Archive for the ‘Snorkeling’ Category

Caño Island Biological Reserve

While most of the world’s most famous wild islands are reached by heading out to sea for days at a time, Caño Island lies less than an hour’s boat ride off Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. A perfect choice for nature enthusiasts looking for an exclusive, off-the-beaten-path adventure.

With some of the healthiest coral reefs left in the world, birthing and mating waters for two hemispheres of humpback whales, lots of white tip sharks and giant stingrays, vast schools of fish, and the resident spotted dolphin clan, Cano Island offers the best snorkeling on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

Most of Caño Island Biological Reserve is forbidden to visitors; one small section of beaches and two short trails on the northwest side of the island are all most people are allowed to see. Six dive sites and two snorkel areas, again on the northwest side of the island, make up the meager portion of the marine protected area that is not forbidden. The fact that a great part of the island is sure to be untouched seems to be its greatest attraction.

Back on the mainland, pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula make this region among the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Learn more about Boundless Journeys trips to this remote area by visiting our Costa Rica Webpage, or call one of our trip specialists at 1-800-941-8010.

About Boundless Journeys Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator. With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.

Global Traveler Announces 7th Annual Reader Survey Award Winners

BEST TOUR OPERATOR: BOUNDLESS JOURNEYS

The GT Tested Reader Survey names the top in the travel industry.
The results are in! For the seventh consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 25,000 people responded. Over the past seven years, Global Traveler’s consistent, unbiased reporting has placed the GT Tested Reader Survey among the most highly regarded in the industry.

This year, Global Traveler‘s distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 62 categories. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2010 issue.

Highlights from this year’s roster of highly regarded winners include: (the complete list may be found here).

Best Tour Operator: Boundless Journeys

Best Airline in the World: Singapore Airlines
Best Airline for First Class: Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Airline for Premium-Economy Class: Virgin Atlantic
Best Airline in Central/South America: Avianca
Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India: Jet Airways
Best International Hotel Chain: Park Hyatt
Best Domestic Hotel Chain: Marriott Hotels and Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in Asia: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Best International Business City: Bangkok
Best Frequent-Flyer Program: United Mileage Plus

“The success of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards has been staggering,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. “Each year, more and more responses are received. Our readers certainly value the airlines, hotels and products they honor year after year. Big congratulations to the 2010 winners, a truly impressive list of travel providers and, without a doubt, some of the best in the industry.”

About Boundless Journeys
Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator. With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking in remote regions ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.

One of the highlights of our Palau: Oceania Odyssey tour is a visit to the secret and surreal Jellyfish Lake, where we encounter thousands of non-stinging jellyfish.

Their existence in Jellyfish Lake is a fascinating evolutionary story, tracing its origin back 35 million years to the time the Rock Islands were first created as a result of colliding tectonic plates. Over time, erosive forces slowly ate away at the exposed sea bed, carving away what are now hundreds of islands, with pockets cutting holes in the limestone. These pockets continued to carve deeper and deeper into the rock until they reached through to the salt water. Throughout geologic time, the sea water continued to percolate through the porous limestone to create a number of salt water lakes. With the sea water came microscopic organisms, including a particular variety of jellyfish. Trapped inside the lake, with little plankton to prey upon, the jellyfish were forced to evolve away from their predatory ways, to an existence based on photosynthesis. In the end, the stingers became extraneous and were lost.

As witnesses to this evolutionary phenomenon, guests on Boundless Journeys’ Palau tour float gently in the water of the lake, equipped with masks and snorkels. It is incredible to feel the delicate bodies of the jellyfish swimming against you — truly a special experience; one you will only find in Palau!

Click here to see a video from recent Boundless Journeys’ guests on a Private Collection tour to Palau.

About Boundless Journeys

Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator, selected as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by National Geographic ADVENTURE, February 2009; and a “World’s Best” tour operator by Travel + Leisure, August 2009.

With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking in remote regions ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.