2026
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT Dear Friends, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones very well. This year has been a year of celebration in honor of Road Scholar’s 50th anniversary. From the mid-1980s until today, it continues to be a tremendous honor and privilege to be a Road Scholar provider. Road Scholar travelers have a wonderful spirit of engagement, curiosity, adventure and learning that we feel a deep connection with. In addition, here at Holbrook we always learn from the philosophy and practices of Road Scholar as an organization. In honor of this anniversary, we chose this fabulous picture for our cover this year. Happy anniversary to Road Scholar, and may you continue to fulfill your mission for the coming decades – the world is a better place as a result of what you do! We take such joy in being able to facilitate the missions and help tell the stories of the different leaders and organizations we have had the privilege of working with. Since 2005, we have worked with Todd Gustafson—whose stunning photography has often graced the cover of our annual calendar— helping Gustafson Photo Safari take photographers into the field to document the wonders of our planet. And John Earl Kneisler, a high school biology educator from Texas who has worked with us for decades, brought his 30th group to Selva Verde Lodge this year. What a legacy of taking students into the rainforest! Helping Audubon chapters, gardens, educators, photographers, zoos, aquariums, and families and friends live their stories in the field is truly our purpose and our passion.
YEAR IN REVIEW | A Look Back at 2025
Special Anniversaries This year, we were thrilled to join Road Scholar in celebrating its 50th anniversary! For five decades, Road Scholar has inspired millions of lifelong learners with educational adventures around the world. As a proud Road Scholar provider for more than 35 years, we have had the pleasure of witnessing their remarkable journey firsthand, and we look forward to sharing even more experiential travel opportunities with them in the future. We also recognize two longtime trip hosts. 2025 marked 20 years that we’ve had the pleasure of working with Todd Gustafson of Gustafson Photo Safari, who has led photography expeditions to destinations including Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, and more. And biology teacher John Earl Kneisler achieved a special milestone this year. In his own words: “This has been my 30th trip leading students and adults to discover and enjoy all that Costa Rica has to offer and I wouldn’t change a thing!”
“This image of South Plaza Island in the Galápagos demonstrates the harmonious balance between visitors and a vast, exposed environment. Rugged volcanic rock and vibrant flora create a landscape that feels otherworldly. Road Scholar participants move single-file along the trail, careful not to disturb fragile ground cover and nearby nesting wildlife. Their presence provides scale to the dramatic panorama and emphasizes the serene isolation of this remote sanctuary. The scene is a reminder of what sustained protection can preserve, and how beautiful and unique the natural world can be when it remains intact.” — Alyssa Bichunsky | Road Scholar
Steps Forward in Sustainability This year brought meaningful progress in our ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-centered conservation. We’ve begun our journey toward Travelife certification, an internationally recognized benchmark for sustainability in travel. As a Travelife Engaged company, we are actively working toward the next level, Travelife Partner, which requires meeting more than 100 criteria that shape how we operate, design trips, collaborate with suppliers, support destinations, and care for our travelers.
We also celebrated the second International Festival of Migratory Raptors at Selva Verde Lodge, partnered with ECOLIFE to install fuel-efficient stoves in Mexico that reduce smoke-related health risks and help protect the monarch butterflies’ forest habitat by requiring less firewood, and introduced an initiative to replace single-use plastics with reusable water bottles on our Tanzania safaris. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue into the new year!
This is because all of these organizations and travelers share a common belief that there is no substitute for human connection and experiencing the world directly. Travel enables us to see ourselves differently and to understand the ties that bind us together as human beings. Done responsibly, tourism can conserve natural areas and elevate local culture and heritage. Sustainable tourism also builds understanding between nations. To quote our founder and my beloved mother, Giovanna Holbrook, “Travel is learning.” None of this would be possible without the support we have received from you, our clients, who continue to put your trust in us, as well as our providers and partners in the field, who work hand-in-glove with us to make the magic happen, our staff and global team, who are in many ways like family, and our incredible group leaders and guides in the field, who share their passion and knowledge. We hope you enjoy this year’s photo album, our 2026 calendar. We wish you and your loved ones the very best for the holiday season and the coming year! With every good wish, Andrea Holbrook
Special thanks to Alyssa Bichunsky, John Earl Kneisler, ECOLIFE Conservation, Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center, Stefanie Plein, Ron and Dianne Farb, and Ann & Rob Simpson for use of their photos.
