The sun comes up about 6: 30. A wakeup swim in the river is followed by a light breakfast. We are off for kayaking in the Rio Novo.

We go over some class one rapids. Overall it is an easy trip with only a few tipping over. The Korubo truck brings us back to camp.

In the late afternoon we drive to the giant sand dunes in Jalapão National Park.

One of the great things about the Korubo truck is riding on top of it – a great way to observe and take photos.

We stay on the dunes until sunset.

In the camp one must be on the lookout for snakes.

Cats guard the perimeter – they are faster than the cobras !

FOR ADVENTURES IN BRAZIL, CLICK HERE

Safari and Rafting Expedition In Brazil’s Northern Deserts

EMBRATUR – the Brazilian Government Tourism Authority and ABETA – Brazilian Adventure Travel Trade Association have invited ArcticTropic to participate in an 8-day exploration of the Jalapão region in the remote Tocantins River Valley of Northeastern Brazil.

The purpose of the trip is to promote a newly opened adventure travel region of Brazil. Few foreigners other than explorers or scientists have visited the region.

ArcticTropic Blog will have daily updates – except when traversing the rivers. Due to the nature of the journey – constant submersion in roiling rapids -, electronic equipment cannot be taken. Waterproof cameras will be used in these situations.

We will depart Miami next Monday night – first flying all the way down to São Paulo, then back North to Brasilia, then further North to Palmas, the capital of Tocantins State. From there – the adventure begins.

FOR ADVENTURES IN BRAZIL, CLICK HERE

Gabon is quickly becoming a new frontier for African Safaris. The Loango Region is spectacular – with jungle wildlife along the pristine Atlantic Coast. There are daily flights from Paris. ArcticTropic has three links to Gambian destinations right now.

A drive into the Heart of Darkness. The Congo is one of the few areas of the world that is becoming LESS developed , as the jungle reclaims Colonial development – hence all the better for exploration. ArcticTropic is open to any suggestions for listings of exploration leadership enterprises.

Burundi has recovered from it’s barbaric recent past and now welcomes adventurers.ArcticTropic has just one listing for Burundi – we invite companies to contact us to be listed.

An associate of ArcticTropic, who works very hard for our country, travels frequently to Afghanistan. A link to his site.

Bhutan is remote and selective – like an exotic world club for the few and privileged . The entry (visa) fee is $250 and you must be on an organized tour. Numbers are limited. TV was only legalized 4 years ago – and the Web is arriving in a small trickle. Bhutan is an authentic Shangri-La – a land of True Adventure.

Civilized Angola was wiped off the map in nearly 30 years of war. Now, it is re-emerging from the bush – this is the best time to go for true adventure. ArcticTropic has one link for Angola and more will be added soon.

Trucks cross a floating bridge in the Amur River on the Russian-Chinese border near Khabarovsk. Note the ships pulling the bridge to keep it in place. In the winter the river freezes solid in -40 degree temperatures and the the trucks drive on the ice. ArcticTropic already has several adventure destinations in the Russian Far East and Siberia.

Kamchatka is the newest area on earth,save for a few islands, and has 15 active volcanoes, is snowbound most of the year,is bigger than California, with only 387,000 people – most of them in Petropavlovsk.

Major boiling points below:

About 100 miles away, over an ice or deep mud road,snowbound 11 months of the year, high into the mountains is a geothermal plant – to harness volcanic energy. Here is one of the buildings. Getting the power to the city is problematic.

A five hour climb brings you into a volcano that sometimes erupts . This is foul smelling hot sulfur gas escaping from the blowhole.One must walk carefully – sinking into the hot earth would turn your leg into charred bone instantly.

Back down in the valley – boiling mud bubbles out of the Earth everywhere – creating a beautiful,surreal scene.