Here's how Costa Rica became the largest exporter of butterflies in the world
Costa Rica is the largest exporter of butterflies in the world. Industry experts there say the insects played a small part in the country's dramatic reforestation, before being recruited to travel to exhibits around the world where the creatures encourage museum visitors to protect the species in their own backyards.
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Travel Weekly
8 hours ago
- Travel Weekly
Gambia emerging as a prime West African ecotourism spot
For years, Gambia has been known as a laid-back West African beach destination, but that's gradually changing as the country starts to take the spotlight as a conservation and cultural hot spot. The Gambia Tourism Board recently unveiled a comprehensive marketing strategy as part of the World Bank-funded Tourism Diversification and Resilience Project, showcasing the country as a fully-fledged ecotourism destination. "The world's travel patterns are evolving, and The Gambia is adapting," said tourism board director Abubacarr Camara. "While we continue to celebrate our beach tourism, we are now unlocking the potential of ecotourism, heritage experiences and adventure travel." Tourism officials say that what makes this small nation particularly appealing for first-time Africa travelers is its accessibility. "For anyone coming to Africa for the first time from an English-speaking country, The Gambia is a very good start," says Linda Verasdal, a Norway-born tourism entrepreneur who has lived in The Gambia for over 15 years and is the founder of Ethical Travel Portal. "English is the official language, which means visitors can easily interact with locals." The lack of a language barrier makes interaction with locals in Gambia's many eco-focused tourism projects that much simpler. Just an hour south of the main tourist area, the village of Gunjur showcases several grassroots initiatives, including the Turtle Project, which protects sea turtle eggs until hatching, and an innovative plastic recycling program. "These small projects make a real impact," Verasdal said. "Seeing these grassroots initiatives is really interesting and worth it for visitors who want to understand both challenges and solutions." One of Gambia's most innovative projects is the Gambia Cotton Trail, which connects coastal Gunjur with the upriver village of Njau through a women-led initiative in partnership with Women's Initiative Gambia. Visitors can follow the entire production chain, from cotton growing through spinning, weaving and tailoring. "It's a really nice way of learning about culture, meeting people, and history - all built into a journey that lets you see the country," Verasdal said, adding, "Our main goal is to make products 100% Gambian, from seed to finished item." Travelers wanting to explore these community projects can stay at Footsteps Ecolodge in Gunjur, one of the longest-standing ecolodges in Gambia, positioned roughly a mile inland from the beach, a 25-minute walk through scenic off-road terrain. From river safaris to rare monkeys From the coast, travelers can organize small-boat excursions on the River Gambia, Africa's most navigable waterway. Near Gunjur, these trips explore tributaries and border waters with Senegal, visiting Pelican Island where hundreds of water birds gather. For more substantial wildlife viewing, visitors can head upriver to the central regions. "If you want to see hippos and then red colobus monkeys, travel a few hours by car upriver and spend the night," Verasdal said. "In the afternoon, watch wildlife come to drink at sunset; early next morning, visit one of several monkey colonies." For upriver stays, Kauren River Camp overlooks the river and recently expanded with upgraded rooms. It serves as an ideal base for exploring both the historical Roots sites to the west in Albreda and Juffereh, and wildlife experiences to the east near Kuntaur. Simpler properties in Janjanbureh such as Kairoh Garden or Musa's Garden Lodge provide authentic hospitality and direct access to hiking trails, sunrise kayaking, and community interactions. A highlight here is visiting the Red Colobus Project, near Kuntaur/Janjanbureh. The community initiative uses visitor fees directly for forest preservation while guests join guided walks looking for rare primates among ancient trees. Inland activities continue expanding through operations like FairPlay Gambia, a social enterprise based in Janjanbureh offering everything from three-hour sunset cruises to multiday expeditions along the River Gambia. Activities include kayaking, hiking, fishing for the famous African tigerfish and visits to the River Gambia National Park, where rescued chimpanzees live on protected islands. According to Verasdal, Gambia's location on major bird migration routes makes it a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 500 species recorded. "Some guests come just for birdwatching but then discover so much more, like walking trails where you can go hours barely seeing another tourist," she said. Cruise calls on the rise Interestingly cruise lines are starting to put the capital city of Banjul on their itineraries: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea have all added calls there recently, with day excursions highlighting both natural wonders and cultural experiences. But for those wanting more than just snapshots ashore, Verasdal recommends a well-rounded trip should combine coast and upcountry. "Spend a week using somewhere like Footsteps Eco Lodge as your base, then add three or four nights upriver combining wildlife-viewing, cultural experiences, adventure activities. … That way you really get under Gambian skin," she said. With distances short and everyone speaking English, it really is possible to get the full Gambian experience within 10 to 14 days -- from powerful visits out west at sites like Kunta Kinteh Island, detailing slave trade history; to lazy sunrise paddles inland watching kingfishers dart low across misty water; and evenings spent learning how cotton threads become beautiful crafts.
