Trips in 2013

A Circumnavigation of Iceland

 Experience an enchanting land of geological extremes on a circumnavigation of Iceland. Encounter vast volcanic landscapes and the world’s youngest island, walk on lava fields and ice sheets, and feel the spray of gushing hot springs and cascading waterfalls. Go birding on the Arctic Circle, kayak into fjords and serene bays, and hike along magnificent and remote stretches of the coast. Cap off the adventure with a soak in the famous Blue Lagoon.

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Trip Highlights

Explore Europe’s largest ice cap and explore the lava-sculpted landscapes of the Westman Islands.

Soak in hot springs, and see boiling mud pots and the thundering Godafoss Waterfall

Get up close to spectacular sculptures in ice on a cruise among the scattered icebergs of Jökulsárlón.

Go whale-watching and spot birdlife on the shores of Iceland and its surrounding isles.

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Itinerary - 10 Days

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Reykjavík, Iceland

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital. On a walking tour of the Old Town, step into the Hallgrimskirkja, a church whose steeple soars to 210 feet, making it the highest building in Iceland. Learn about Norse culture at the National Museum, and browse a collection of Viking treasures and artifacts, and unusual whalebone carvings. Embark theNational Geographic Explorer.
(L,D)

Day 3 — Exploring the West Coast of Iceland

Navigate Iceland’s wild western frontier, sailing past the soaring Latrabjarg cliffs, the westernmost point of Iceland and home to a huge population of razorbills. Continue to Flatey island, a trading post for many centuries, and take walks around the charming hamlet that sprang up here. Explore the coast by Zodiac this afternoon.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 — Ísafjördur

Located in the Western Fjords, the town of Ísafjördur lies on a tiny spit jutting out into the water against a backdrop of steep hills. The town is renowned for its traditional eider down production and is a great place for hiking, kayaking and spotting eider duck.
(B,L,D)

Day 5 — Exploring Iceland’s Northern Coast

Start the day in Siglufjordur, the center of a once-thriving herring industry, and stop by the Herring Museum for a talk and a tasting. Continue to picturesque Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city—with a population of just under 18,000. Stroll through the narrow lanes of the old town, with its beautifully maintained period houses set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and see unusual Icelandic flora at the botanical garden.
(B,L,D)

Day 6 — Mývatn and Húsavík

Drive to Mývatn, the most geologically active area in Iceland, and encounter a wondrous landscape of craters, lakes, and lava flows. See the bubbling mud pools at Hverarönd and continue through the Krafla geothermal area to the volcanic crater at Viti. Then take in an unforgettable sight: Godafoss, the thundering “waterfall of the gods,” which stretches some 90 feet and tumbles more than 35 feet into the glacial river Skjálfandafljót. Meet the ship in Húsavík, and set sail for the tiny island of Grímsey, situated right on the Arctic Circle. Explore the coast by Zodiac and experience the midnight sun of summer.
(B,L,D)

Day 7 — Exploring the Langanes

Iceland’s rugged east coast is an unspoiled stretch of rocky outcrops, hidden coves, and hills that beckon hikers. Today’s schedule is flexible so that we can take advantage of wildlife sightings and explore this beautiful landscape with our naturalists by Zodiac and on foot.
(B,L,D)

Day 8 — Djúpivogur

Dock in Djúpivogur and venture onto the vast Vatnajökull ice cap, the third largest in the world. For a closer look at the ice, take a boat ride through Jökulsárlón, a lagoon strewn with spectacular icebergs sculpted into all shapes and sizes by the elements.
(B,L,D)

Day 9 — Westman Islands

The Westman Islands were formed by undersea volcanoes between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago and are among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos. In 1963, the world witnessed on film the birth of its newest island, Surtsey—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—which we’ll see as we cruise past the coast. In 1973, the island of Heimaey was threatened by lava flows that nearly closed off its harbor. Visit the crater, where the earth is still hot, and take in amazing views of areas that were engulfed by lava.
(B,L,D)

Day 10 — Reykjavík /U.S.

We complete our circumnavigation today and disembark in Reykjavík. Enjoy lunch in town, and take a soak in the gem-colored geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon before our flight home.
(B,L,D)

In Costa Rica, steaming volcanoes rise out of the jungle, sea turtles troop up long stretches of pristine beach, and all manner of monkeys and exotic birds fill the rain forest canopy. Introduce your family to Costa Rica’s endless natural wonders on an expedition to three national parks. In the company of naturalists, explore the crater of Poás volcano, and get surrounded by hundreds of hummingbirds and butterflies in the misty cloud forest. Encounter wildlife close up in the Sarapiquí River valley, from white-faced capuchins and howler monkeys to sloths, caimans, and toucans. Learn about local culture on visits to working farms and villages, and try your hand at making traditional crafts. Then keep an eye out for parrots, iguanas, and poison dart frogs as we glide up the waterways of Tortuguero National Park, and learn about the fascinating life cycle of the green sea turtle.

