Chile Costa Rica Galapagos Islands Guatemala India Kodiak Alaska Morocco New Zealand Nicaragua Peru Tanzania Home Destinations About Us Testimonials Bookings Newsletters Contact Us Site Map Email Us	Newsletters - September 2009 Biotrek Tours 81 Main Street Warrenton, VA 20186 540.349.0040 biotrekadv@aol.com Destinations Chile Costa Rica Galapagos Islands Guatemala India Kodiak Island, Alaska Morocco New Zealand Peru Tanzania Biotrek Newsletter September 2009 Travel to Patagonia Dear Adventure Traveler, Travels to the "end of the earth" are rarely meant literally. There are noteworthy exceptions, however, and this December Biotrek will be flying to the tip of South America to visit one of the world's last pristine lands, and certainly one of its most scenically beautiful extremes: Patagonia. Defined by rocky hills and cliffs soaring above azure blue rivers and waterfalls, all in sharp relief of the snow-capped Andes Mountains, Patagonia possesses an austere beauty both rugged and stunning. While photographs can capture the form of its scenery, what really makes Patagonia so incredible is being there in person. The ability to turn around 360 degrees and realize just how isolated and small you are in comparison to what's surrounding you - Andes rising to altitudes over 8500 feet, glaciers suspended down their sides, and the great, open sky above you - is the essence of why people travel in the first place, although less often in places of such grandeur. Gray Glacier And while photographs have their limits, words have even more when attempting to describe this thinly populated land at world's end. We hope you'll venture with us to witness Patagonia and all of its majesty in person. Los Torres All the best, Sunny Biotrek This is Who We Are Sunny just came back from a trip to Austin where she encountered a tour bus with over 30 people on it, during which she almost lost her mind!! This recent experience has encouraged us re-post our mission statement to remind everyone of Biotrek's purpose in travel. "We create tours for people who hate organized travel packages. Expect adventure and discovery with Biotrek, don't expect the same old leisure travel package. We specialize in organizing and leading adventure travel into Costa Rica and Chile, the Galapagos Islands, India, Guatemala, Peru, Morocco and Tanzania. We are experts on travel in these countries and have made many personal and business connections since 1992. Our tours are small, with a maximum group size of 10 people. Biotrek operates on the conviction that a true travel experience cannot be found in trips with tightly set agendas. The trips are flexible and accommodating to serve the personal interest of each member of our group. Our personal involvement puts us in the very exceptional position of really knowing the sites and the local people that will give our travelers a true sense of each country we visit. Our aim is not only unparalleled wildlife encounters, but also unique insight and knowledge as to the ways and workings of the land, the people, the culture and the environment. Biotrek Adventure Travels appeals mostly to people who do this sort of travel on their own if only they had the connections and time. They want adventure, like climbing the snow and ice covered volcanoes in Chile, yet expect fine lodging and good food and wine at the end of each day. Since our tours are small, we can and do accommodate all kinds of expectations, from just lying on a pristine beach to horseback riding to all levels of white water river rafting. There are many important elements that are integral to the quality and success of a travel tour. I feel that we are uniquely qualified because of our total commitment and personal involvement from beginning to end. My world travel experiences and background in professional photography are a major plus for finding the best and most beautiful vistas, small lovely hotels and excellent restaurants. There are always new destinations on Biotrek's horizons. We look forward to sharing this new information with our fellow travelers. Biotrek, adventure travel in comfort and style!" Our Experience isn't Expensive, It's Priceless!            For everyone out there who loves world travel, this amazing video is worth a few minutes to watch. Trust me! http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741%3E Easter Island Land of Mystery One of the most isolated settlements in the world, Easter Island is over 2000 miles off the coast of Chile and forms the southernmost corner of the Polynesian triangle in the South Pacific Ocean. Best known for the monolithic stone heads that line its shores - called Moai - Easter Island has been under Chilean sovereignty since 1888. The subject of intense historical debate, many still question what happened to the island's native population. A widely accepted suggestion is that civil war and overpopulation brought an end to the Island's settlers. Others claim changing weather patterns decimated crops and fish yields. The Moai themselves have long been the subjects of mystery and debate. Considering their massive sizes - with some standing as high as 33 feet - and many weighing in at well over 50 tons, how were they successfully moved from the quarry to their ahu (stone base)? Many anthropologists and historians put forward that one of the reasons that Easter Island has so few trees is because they were all cut down to construct sledges and rollers for the Moai to be pulled along leveled roads. Thus far, at least, there has been no consensus for how transport actually took place. Offered as an optional extension to our Chile trip, Easter Island is well worth the visit. From Santiago, you'll never be closer. Please call or email for additional information and pricing. Keep Austin Weird Austin, Texas is an amazing city for anyone interested in the art and music scene.For this reason we are working on offering Austin as a New Destination for our First Photography/Writing Workshop! In the Spring of 2010 Barbara Esstman and I will be co-hosting a workshop for those interested in creative writing and photography. My good friend Barbara is a professional writer with 3 novels to her credit in addition to 2 Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. We are very excited to be offering this workshop, and anyone with the slightest artistic streak will be right at home with us. Its not too early to sign up! Dates: April 3 - April 11, 2010 Call Sunny at (540) 349-0040 for additional information or email Barbara at barbesstman@cox.net Holiday Party in Costa Rica! Beaches: ✔ Palm Trees: ✔ Funky Monkeys: ✔ Great Price (Best Ever): ✔ Good Times: Guaranteed December 26th - January 3rd Call us today to reserve your spot! (540) 349-0040  All photographs by Sunny Reynolds © 2009

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