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Forbes
Meet The ‘Transcontinental' Bird That Can Fly For 80+ Hours Without Taking A Rest. Hint: It Spends Its Summers In Sweden
Migratory birds are some of nature's most efficient travelers, able to cross oceans and continents ... More in a matter of days or even hours. Here's one migratory bird whose record-setting endurance will surprise you. getty The great snipe ( Gallinago media ) is a master of stamina and endurance. It is a migratory bird who spends its winters in sub-Saharan Africa and its summers in northern Europe or northwestern Russia. And it wastes no time travelling from one pied-à-terre to the other – sometimes completing the trek in as little as 60 hours. That's a statistic so impressive it deserves additional context. Imagine you're a human in central Africa and your goal is to get to north-central Sweden as quickly as possible. One way to do it would be to travel by bus or car to Bangui M'Poko International Airport in the Central African Republic. From there, you could hop on an Ethiopian Airlines plane that would fly to Addis Ababa for a layover, then up to Stockholm. That would take you about a day with some luck. Then, you'd need to grab another flight to the northern part of Sweden, followed by a car or bus ride to your final destination. Realistically, we're talking about two days of travel, minimum. And how about for the great snipe? It flies a direct route, traveling day and night, at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour – and makes no stops, not even for a water break. Depending on conditions, it does the trip in 60 to 90 hours. In other words, it probably beats humans, with modern transportation means at their disposal, 10 or 20% of the time (cancellations, delays, etc.). That's incredible. Not surprisingly, scientists have spent considerable time studying the migratory efficiency of the great snipe. Here are three scientific reasons why the bird is able to travel so far so fast. A great snipe displays on its summer breeding grounds in northern Europe. getty Before diving into how the great snipe migrates so efficiently, it's worth meeting the bird itself. The great snipe ( Gallinago media ) is a medium-sized, stocky shorebird with intricately patterned brown, black, and white plumage that provides camouflage in grasslands and wetlands. Males are slightly smaller than females and are known for dramatic courtship displays involving rapid wing beats and vocal trills. Despite their relatively compact bodies, roughly the size of a pigeon, they're among the most extreme endurance athletes in the animal kingdom. One of their most remarkable flight adaptations is their ability to ascend to high altitudes during daytime migration. Tracked birds regularly fly at heights above 20,000 feet, with one individual reaching 28,000 feet, one of the highest altitudes ever documented for a flapping migratory bird. Why such extreme heights? The answer lies in managing body temperature. At lower daytime altitudes, direct sunlight can cause overheating. Birds can't sweat, so they rely on evaporative cooling, which risks dehydration during nonstop flights. By climbing to colder air, where temperatures can drop well below freezing, great snipes naturally cool their bodies through convection, conserving water and maintaining optimal function. ( Sidebar: The great snipe is among the highest flyers in the bird world – but not the highest. That record goes to a bird that once collided with a commercial jet at 37,000 feet. Read about it here . ) 2. The Great Snipe Flies Higher During the Day to Avoid Predators One great snipe was recorded migrating at an altitude of 28,000 feet, enduring extreme cold, low ... More oxygen, and intense UV radiation without prior acclimatization. getty Another reason behind the great snipe's impressive migratory performance is its ability to avoid aerial predators by adjusting its flight altitude depending on the time of day. During daylight hours, raptors like Eleonora's falcon and peregrine falcon actively hunt small to medium-sized birds. These predators typically patrol altitudes below 10,000 feet, especially around dawn when their prey begins flying again after nighttime rest. By climbing well above these altitudes, the great snipe puts itself out of reach of most of these hunters. Interestingly, the snipe's daily altitude cycle reflects this risk management strategy. After flying at lower altitudes during the relative safety of night, it ascends at dawn, reaching altitudes that make predation much less likely. Then, as the sun sets and predator activity drops, the birds descend again to more oxygen-rich, energy-efficient air layers for night flight. This up-and-down flight pattern isn't just about staying cool; it's about staying alive. 