National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the National Geographic Society, was founded in 1999 in the same spirit of exploration that has been the hallmark of the Society's 124-year history. National Geographic Expeditions now offers hundreds of trips each year, spanning all seven continents and more than 60 destinations. In providing unique opportunities to explore, our expeditions help fulfill the Society's mission: to inspire people to care about the planet. Our programs are especially unique because of our National Geographic experts-anthropologists, archaeologists, biologists, explorers, historians, naturalists, photographers, and filmmakers. An expert or team of experts accompanies each expedition, sharing their insights, knowledge, and passion for a region, and enhancing the experience immeasurably.
Reminds me of the art colony in dry, dusty Marfa, Texas. The locals wouldn't be able to afford these indulgent colonies of the very wealthy. But, perhaps it does provide dying places with jobs. I also notice her idealism of how we'd get back to nature- zeitgeist has not happened yet after 12 years... now every youngster coming up no matter where, doesn't even what to make it in silicon valley. They just want to do insipid, mindless, and downright trashy things on RU-vid and OF. I'm still hopeful we will wake up. Fogo Island is beautiful! I cry when hearing singing the old folks beautiful songs of such a hard life.
I have stayed at Mashpi Lodge and forked over the $1000 a night fee just to see if all the hype was worth it, and, basically, it is if you can afford it, which I could for three days, but that was it. Very luxurious, plunked down in the midst of the Chocó biosphere, with all the habitat intact. The room was extremely comfortable and the food was great. I was there mainly to photograph birds, and here I encountered the same thing I have with other high end lodges, namely that you can't do anything outside without being accompanied by a guide, which ain't cheap. I tried to explain to the management before I got there that I didn't need a guide to be with me while I spent hours photographing hummingbirds, I just needed access to their feeders. They interpreted this as complaining about the guiding fee, which was high, but was not the point. So I did have a guide with me the entire time I was at the feeders. He was a nice, knowledgeable guy, but he was wasting his time watching me. This is so different from other ecolodges in Ecuador, such as Tandayapa, Guango, or you name it, where you can walk the trails to your heart's content. If you want a bird guide, you can arrange for one. I'm not sure what the thinking is; perhaps the clientele who stay at these super expensive places are so litigious that the management is afraid the guests will sue if they stub their toe, or are so helpless that they can't do anything for themselves outdoors without being led around. Maybe someone can explain it to me, but I thought it was a great waste of resources.
Oh by the way the boat don't interest me. It's just a rich boys play thing, that represents social injustice. Just because someone has colossal amounts of money they can afford to splash out on a trip, why should Mr & Mrs ordinary, not be entitled to take a turn out on the thing regardless ??? More and more people globally, just like me, are waking up to such injustices as this. Its not right to see this kind of thing know days.
Couple things with this 1: With or without a sponsor, Nat Geo has a LOT more money than I ever appreciated 2: That is the coolest boat I've ever seen, and I don't even like boats 3: Cinewhoop drones are my new favorite thing
