Video: The Green Mansions Of The Amazon

The Amazon is an amazing place that few of us ever get the opportunity to see. It is an incredibly diverse biosphere unlike any on our planet, and quite frankly it is an awe inspiring place that I've been fortunate enough to visit. The video below takes us on location to that visually striking place, offering up a glimpse of the Amazon from Colombia, Peru and Brazil.

GREEN MANSIONS from Gātha on Vimeo.

National Geographic Presents 50 Tours Of A Lifetime For 2014

Earlier this week, National Geographic Traveler has released their annual selection of their Tours of a Lifetime, giving us 50 more amazing trips that we can take in our never-ending quest to explore the world. As in years past, the 2014 edition of this list offers some amazing tours, offered by some of the best adventure travel companies in the world, that anyone of us can book today. Provided we have enough money that is.

As usual, Nat Geo has broken down their selections by geographic categories. That means you'll find options for travel in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, North America, and the South Pacific and Oceania. This makes it incredibly easy to find new options for travel in a favorite region, or look for options for some place you've never been before. Each of the regions have a plethora of unique trips to choose from, offering up a wide range of choices that any world traveler will appreciate.

The editors of the magazine look for unique offerings that also align nicely with the organization's mission of immersing us in diverse cultures and delivering experiences that can't necessarily be found anywhere else. For instance, for those wanting to visit Africa, one of the suggestions is a trip to Namibia, offered by a company called Adventures in Africa, that sends you off to the Namib Desert to track endangered black rhinos and elephants that have adapted to living in that incredibly dry place. In Asia, there is an excursion from Wild Frontier Travel that takes you along the Trans-Himalaya Highway in India and another from Explore! that take travelers into Iraq (don't ask me why the Middle East falls under the Asia category). Have dreams of South America instead? How about going on a Jaguar safari in Brazil with Wild Planet Adventures?

There truly is something here for everyone, no matter what your style of travel or how you define "adventure." It is certainly fun to read this list and dream about all the possibilities. Of course, not all of them fall into the affordable category, at least not for most of us. Make no mistake, there are certainly some inexpensive trips to be had on this list, but others are quite expensive, putting them well out of there reach of the average traveler. Still, these suggestions are also a good launching point for hatching ideas for our own travels. While Nat Geo's specific suggestions may not always be friendly to our bank accounts, they do allow us to seek other options that are.

Video: Update From The Brazil 9000 Expedition

It has been awhile since we had an update from Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones, the two adventurers who embarked on the Brazil 9000 Expedition back in 2012. Their plan has been to travel north to south, starting at the border with Guyana, and ending in the village of Chul, on the border with Uruguay. In the process, they'll cover some 9000 km (5592 miles), traveling through some of the most remote and challenging regions in the world.

In January, the boys achieved a major milestone by reaching the village of Belém, which sits at the delta of the Amazon, where that might river reaches the Atlantic Ocean at long last. At that pony they were about a third of the way done with the journey, which was originally expected to take roughly 15 months to complete, but it has now stretched on far longer due to logistical issues, funding and a host of other challenges to overcome.

The video below s there latest dispatch from Brazil, and like their previous videos, it is exceptionally well done. Not only does it give us a sense of what it like to travel through the dense Amazon Rainforest on foot and by canoe, but it also gives us a glimpse of what life is like in a place that few of us ever get the opportunity to ever see.

Black Gold: Brazil 9000 Update #4 from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tip #12 - Travel Immunizations

Richard Bangs is back this week with some more helpful advice on a topic that is often overlooked by many travelers – travel immunizations. As always, he shares some of the wisdom that he has gained after years of travel to remote corners of the globe. This time, he learned an important lesson after enduring a bout of malaria while in Brazil. Something he hopes he can help the rest of us avoid.

Kayaking Around South America: Freya Hoffmeister Closes In On Finish

It has been quite awhile since we last checked in on Freya Hoffmeister, the long distance kayaking queen. If you're familiar with Freya, you probably already know that she is the first woman to kayak solo around Australia and is in the midst of attempting her second contingent by paddling completely around South America too. She's been working on that project for some time, and while she still has quite a ways to go before she is done, she is edging ever closer to completing that epic paddle as well.

As of now Freya is 630 days into the expedition and currently she is in Punta de Pesqueiro, Brazil. Considering the fact that she launched this journey from Buenos Aires, Argentina in August of 2011, I'd say she has made considerable progress. She has been traveling in a clockwise direction around the continent since that time, braving the treacherous waters of the Drake Passage, paddling solo up the west coast, and even passing through the Panama Canal.

During that time, she has taken a couple of breaks, flown home to Germany to rest, regroup and refocus. But she has always returned to the water and remained dedicated to completing this epic project. It seems she's in the stretch run now however, as she makes the final push toward a return to Buenos Aires, where the entire journey began.