Kudos & Milestones Congratulations to Emmy Award-winning host, director, and writer Joseph Rosendo, whose travel series “Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out” premiered its second season on PBS earlier this year. Holbrook was proud to be featured in this season’s Tanzania, Ecuador & Galápagos, and Panama episodes (in addition to Season 1’s Costa Rica episode). We invite you to watch both seasons on PBS Create or stream the series on PBS Passport! This summer, we also celebrated our coworker Deb Savarese, who retired after an accomplished career of more than 20 years with Holbrook. Deb held several positions during her tenure, most recently as a Destination Consultant. If you’ve traveled with us on a Road Scholar program before, it’s very possible you’ve spoken with her over the phone. We’re happy to see her embark on this exciting new chapter! Finally, we extend our well wishes to Ron and Dianne Farb and the rest of our friends at the Climb for Cancer Foundation, a not-for-profit that sunset its operations earlier this year. Over the course of 22 years, the foundation raised almost $4 million to support cancer patients and their families.
In Remembrance This year, we sadly lost two inspiring men who have been part of our journey and history as an organization. We would like to take this opportunity to commemorate their lives, accomplishments, and deep connection with Holbrook Travel. Dr. Juan Holbrook, the father of our president Andrea Holbrook, was instrumental in the founding of Holbrook Travel. He played a major supporting role alongside our founder Giovanna Holbrook, overseeing the company’s computerization and accounting, as well as helping establish Selva Verde Lodge & Reserve in Costa Rica. Inspired by his love of trekking and climbing from his youth in the Chilean Andes, Dr. Holbrook also led many treks for our travel groups. Since relocating to Gainesville in the 1960s to pursue a PhD in Material Science from the University of Florida, he was deeply involved with the local community as a professor teaching at Santa Fe College, helping to restore several of the city’s historic houses, co-founding a program to bring classical musicians to Gainesville audiences, and more. Though his passing leaves an immense loss, his lively sense of humor and intelligent, curious, and kind spirit continue to encourage us as we move forward into the future.
Rob Simpson started traveling and leading groups with Holbrook in 2008. He was a professor emeritus in biology at Laurel Ridge Community College and an awardwinning photographer, and his exuberant, infectious, and deep passion for the natural world came through in everything he did. His unfailingly kind nature invited everyone to marvel at the wonders of our planet, especially when teaching professional nature photography techniques. Accompanied by his beloved wife and fellow biology professor and photographer Ann, Rob traveled with us to destinations like Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Madagascar, and Tanzania. Just in 2023, he traveled to the Pantanal, where he named a jaguar Giovanna in honor of our founder as part of a local jaguar conservation program. His connection with our company, as both a client and dear friend, will be treasured forever.
ABOUT THE IMAGE This adventure to Torres del Paine had been a bucket list item for many, many years! Now was my time for my “latitude adjustment.”
JANUARY 2026 SUNDAY
28
MONDAY
29
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
30
There was beauty at every turn we made! The clouds are amazing in Patagonia and can change the looks in an instant! But the energy that comes from this area—not only from the strong winds, the mountains, and the glaciers, but also the immense space—quiets the mind and you take it all in. As we were leaving this incredible place, our driver stopped at just the right spots to get these amazing photos. I found myself inspired to come up with my own Jimmy Buffet-style verse: With wind in my hair and wine in my hand, From Andes to ice, I’ve danced through this land. From tango to glaciers, where stories unfurl— I found my own party at the end of the world.
