Strangler Figs

Corcovado is unlike any other park I've visited within Costa Rica, massive in size and far wilder, with just a few trails piercing into its depths. It's been referred to as the crown jewel of Costa Rica's national park system. Its rugged coast is lined with coconut and almond trees, with waterfalls pouring down volcanic cliffs into the ocean. Just beyond the sand, a dense jungle teems with life, ancient trees towering out of the canopy, a rare sanctuary preserved in its untamed state. Due to ...

Not until I started exploring central California though did I get the chance to get to know the Elephant Seal, another relative of harbor seals and sea lions, commonly known as Sea Elephants. They get their name from their protruding proboscis (snouts/noses) and their massive size. The males can get up to around 5000 pounds, and have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm during their migrations up to the icy waters of the arctic. They are a sexually dimorphic species, where the female...

Although largely unknown to most travelers, one of the most influential ancient cultures of South America is that of Chavín. It served as an important pilgrimage site from roughly 1200-500 B.C.E. As it rose in prominence, artwork bearing its religious symbols began appearing throughout the central Andes and down to the Peruvian coast. This expansion points towards a widespread transformation of the Andean belief system within the archeological timeline, in what's been dubbed the Early Horizon.