I got the opportunity to spend a few days learning all there is to know about my favorite beverage - coffee!

Cataloging my second voyage to the Galapagos Islands, with art, photography, wildlife facts and travel tips!

What are the top five destinations if you want to see incredible animals? At the top of our list: Africa, Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Alaska, and Costa Rica! Spread across five distinct ecological zones from the northernmost tip of the globe down to its frigid south pole, Adventure Life has tours that will immerse you in the best wildlife.

Galapagos: a playground for artists, photographers and people who just love wildlife! (Like me!) Explore with me...See the paintings I create inspired by this unique environment...Get good travel tips for the islands!

Mating season – the best time of year for wildlife enthusiasts! With destinations to every corner of the globe, Adventure Life is your key to seeing nature's most fascinating breeding rituals, from the dance of the blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands to the playful, nuzzling interactions of the wolves of Yellowstone.

Breaching orca whale

Each year various whale species make their migration from the cold waters near Alaska to warmer conditions. Right now, we are in the midst of fantastic whale watching opportunities in different locations along the Pacific.

The whale watching season for gray whales is about to begin in Mexico! This species makes a round trip …

Brown bear fishing for salmon

Enter an untamed wilderness that allows opportunities to have up close experiences with the natural wonders of Alaska. Moose, caribou, brown & black bears, and bald eagles greet you as you explore by land. While cruising, keep an eye out for humpback whales, orcas, otters, and porpoises. Zodiac and kayak …

Last month, the Galapagos National Park Service announced they are closing visitor access to two of the tortoise corrals at Santa Cruz's Fausto Llerena Tortoise center -- due to some irresponsible behaviors by, reportedly, both some select travelers and naturalist guides. Behaviors reported include littering and violating the park's rules …

Adventure Life traveler, Julia, returns home from a trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon with this clip from the Yasuni Clay Lick. Located along with Napo River, this is one of the most accessible licks in the Amazon. Hundreds of parrots visit this lick each day. This is a very popular stop for guests of Sacha Lodge -- just short canoe trip from the …

A little reminder in the principles of Leave No Trace is always a good idea. This short video from my last Antarctica trip provides just that. Although a tiny pebble might seem insignificant, they are incredibly coveted by Antarctica penguins -- penguins make their nests from small pebbles, that are not always easy to come by in the snowy, stark …

Wherein my husband and I take our 6-month-old on a self-drive tour in Alaska. We rented a camper van and explored the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage and the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. And we learned how (and how not!) to travel with baby.

One of our long-standing partners, Hacienda Zuleta, recently made an exciting announcement! Over 20 years ago, their foundation started making conservation efforts on behalf of the Andean Condor. This is a species that has become critically endangered in Ecuador. Hacienda Zuleta's long term dream was to produce chicks in captivity that would …

The marine ecosystem is the keystone of life in the Antarctic waters. For the sturdy animals that can survive this windswept environment, the nutrient-rich waters of Antarctica provide an all-you-can-eat buffet.

One type of animal symbolizes the frozen landscape: the Spheniscidae family – aka. penguins! These flightless birds are specially adapted to survive in the bitter cold of the the Antarctic southern ocean.

The seals that populate the southern ocean flourish in the nutrient rich waters of the Antarctic. With diets that range from krill and small fish to even penguins and other seal pups, they are expert divers and can be seen lounging or breeding on the ice when they are not immersed deep beneath the pack ice hunting for food.

From small snow petrels to the great wandering albatrosses, the seabirds of Antarctica are some of the most well adapted species on the planet, thriving in the strong sub-zero winds and icy waters of the polar region.

One of the highlights of any expedition into the Antarctic waters is whale-watching. These majestic creatures can be spotted breaching the water in magnificent displays as they blast air and water high into the sky. If you’re lucky, they might even swim close to your ship.

But although whales are among the largest creatures to have ever …

The Wildlife of Ecuador

The stunning biodiversity of Ecuador owes to its three different ecological zones in the mainland – coastal plains, Andean paramo, and tropical rainforest – and the pristine Galapagos Islands. Among the dense trees, towering highlands, turquoise waters, and coastal habitats live thousands of native and endemic …

When a student group was notified that their international spring trip was cancelled by school administration for security concerns, they were crushed. With less than a month to find an alternative trip, the group leader decided to contactAdventure Life with hesitant hope. How likely was it to arrange tours, activities, accommodations, and …

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The polar plunge (or penguin plunge) has become a right of passage for many adventure travelers who take an Antarctica cruise. You can find plungers taking the leap from the ship's Zodiac platforms, off an isolated ice shelf or from Antarctica's rocky shoreline. Because of its volcanic activity, Deception Island is a …

Lonesome George, the famous Pinta Island tortoise of the Galapagos, has died.

George was a beloved icon of the Galapagos Islands and his death comes as a shock to some. Scientists estimated his age at around 100 years which may seem old in human years but is actually middle-aged for giant tortoises who live to be 200 years. George was also the …

In late May 2010, thirty-nine giant tortoises were released onto the Galapagos' Pinta Island. Called the "Pinta Project 2010", the release and monitoring of the tortoises is definitely a team effort that includes Ecuador's Ministry of Environment, the Galapagos Conservancy, Galapagos National Park, State University of New York, …

In Galapagos, there is this anticipation…this air of expectant wonder, that around every corner awaits something magnificent…and it is waiting. I have been to many parts of the world and seen many amazing natural wonders. But here…it is almost like Mother Nature is enjoying showing off just as much as we are enjoying the view. …