THURSDAY
31
1
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day Kwanzaa ends
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
FRAN WHITLOCK Chile
Groundhog Day
NOTES
DECEMBER 2025 S
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
M
T
W
R
F
FEBRUARY 2026 S
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1 8
2
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
28
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE Above: On several previous trips to Costa Rica, I’d photographed many iguanas, usually from forest trails or from boats along the riverbanks. They were perched on branches, basking on rocks, or scurrying away from me, but never actually in the water. So, imagine my surprise when, on arrival day of my March 2025 Holbrook Travel trip, I walked through the gardens of the Bougainvillea Hotel and found this striking iguana having dinner in the lily pond. It was an unexpected and memorable encounter, and it set the tone for what was another outstanding adventure with Holbrook. Moments like this are why I keep returning to Costa Rica. The wildlife always finds a new way to surprise you. This photo was taken with a Nikon Z9 paired with a 600mm f/4 lens. Below: While walking along the beachfront at a lodge in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, I heard a noise behind me in the branches of a low-hanging tree I’d just walked under. I turned and found myself eye-to-eye fifteen feet away from this remarkable sloth. I actually had to step back to fit the scene into the frame. It was one of the most memorable and intimate sloth encounters I’ve had in all my trips to Costa Rica. This photograph was taken during a trip extension that Holbrook Travel arranged for me, and both the main trip and the extension were exceptional. Captured with a Nikon Z9 and a 600mm f/4 lens.
RON CETON CETON’S PHOTO PLACE Costa Rica | Birds, Wildlife & Photography with Stephen Ingraham
FEBRUARY 2026 SUNDAY
1
MONDAY
2
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
Groundhog Day
8
9
Valentine’s Day
15
16 Presidents’ Day
17
18
Mardi Gras
Ash Wednesday
Lunar New Year
Ramadan begins
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
14
Holi
8
9
10
Daylight Saving Time begins International Women's Day
NOTES
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
MARCH 2026
JANUARY 2026 S
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE Above: On our first day in the Galápagos, we unloaded the luggage and immediately headed out to photograph penguins. I had no idea there would be so many! It was very hard to choose which one to focus on as they were all jumping, leaping, hopping and diving in every direction. I soon decided on this individual because it seemed a bit more cautious in the way it moved along the rocks. I thought perhaps I might get a funny shot of a fall and tumble into the water, but with every step it seemed to get a bit more confident until finally it took a small little jump up to the next rock. The image doesn’t show just how nervous I really felt for it to land that jump! Below: Close to our last day on the tour we woke up to a lovely sunrise over Kicker Rock. We began to circumnavigate the rocks and I only had my iPhone with me because we hadn’t quite had coffee yet and I wasn’t really prepared for photography. Just as I tapped the shutter button on my phone, I was photobombed by a Magnificent Frigatebird. Really adds a layer of drama to the shot! NICOLE LAND Galápagos Islands | Photography Exploration with Karine Aigner
MARCH 2026 SUNDAY
1
MONDAY
2
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
3
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
6
7
Holi
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
Daylight Saving Time begins International Women's Day
15
St. Patrick’s Day
Eid al-Fitr Spring begins
22
23
24
29
30
31
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
Passover begins
Palm Sunday
Good Friday
April Fool’s Day
5
6
8
7
9
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
11
Passover ends
Easter Sunday
NOTES
10
APRIL 2026
FEBRUARY 2026 S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4 11
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
ABOUT THE IMAGE Above: We’re exploring the Harpy reserve in Colombia’s Sierra de La Macarena, on the hunt for the magnificent Harpy Eagle. As we rounded a bend on the trail, we stumbled upon a troop of sleeping monkeys. This particular male, clearly not amused, swung straight at us with a warning glare, embodying the alpha male spirit. These close encounters with nature, where you feel a deep connection with nature, are what make these trips truly unforgettable. Below: We saw a Swallow Tanager hopping up on a branch right in front of us, and then it flew into the bushes along the banks of Laguna Negra in San José del Guaviare. We also spotted a female Swallow Tanager, and both of them were busy building their nest almost right on the ground in the bushes. Swallow Tanagers are truly spectacular when you see them in their lush green surroundings. RAJIV ROY INSTAGRAM: @RAJIVROY Colombia Birding Expedition with Renate Grupp