3. Altitude Changes May Help Great Snipes Navigate Using Landmarks The great snipe forages in wet meadows and marshes, probing soft soil for invertebrates such as ... More earthworms, insects, and larvae. getty Efficiency in migration is as much about accurate navigation as it is about endurance. Here, a third factor comes into play: the great snipe's need to orient itself using Earth's surface features. During daylight, flying at higher altitudes provides the great snipe with a broader, more detailed view of the landscape below. This enhanced perspective can be crucial for maintaining direction, identifying key ecological landmarks, or adjusting course over long stretches of terrain such as the Sahara or the Mediterranean. Though many birds navigate using the stars, the sun, Earth's magnetic field, or even olfactory cues, visual landmarks are still important. By climbing higher during the day, great snipes may be able to detect distant rivers, coastlines, or other familiar features, aiding in precise navigation over thousands of kilometers. At night, when visibility drops, these landmarks are harder to see, so there's less reason to remain at higher, less oxygen-rich elevations. As a result, the birds descend into more comfortable altitudes to conserve energy. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Hot Springs Are the Perfect Blue Lagoon Alternative—and They Have Stunning Fjord Views and Seal ‘Supervisors'
Along with whale watching and taking in cinematic landscapes, soaking in geothermal hot springs is one of the best things you can do while in Iceland—and there's one hot spring where you can do all three. Located 50 minutes north of Reykjavik off Ring Road, Hvammsvík Hot Springs sits on a hilly peninsula that juts out into the waters of the picturesque Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord). Set on a 1,200-acre estate, this remote nature resort (which opened in 2022 with a modernist bathhouse and beachfront baths) may seem like the only hint of human habitation around—but the site has deep roots in Icelandic history. It was first settled by the Vikings in the 11th century, and served as an Allied naval base (codenamed 'Falcon Beach) during World War II. Now, however, it's a serene place to soak in toasty waters amid Iceland's stunning scenery. Fronted by the fjord's sculpted walls and sheltered waters, eight rock-rimmed natural hot springs sit right by the shore, ranging from a lukewarm 95 degrees Fahrenheit to a sizzling 104 degrees. Bathers can cool off in some of the lower pools, where lapping waves keep the temperatures mild (at high tide, some even become completely submerged), or walk down the beach for a salty cold plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. While you're relaxing, you can watch the waves for curious seals—they're so common, the staff call them the "supervisors" and "quality managers." And if you're really lucky, you may see whales. Despite its name, Whale Fjord isn't known for whale watching, and it used to be the site of a whaling station. But staff say whales have been spotted in the area, with humpbacks finally making a return after a 25-year absence. For night sky enthusiasts, the hot springs are from enough from Reykjavík to have only low levels of light pollution, and the night skies are clear enough for the northern lights in winter. Amenities in the art-filled bathhouse include showers and changing areas (both communal and private), a geothermal sauna, a swim-up bar slinging drinks like cocktails and seaweed-derived wellness shots, and a bistro for Icelandic eats like seafood stew and open-faced sourdough sandwiches. Activities such as ocean swimming sessions and stand-up paddle boarding, as well as Wim Hof breathing and cold endurance classes, are on offer. Guests can also try their hand at the stone-lifting Atlas Challenge to win prizes like complimentary drinks and even free admission for a year. If you don't want to make the drive back to Reykjavik, a number of historic farmhouses and cabins—tastefully updated to preserve their heritage while having modern creature comforts—provide places to rest your head overnight. Perched atop an elevated rise with panoramic views from its private hot spring and glass-walled living room, the Hilltop House not only has the best views on the property, but also the coolest backstory. Originally built by the British Navy, the cabin is said to have been the site of secret meetings held by Winston Churchill. Weather permitting (this is Iceland, after all), Hvammsvík Hot Springs is open daily throughout the year. Admission starts around $65 USD and includes unlimited hot springs and sauna access. To reach Hvammsvík, you'll either need a rental car or you can book transfers with a tour operator like Reykjavik Excursions.
