Coastal Zone Management. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39
 
Hawaiian Seascapes: Peter West Carey, a Seattle-based professional photographer, is aboard the 36-passenger Safari Explorer for a cruise beginning April 6. Patient and resourceful with a wide range of brands, equipment and techniques, he loves to help others learn first-hand how to bring back stunning images that tell the true story of the exciting journey they have experienced. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/200
 
Alaska Unleashed: Amy Gulick is aboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer for a June 8, 2013 departure. She is an award-winning nature photographer and writer, and a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22. Joe Upton is aboard for an Aug. 10 sailing and will share his experience as an author. His many books and illustrated maps, including “Journey’s Through the Inside Passage” and “The Coastal Companion,” have shared the wonder of The North with Alaska visitors since 1993. In 2009 Upton teamed up with Alaska commercial fisherman and filmmaker Dan Kowalski to produce The Alaska Story Project, a collection of videos about places up and down the Alaska and BC coasts. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22
 
Camp Leakey Borneo will feature Dr. Birute Galdikas on board the 100-passenger Orion II for the October 25 departure. Scientist, conservationist, educator: for almost four decades Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas has studied and worked closely with the orangutans of Indonesian Borneo in their natural habitat, and is today the world’s foremost authority on the orangutan. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/289