APRIL 2026 SUNDAY
29
MONDAY
30
TUESDAY
31
Palm Sunday
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
Passover begins
4
Good Friday
April Fool’s Day
5
6
7
8
9
Easter Sunday
12
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
Passover ends
13
14
15 Tax Day
19
20
21
22
Arbor Day (national)
Earth Day
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Teacher Appreciation Day
NOTES
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
MAY 2026
MARCH 2026 S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
S
M
T
W
R
14
3
4
5
6
7
F
S
1
2
8
9
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
29
30
31
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE There is something very special about rising before dawn to leave our tented camp and visit the hippo pool where dozens of these giant creatures slowly make their way to the meeting point of the Seronera and Orangi Rivers. I always get goosebumps being so close. Watching them soak and interact as the sun rises is one of my favorite moments on our Tanzania tours. And this baby, sticking close to its parent, was especially endearing. JACKIE KRAMER Photographing Magical Tanzania with Jackie Kramer
MAY 2026 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
13
14
15
16
Teacher Appreciation Day
10
11
12
Mother’s Day
17
24
31
NOTES
Armed Forces Day
18
19
20
21
22
23
28
29
30
4
5
6
25
26
27
Memorial Day
Eid al-Adha begins
Eid al-Adha ends
1
2
3
APRIL 2026 S 5
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
THURSDAY
M 6
T
JUNE 2026 M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
11
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
7
8
9
10
S
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
27
28
29
30
28
29
30
ABOUT THE IMAGE This past summer, I led a group of students from the Pedro Menendez High School Academy of Future Healthcare Professionals on a medical outreach adventure to Costa Rica. I was looking for a way to expose my students to medical settings in a different culture, and also share some of their skills in a way that could benefit the local communities we visited. We were able to visit local clinics, emergency medical facilities, medicinal gardens, learn about Costa Rica’s government healthcare system, and teach first aid and CPR to locals at Holbrook’s community learning center at Selva Verde Lodge in Sarapiquí. Each day was filled with excitement as we also experienced the breathtaking landscapes around Arenal and Sarapiquí areas, from volcanos to waterfalls and rainforests. Our amazing guide, Reimer, kept us on the go so we could experience all that this beautiful country has to offer!! We left with the most amazing memories and a great love for Costa Rica. In fact, my students have convinced me to make this an annual trip and we are already planning our return trip for next summer!! CARRIE HOPKINS (ABOVE) & SUSANNAH JONES (BELOW & TEXT) Costa Rica | Medical Outreach Adventure with Susannah Jones
JUNE 2026 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Flag Day
21
Juneteenth
22
23
24
25
26
27
29
30
1
2
3
4
Father’s Day Summer begins
28
Independence Day
5
NOTES
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
6
7
8
9
10
MAY 2026
JULY 2026 S
M
T
9
5
6
7
15
16
12
13
22
23
19
20
30
26
27
S
M
T
W
R
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
31
11
F
S
1
2
8
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
14
15
16
17
18
21
22
23
24
25
28
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE A special sighting of a range-restricted monkey which I personally really wanted to see, the Geoffrey’s tamarin, that seemed to have a lot to say, in the Darién of Panama that the group enjoyed watching. AUSTIN HESS Panama | Birding Central Panama and the Darién Lowlands with Jill Hays
JULY 2026 SUNDAY
28
MONDAY
29
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
30
1
2
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
3
Independence Day
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
NOTES
AUGUST 2026
JUNE 2026 S
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
THURSDAY
S
M
T
W
R
F
13
2
3
4
5
6
7
19
20
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
26
27
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
21
22
23
24
25
28
29
30
S 1 8
ABOUT THE IMAGE Both of these photos were taken on a trip based on Holbrook’s “South Africa: Gardens, Parks, Wine Country and the Wildflower Super Bloom!” arranged by Sandy Schmidt. The trip was timed for the spring flower bloom in South Africa’s West Coast. The king protea is South Africa’s national flower and is unique to the fynbos region. We observed them in natural settings as well as this picture taken at Kirstenbosch, the national botanical garden (where we had a private tour with a park horticulturalist).
