Adventure Life's Blog » Snorkeling trips

Post this Eagle Ray Video to Win Eagle Creek Gear

Beth Conway — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:45:22 +0000

UPDATE 6/27/2011: WE HAVE A WINNER!! Congrats to Charles Wood — Charles’ name was randomly selected from those who enter, and gets to walk away with the great Eagle Creek gear! Many thanks so all who entered, and stay tuned for more great giveaways.

1. Post this blog or video to your Facebook page anytime between June 10, 2011 and June 26, 2011.

To post the video copy/paste this URL to your Facebook post: http://youtu.be/yk2WjswA9Ns
To post this blog copy/paste this URL to your Facebook post: http://blog.adventure-life.com/2011/06/10/post-this-eagle-ray-video-to-win-eagle-creek-gear/

2. Tag Adventure Life in your post

3. I’ll pick a random winner to walk away with over $400 of great Eagle Creek gear.

One of our Galapagos guides, Fabricio Chavez, captured this “flock” of spotted eagle rays while snorkeling in the islands. A resident of the Galapagos, spotted eagle rays can reach up to 8 feet across and 16 feet long from head to tail. While they are found widespread throughout the Galapagos, they are not extremely common. This was a rare — and beautiful — treat.

Enter to win over $400 of Eagle Creek gear

Prize: Winner receives a Traverse Pro 25, and a folder, cube, and sac from Eagle Creek’s exclusive Pack-It System; or what I like to call, the tidy-traveler’s best friend. Here’s how to enter:

1. Post this blog or video to your Facebook page anytime between June 10, 2011 and June 26, 2011.

2. Tag Adventure Life in your post

3. I’ll pick a random winner to walk away with over $400 of great Eagle Creek gear.

Yes, it’s that simple!

Winner will be posted here on our blog, so stay tuned. GOOD LUCK!

The “Small Print”:
Submissions are open to legal residents of the continental United States and must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Once contacted, winner will have 2 work-days to reply before another winner is selected. Winner agrees to let Adventure Life brag about you on our Facebook page, Twitter, and any other promotion of this sweepstakes as part of the winning announcement. Prize is non-redeemable for cash.

Costa Rica Travel Video: My 12 year old and I take on the Morpho Falls

Beth Conway — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:42:52 +0000

Earlier this year, I had the rare opportunity to travel with my 12-year-old daughter, Gabs, to Costa Rica. Exclusively a mother-daughter trip, all other siblings, husbands, grandparents, friends and what-have-yous were strictly instructed they were NOT invited; this was a trip just for Gabs and I. We didn’t waste a moment of our 8-days away, traveling through this beautiful country on a Beaches and Rainforest trip. We ascended to the treetops and rode horses in the remote rainforest. Snorkeled with sand sharks in Cahuita National Park. We rafted the wild waters of the Pacuare River. We hunted for wildlife, spotting sloths, snakes, lizards, turtles, caimans, bats, tarantulas, countless birds (including Gabs’ favorite, the toucan), capuchin & howler monkeys — we even got cozy with a few howlers at an animal sanctuary just outside of Puerto Viejo. And of course, we took on the spectacular Morpho Falls in Costa Rica’s Selva Bananito Reserve. Named after the butterfly frequently found in this region, it is nearly impossible to capture how much fun it was to climb and rappel these falls, and just how stunning it is in this isolated area of the rainforest. But the video above makes the attempt.

Snorkeling with Eagle Rays in the Galapagos

Beth Conway — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:51:40 +0000

Galapagos Guide, Fabricio Chavez, filmed over a dozen eagle rays while leading a snorkeling tour in the Galapagos. The spotted eagle ray is recognized by the white spots on its body. Including its long tail, this ray can reach up to 16 feet long. While snorkeling in the Galapagos, visitors can also find sting and manta rays and a whole host of other marine life. Thanks for the clip, Fabricio! What a beautiful shot!

Last-Minute Steal: 2-for-1 Belize!

Beth Conway — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:10:52 +0000

Snorkeling during a Turneffe Atoll Adventure

Boasting the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Belize offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. This 8-day Belize tour is based from Turneffe Flats Resort on Turneffe Atoll. The Turneffe Atoll is one of only three coral atolls in the Caribbean. Formation of these coral atolls is a result of years of coral buildup rather than by volcanic activity – the more common mechanism of atoll formation. The entire Atoll is surrounded by a fringe coral reef with waters inside the reef varying from less than a foot deep to 30 feet in depth. Ocean depths around the atoll are thought to reach 9000 feet. In addition world-class snorkeling, this trip also includes dolphin watching, kayaking, Belize cooking class and more! 2-for-1 diving packages are also available at Turneffe Atoll. No pressure, but this last-minute steal is only available on select October and November departures and filling up. So grab your passport, mask and fins and give us a call … now.