 Costa Rica Family Adventure

Trip Highlights

Splash along the Sarapiquí River on a white-water rafting trip in the jungle and opt to swing through the rain forest canopy on a zip line or go horseback riding.

Get acquainted with Costa Rican kids on a visit to a typical village.

Flip your own tortillas during a cooking demonstration, participate in a craft workshop, and learn to make traditional ceramics with a member of the Chorotega community.

Itinerary - 7 Days

Day 1 — U.S./San José, Costa Rica

Depart for San José, Costa Rica’s capital city, and transfer to our hotel upon arrival. After an orientation and time to explore the hotel’s spectacular tropical gardens, meet up for a welcome dinner.
Xandari Resort & Spa (D)

Day 2 — Poás Volcano National Park

Set off for Poás Volcano National Park this morning, and ascend to the crater to see its steaming lake and learn about the surrounding ecosystem. Then head to a nearby coffee farm to watch how coffee beans are harvested and processed, and taste the lucrative local grano de oro (golden bean). This afternoon, while adults enjoy free time to relax or enjoy the spa amenities at the hotel, kids take part in a craft workshop with a local artist.
Xandari Resort & Spa (B,L,D)

Day 3 — La Paz Waterfalls/Sarapiquí

Journey to the Sarapiquí region, an area known for its incredible biodiversity, and stop on the way to see the tumbling cascades of La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Venture into the cloud forest on foot to explore breathtaking waterfalls and gardens brimming with colorful tropical species; and see a mind-boggling array of butterflies, birds, and reptiles. Next, discover the history of Costa Rica’s native peoples at the Museum of Indigenous Cultures. Here, kids try their hand at making traditional ceramics with a member of the indigenous Chorotega community. Later this afternoon, settle into our hotel, a Spanish colonial hacienda in the foothills of Braulio Carrillo National Park.
Hacienda La Isla Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Sarapiquí

Kick off the day with a white-water rafting adventure (or a river safari float) on the Sarapiquí River. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the river’s edge, including sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, and numerous species of monkeys and birds. Back on terra firma, relax back at the lodge and stroll through the extensive orchards, bursting with orange, banana, papaya, mango, avocado, and grapefruit trees. Or, if you wish, choose from several optional afternoon activities: sail through the forest canopy on a zip line; go for a horseback ride; visit a historic cacao plantation; or learn about the cultivation of pineapples, Sarapiquí’s most important crop.
Hacienda La Isla Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Sarapiquí/Tortuguero National Park

Join a naturalist at a biological research station to examine the unique flora and fauna of the rain forest. Then learn about another important Costa Rican export: the palmito, or heart of palm—a culinary specialty harvested from the core of certain palm trees. On our way to the coast, stop at a working banana plantation to learn how bananas make their way from the plant to your kitchen. Then climb into a boat on the Caño Blanco River and navigate the still waterways that cut through lowland tropical wet forest of Tortuguero National Park. Our destination is a secluded hotel, perched right on the water’s edge. This incredibly rich ecosystem supports a wide spectrum of wildlife, from poison dart frogs to spider monkeys to the park’s namesake—the green sea turtles who return here each year to nest. Take advantage of a rare opportunity to watch these turtles nesting and their young hatching, a fascinating ritual that dates back millions of years (during the nesting season, from July to October).
Tortuga Lodge & Garden (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Tortuguero National Park

Climb into a private jungle boat and head deeper into Tortuguero’s backwater lagoons and creeks. The morning hours are an especially active time for this tropical wildlife kingdom, so keep your eyes peeled for howler monkeys, sloths, river otters, caimans, and a variety of lizards and birds. Later, learn about conservationists’ efforts to restore and protect Tortuguero’s long stretch of beach where the turtles make their nests. This afternoon, kids learn to make tortillas and other local specialties during a hands-on cooking class. Or, choose an optional kayaking activity and explore narrow channels reachable only by small, hand-propelled boats. Celebrate our adventure at a fun farewell dinner at the lodge tonight.
Tortuga Lodge & Garden (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Tortuguero National Park/San José/U.S.

After a final breakfast in our jungle paradise, board a private charter plane back to San José and connect to your flight home.
(B)