AUGUST 2026 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Our first stop outside of Cape Town was the West Coast National Park. During the spring, the strandveld is an amazing mass of wildflowers. This section of the park is only open during the spring bloom and is accessed via a one-way dirt road that meanders through miles of flowering fields. We also had a chance to watch weaver birds as they zoomed in and out of their unique hanging nest.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
DAVID & LAURIE NASS South Africa
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
NOTES
JULY 2026 S
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
M
T
SEPTEMBER 2026
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
10
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
18
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
25
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
11
ABOUT THE IMAGE On a pelagic trip off the coast of Huatulco in Mexico’s Oaxaca state, we saw numerous seabirds, but I hadn’t expected to encounter so many adult sea turtles. Most would sense the boat and quickly dive underwater, but I was able to capture photos of these mating olive ridley turtles that seemed too busy to care about us. We were lucky to get a good look at the male using the claw on its flipper to hook onto the female’s shell. I had seen turtles nest on the beach before, and I had seen them swimming, but I had never seen them mate. Earlier in the trip, we’d participated in a hatchling release with a nearby community, so I really felt like we had come full circle. In the past, turtle populations in the area dwindled due to hunting. Thanks in part to conservationists like our guide Manuel Grosselet, local communities now play an active part in protecting these animals. Before visiting Oaxaca, I had heard so many good things, mostly in terms of its culture. However, I was not prepared for such a feast in terms of its natural history. Overall, it was an eye-opening experience. PELIN KARACA Mexico
SEPTEMBER 2026 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Labor Day
Rosh Hashanah begins
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Yom Kippur begins
Yom Kippur ends
Autumn begins
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
13 Rosh Hashanah ends
Deadline to submit photos for 2027 calendar
NOTES
AUGUST 2026 S
M
T
W
R
OCTOBER 2026 F
S
S
M
T
W
1
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
2
3
4
5
6
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
18
19
20
23
24
25
26
27
28
30
31
7
R
F
S
1
2
3
8
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
21
22
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
29
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE Above: In the US, in New England, there is only a single species of hummingbird. In Ecuador there are 132, and the Booted Racket-tail is arguably one of the most iconic in this small, ecologically diverse country. It is highly unique, both because of its fluffy leg-feathers (its ‘boots’) and its remarkable tail-feathers, which are primarily used for combat and display. We were excited to see the variety of these small, colorful, flying miracles, yet photographing them was certainly challenging. In this picture, despite a 1/3200 shutter speed, there is some blur to the shot, which I ultimately felt communicated appropriate senses of: motion, beauty and awe. Below: There is perhaps no bird more emblematic of Mesoamerica than the Quetzal. It is a highly sought-after species in the birding world, which is unsurprising given its: stunning colors, skulking nature (despite its size) and cultural lore. On Day 6 of our phenomenal visit to the Chocó-Andes region of Ecuador, a trip where nearly 250 bird species were observed in only 8 days, this beautiful Crested Quetzal was observed just 30 yards off the trail we were following toward the Río Bermejo. A small group of us froze, mesmerized by its blood-red belly and eye, and we were fortunate indeed to snap a few shots of this spectacular trogon before it dove headlong into the understory and disappeared. PAULINE BONASIA (ABOVE) & PHILIP J. BONASIA (BELOW) Ecuador | Birding at the Chocó-Andes Region with Venice Area Audubon Society
OCTOBER 2026 SUNDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
13
14
15
16
17
Deadline to submit photos for 2027 calendar
11
12 Indigenous Peoples' Day