At the moment, Freya is resting her weary body before returning to the water. She'll then head to Sao Luis, which will be her next major stopping point. She still faces a few months of paddling before she wraps up the expedition altogether, but the end is somewhat in sight, even if it is still a bit distant. With thousands of miles of kayaking now behind her, and hundreds yet to go, I'm sure Freya is focused on the finish line, and eager to be done, but the final push is going to require her to stay tough and power through the final weeks. That is something we know she is more than capable of doing.

I'll keep a close watch on Freya's final push toward the end, and of course let everyone know as she approaches Buenos Aires. As I mentioned, it's still some time off, but considering the distances she's already covered, it seems that her finishing the expedition is just an inevitability at this point.

Win An "Expedition" To Brazil

Ever wanted to visit Brazil? If so, the very tasty Fogo de Chão restaurant has you covered. The company is giving away a trip to your choice of four destinations within the country, which is sure to be abuzz with World Cup fever later this summer.

Dubbed Expedition Brazil, entrants in the competition can choose between the Brasilia Cultural Tour (cultural, historical and architectural tours of the capital city), Big City Exploration (activities in and around São Paulo), Rio Beach Vacation (sun and surf in Rio!) and Traditional Gaucho Experience (cowboy tradition Brazil style).

To enter, just visit the Expedition Brazil website and select the adventure you'd most like to go on. Then fill out the form, telling Fogo why you deserve to go on that particular trip. Then rally your troops over social media, getting them to "like" your submission. The number of "likes" will factor into the the final decision. Once they've selected three finalists, there will be a final vote online to determine the winner. That person will than share their adventure with video, photos and more.

Each one of these trips would be a great way to see Brazil, although I have to say that I'm surprised they didn't offer an option to visit the Amazon as well. If I had to chose from one of these four options, I'd go with the Gaucho experience. Horseback riding in Brazil's cattle country, a Gaucho rodeo, and similar activities sound the most adventurous to me. Then again, hanging out on a beach in Rio wouldn't be bad either.

The contest runs through Feb. 16, so hurry and get your submission in. The extra voting time may come in handy. Good luck!

5000 Mile Project: Couple Running The Length Of South America

On July 28, David and Katharine Lowrie set out on a run like no other. The pair have hit the road to run the length of South America. Yes, you read that right. They are planning on running south to north across the entire continent and they're doing so to raise awareness and funds to protect the wildlife that lives in threatened areas there. Their expedition is aptly named the 5000 Mile Project, as that is the distance that they will cover before they are through. (That's roughly 8046 km for most of the world.)

The began their epic adventure last month by setting off from Punta Arenas, Chile, the southernmost settlement in South America. They'll now work their way north through Patagonia, crossing between Chile and Argentina as they go. Eventually they'll cross into Bolivia before continuing on to Brazil, where they'll face one of the biggest challenges to the expedition – a crossing of the Amazon Rainforest. If successful there, they'll emerge into Venezuela and finish the journey with a run to the Caribbean coast.

The Lowrie's hope to wrap up their journey approximately a year after they started. That seems rather ambitious considering the difficult miles that lie ahead. The couple aren't just out on the road running unencumbered. They're pulling specially designed carts behind them that carry all of their gear and supplies as well. David and Katharine are hoping to cover roughly the length of a marathon each day (26.2 miles/42.1 km), which is a challenge but highly feasible while on roads. But once they hit the Amazon, things will be completely different and much more difficult in general.


The husband and wife team have undertaken the 5000 Mile Project to raise funds for Asociacion Armonia, BirdLife International and Conservacion Patagonica. The hope is to collect enough money to help fund the purchase of threatened habitats in South America to protect the wildlife that lives there. As part of the project, they are also recording the various animals they see along their run including the many bird species that inhabit the continent.

Their efforts don't end there however. They've also launched the BigToe Classroom which contains lesson plans and projects for teachers to use with their students to get them engaged with conservation projects as well. There is even a way to contact David and Katharine and set up a video conference call with them directly from the road.

You can learn more about the 5000 Mile Project in an interview that the couple did with Explorers Web earlier in the week. You can also follow along with David and Katharine's blog or on Twitter and Facebook.

Video: Experience Imagination In South America

To truly get a sense of South America, filmmakers Clemens Krüger, Vincent Urban & Stefan Templer traveled its length in a classic Land Rover, wandering through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. Along the way they captured some striking images from road and compiled them in the amazing video you'll find below. Those images are sometimes haunting, sometimes enchanting and always compelling. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Really beautiful footage.