Belize Barrier Reef

Brian Morgan — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:07:03 +0000

Snorkeling off the coast of Ambergris Caye in Belize

Exploring the crystal clear waters of the Belize Barrier Reef by kayak

Snorkeling and kayaking adventure in Belize

Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, tiny Belize is bordered by Mexico in the north and Guatemala to the west. But don’t let its size fool you. Only 14,270 square miles wide, Belize is home to the largest barrier reef in the Western hemisphere offering some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. Traveler, Christa Visperas, elaborates below and shares some of the best locations in Belize to access this water wonder.

By Christa Visperas
The Belize Barrier Reef — This 300 kilometer stretch of coral reef in the coast of Belize is so breathtakingly-beautiful that even famous naturalist Charles Darwin was moved to call it “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” in 1842.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a veritable adventure haven for visitors because it is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts will marvel at the diversity of animal and plant life in the area. With hundreds of coral and fish species living in the reef, there is no lack of close encounters with these colorful and interesting denizens of the deep. Mollusks and corals co-inhabit the reef with crustaceans, echinoderms and fish of every size and color, with a plethora of interesting algae adding variety. Eagle rays, green turtles, moray eels, dolphins, and sharks fill the waters. No wonder UNESCO has tagged the Belize Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site.

Only a small portion of the Belize Barrier Reef has actually been explored. The diversity that people see is only ten percent of the whole area. Imagine what wonders lie in the remaining 90%! It touches a chord in every adventurous soul, for who doesn’t thrill to the idea of stumbling on a never-before-seen sea creature, or beholding for the first time a secret cave, or uncovering the secrets long hidden within the atolls and lagoons dotting the reef?

Getting to the Belize Barrier Reef can be done in many ways, but the most preferred method is to make Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, your take-off point for exploration. San Pedro is the place to stay in Ambergris Caye, a bustling fishing village with quaint remnants of its Mayan heritage everywhere, from the English-Spanish-Creole-Maya mixed dialect, to the sunny shops with Mexican-Caribbean decors. Mahogany skiffs ply the island for chartered fishing and a day of scuba diving in the reef. The skiffs bring to mind the romantic buccaneering age when the reef was a pirate hunting ground. Hol Chan Marine Reserve, one of Belize’s top diving destinations, is only a ten-minute boat ride from San Pedro. In just 5 square miles it compacts 3 different marine zones: reef, mangrove and sea grass beds.

The town of Dangriga in Southern Belize is also one of the best places to stay if you plan to explore the Belize Barrier Reef. Only 70 miles from Belize City, it takes around 2 hours of car or bus travel to get there. There are also fishing and scuba diving operators in Dangriga waiting to take you on a day of excursion. All it takes is a stroll down the docks to start your fishing adventure. Trips to nearby cayes of the Belize Barrier Reef – Tobacco Caye and South Water Caye – are easily planned in these docks and jetties. If you have a mind for underwater exploration, Glover’s Reef Atoll is the nearest accessible snorkeling and scuba diving site from Dangriga. Due to its isolation from the mainland, Glover’s waters are very clear and have a rich reef system.

Yet another great place to start exploring the Belize Barrier Reef is at the town of Placencia, where most visitors base themselves to avail of the best diving and exploration packages. After settling in a hotel or guesthouse of your choice, you can immediately relax on a hammock or stroll along the sandy beaches. To explore the nearest cayes, a catamaran or a private sailboat can be rented in the docks or from many tour operators, for day and even overnight excursions. For the more adventurous, a kayak trip can take you to out-of-the-way islands that dot the reef, where you can enjoy nature camping at its very best.

Belize Weather: The climate in the reef is subtropical at 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the average, so best to wear light clothing like shorts and t-shirts, with a light sweater for nighttime activities and a hat to ward off the sun in the daytime. Sunglasses, sunscreen lotions and insect repellents are also essential things to bring. For sight-seers and avid bird-watchers, a good pair of binoculars will come in handy. Local commuter airlines Maya Island Air and Tropic Air take visitors in and out of the area on a regular basis.