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31 Halloween
1 Daylight Saving Time ends
NOTES
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
MONDAY
2
3
4
5
7
6
Election Day
SEPTEMBER 2026
NOVEMBER 2026
S
M
M
T
W
R
F
S
6
7
T
W
R
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
27
28
29
30
29
30
ABOUT THE IMAGE This photo of a ring-tailed lemur—perhaps the most iconic of all lemurs—was taken during our stay at the Berenty Preserve. These highly social primates spend their mornings basking in the sun before beginning their daily search for fruits and leaves. Each day, we were fortunate to have more than 50 of them climb over the roof of our room and spread out in the open area to warm up, giving us endless opportunities for close encounters. For this particular shot, I lay flat on my belly and inched forward until I could use a 10mm lens, creating an exaggerated perspective that highlighted the charm of these mediumsized lemurs. We also had the chance to explore the VOIMMA Park, a private reserve near Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Along the trails we encountered several chameleon species, but this male Parson’s chameleon was by far the largest. We were especially surprised to find them thriving in such cool, rainy conditions. REINIER MUNGUIA WILDSTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY Madagascar | Biodiversity Photo Tour
NOVEMBER 2026 SUNDAY
1
MONDAY
2
Daylight Saving Time ends
8
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
3
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
14
Election Day
9
10
Veterans Day
Diwali
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4
5
Thanksgiving Day
29
30
1
2
3
Hanukkah begins
6
7
8
9
10
12
11
Hanukkah ends
NOTES
S
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
DECEMBER 2026
OCTOBER 2026 M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
11
12
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
27
28
29
30
31
ABOUT THE IMAGE Above: The many species of macaws, including the Red-and-green Macaws in this photo, was just one of the highlights of the Hawks Aloft/Holbrook Travel expedition to the Pantanal, Brazil. The Buraco das Araras is a huge sandstone crater that attracts many species of birds in addition to all the macaws. It is a must-see destination. Below: Our team was fortunate to observe a giant river otter family with young ones frolicking in the shallows of the Cuiabá River. The species, found only in South America, is classified as Endangered by the IUCN with a current estimated population of 1,000-5,000 individuals due to habitat loss, effects of gold mining and mercury pollution. GAIL GARBER Brazil | Natural Wonders of the Pantanal with Hawks Aloft
DECEMBER 2026 SUNDAY
29
30
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
1
THURSDAY
2
3
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
Hanukkah begins
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 Hanukkah ends
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Kwanzaa begins
2
Winter begins
27
3
NOTES
holbrooktravel.com travel@holbrooktravel.com
MONDAY
28
4
29
30
5
6
31
1
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day Kwanzaa ends
7
8
NOVEMBER 2026
9
JANUARY 2027
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
S
M
T
W
R
3
4
5
6
7
F
S
1
2
8
9
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
29
30
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
JANUARY | CHILE
FEBRUARY | COSTA RICA
MARCH | GALÁPAGOS
APRIL | COLOMBIA
MAY | TANZANIA
JUNE | COSTA RICA
JULY | PANAMA
AUGUST | SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER | MEXICO
OCTOBER | ECUADOR
NOVEMBER | MADAGASCAR
DECEMBER | BRAZIL
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE The Galápagos offers exceptional snorkeling, with clear water and wildlife that are more curious than cautious, even small fish. This image features our local expert, shown diving toward the sandy seafloor as a dense school of fish streams past, twisting and folding like a ribbon. Instead of scattering, the fish keep pace alongside us and offer a glimpse into their world. The diver’s silhouette against the pale bottom sets the scale and mood, emphasizing open space and the quiet pull of what lies below. COVER | GALÁPAGOS
ALYSSA BICHUNSKY | Road Scholar
3540 NW 13th St. . Gainesville, FL . 32609 Toll-free: 800-451-7111 | Local: 352-377-7111 holbrooktravel.com | travel@holbrooktravel.com | holbrooktravel.com/blog PLEASE RECYCLE