Video: Urban Wingsuits Over Rio

Lets start the day out today with a little adrenaline rush. This video was shot using GoPro cameras as wingsuit pilots Ludovic Woerth and Jokke Sommer fly into Rio de Janeiro. The highlights from this clip include that they launched their flight from motorized paragliders and they managed to buzz between two towers on their descent, before coming in for a landing in a small park in the middle of the city. Crazy stuff, even with a fogged over lens.

Brazil 9000 Expedition: Video Update #3

Last fall, Aaron Chevernak and Gareth Jones embarked on their ambitious Brazil 9000 Expedition, during which they are traveling across the South American country on foot and by canoe and bicycle. Their journey began in the northernmost part of Brazil and they've been traveling south ever since. The expedition is expected to last up to 15 months and will cover a distance of 9000 km (5500 miles) before ending in the village of Chuí on the border with Uruguay. They are currently 126 days into the trek and have now covered 2345 km (1457 miles).

It has been awhile since we've had one of Aaron and Gareth's wonderful video dispatches, but yesterday they released a new one. The video gives us a glimpse of what life is like for the boys as they paddle some of Brazil's iconic rivers, including the Amazon from Manaus to Santarem. Along they way they've spotted a variety of wildlife, encountered unique people and even had a cold Coca Cola delivered to them by float plane.

As with their previous dispatches, I'm amazed at the quality of these videos considering they're shooting, editing and uploading them while on the go. Truly wonderful stuff and they create a nice feeling of being on the expedition with the two men.

Caboclo Kingdom: Brazil 9000 Update #3 from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Amazon Express Update: Mission Accomplished!

One of the bigger expeditions we've been following over the past few months came to an end yesterday when the Amazon Express crew completed their paddle of the Amazon River. The team worked late into the night and battled unexpectedly heavy tides, to reach the mouth of the river, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Brazil. That final push brought an end to a journey that took nearly four months to complete and crossed over 4000 miles (6437 km) in the process.

The past few days have not been easy ones for West Hansen and his companions. The closer they got to the finish line the more difficult the paddling became. At times they were averaging just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) per hour as the incoming tides from the Atlantic made it difficult for them to make any kind of headway. The team took breaks where they could and rested during high tide, but over the final two days they slept for just a couple of hours as they made a mad, desperate dash for the end of the river.

Reading the most recent post to the Amazon Express blog it is clear that the final leg of the trip has been an exhausting one. The three paddlers miss their families and homes dearly and are more than ready to wrap things up and head back to the U.S. They'll do that tomorrow, but for now they're enjoying some basic creature comforts they haven't had for some time and relishing in the feeling of having accomplished their quest to paddle the Amazon River from source to sea.

No word yet on whether or not this was a new speed record of any kind. Originally when the expedition was conceived it was meant to be an attempt to paddle the entire 4000+ mile length of the river at a record pace. There really hasn't been much mention of that goal since the early going, so we'll have to wait to see if that remained a driving factor in the end or if this simply evolved into an adventure along the world's largest and most powerful river.

Congratulations to West and his team for completing this epic journey. I can only imagine some of the things that they saw while out on the water.

Amazon Express Update: End In Sight

Over the past few months we've been closely following the Amazon Express expedition, during which West Hansen and his team of paddlers have been attempting to travel source-to-sea along the Amazon River. This is, of course, a major undertaking which began back in the Peruvian Andes in August, continued down into some of the most intense whitewater on the planet and later out onto the wide expanse of the might river itself. It has been quite an adventure for the entire group, who continue to paddle on now, knocking off roughly 50+ miles (80+ km) per day. But the end is in sight and they are nearing the finish line at last. If all goes according to plan they should reach the mouth of the river and the Atlantic Ocean sometime early next week.

According to their latest dispatch, West and company are expected to reach Belem, the last major city before the end of the paddle, on Monday, December 3. Belem sits approximately 77 miles (123 km) up river from the point where the Amazon empties into the Atlantic. At this point, they don't expect to pull into the city at all, but instead paddle past it. Taking their current speed into account, it seems likely that they will then wrap up the expedition on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at the very latest. By the time they are done, they'll have kayaked in excess of 4000 miles (6437 km) through some of the most remote and isolated regions on Earth.

These past few weeks have not been particularly easy ones for the team. As they've paddled further down the river, the current has gotten slower, making it more difficult to cover adequate mileage each day. On top of that, the conditions have gotten windier, which always makes paddling tougher, and they are now dealing with the effects of tides as well. As a result, they're only managing about 3-3.5 mph (4.8-5.6 km/h) in the mornings. In the afternoons the winds die down, allowing them to go faster, but that is also when the tides are at their highest, so that time of day presents its own set of challenges. Needless to say, it has been exhausting work and the crew is ready to finish up and head home.

It looks like next week they'll get to do exactly that.

Brazil 9000 Update: Lost And Found In The Rainforest

Aaron Chevernak and Gareth Jones are now several weeks into the Brazil 9000 Expedition and as we all might have guessed, it hasn't been an easy trek thus far. As you may or may not recall, these boys are attempting to travel on foot, canoe and bicycle across 9000 km (5500 miles) of some of the most remote regions of Brazil. They've started in the extreme north of the country, along the border with Guyana, and they intend to proceed south to the village of Chuí on the border with Uruguay.

As promised, Aaron and Gareth have been documenting their adventure and have just released their first video update from the field. It will give you a great sense of what they've been dealing with thus far, including passing through rainforest so dense that their guide abandoned them after just 16 km (10 miles). Left to fend for themselves, they managed to find their way into what they describe as a "no man's land" along the Brazil-Guyana border. The region is uninhabited even by indigenous tribes, but from the video it looks absolutely beautiful. From there, they move on a river that local miners told them was impassable, but they managed to run it just 11 days.

The footage in this five minute video is simply spectacular and if they continue to release short films of their expedition of this quality, we are all in for a treat. We already knew this was going to be an amazing experience before they after started, but this first update is nothing short of stunning. I'm already looking forward to more videos in the weeks ahead.

Brazil 9000: Found in a Lost World - Update #2 from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Amazon Express Update: Into Brazil, Picking Up Speed!

The Amazon Express paddling team, led by West Hansen, continues to make progress in their attempt to kayak the length of the Amazon River in record time. The expedition that began back in the Peruvian Andes in August has now proceeded much further downstream and this week they've managed to once again pass some impressive milestones. They still have a long way to go until they reach the Atlantic Ocean, but West and company seem to really be in a groove now and knocking off the miles at an impressive clip.

Perhaps the biggest news to come from the AE squad this week is that they have left Peru behind at last and are now padding the waters of the Amazon in Brazil. Upon arriving at the first settlement in that country they had to share their paperwork, permits and passports but once the officials there saw that everything was in order, they were allowed to continue on their way. That means they've crossed the last diplomatic hurdles in their way, and should now have a free run to the finish, although they are likely to be stopped by local police or the Brazilian navy a few times along the way.

Shortly after enter Brazil, the team also moved into another timezone. While that may not really seem like much of an accomplishment, when you consider that they've now paddled far enough to completely traverse one timezone and enter another, it gives you an idea of the scope of their adventure.  Add to it that they've now been on the water for 62 days and you being to get an idea of how challenging this journey must be for them, both physically and mentally.  (Note: The 62 days represents the number of days they've been in their kayaks and paddling. The expedition has actually been longer.)

That daily grind isn't slowing them down much, as they have managed to really crank out the miles this week, even setting a new single-day distance record yesterday. Earlier in the week they came close to passing 80 miles (128 km) in one day, missing it by the narrowest of margins. Yesterday they blew past that mark however, covering an impressive 85.6 miles (137.7 km).


As they head further east, the team is finding fewer and fewer places to camp each night. The river is growing wider and larger as they go, and they are probably wandering further away from something that actually defines a shoreline. When camping last night they also reported that there were quite few caiman eyes watching them from the water. For those who don't know, a caiman resembles a small alligator, with most measuring no more than a couple of meters in length. They aren't particularly dangerous or aggressive, but I'm sure the boys are giving them plenty of respect none the less.

I'll post more updates as the team continues to make progress. They're doing quite well at the moment, but still have a number of weeks on the water  before they're done.

Amazon Express Update: Milestones Passed And Ahead

It has been a few weeks since we last checked in on West Hansen and his paddling team as they make their way down the Amazon River. As you probably know, they're attempting to complete a source-to-sea kayaking expedition in record time, calling the excursion The Amazon Express. When I last wrote about their progress, the team had cleared the dangerous red zone and were leaving the last of the whitewater behind. Since then, they've moved onto the Amazon proper and have cleared a few more hurdles on their journey.

One of the bigger milestones for the expedition thus far was achieved this past weekend when West and company arrived in Iquitos, by far the largest city that they'll encounter along the Peruvian Amazon. Iquitos is an isolated, yet bustling, city that once held the distinction of being the largest in the world without access by road. When I was there back in 2008, the only way in or out was by boat or plane. I'm told that there is now a single road that leads into town and helps connect the city with other nearby villages.

By reaching Iquitos, the Amazon Express crew has now passed more than 1800 miles (2897 km) on their journey, but more importantly the city gave them the opportunity to spend a few days resting up and gathering supplies for the next leg of their journey. That will be a 300 mile (483 km) jaunt to the border of Brazil, where they'll find their next town of any size, Santa Rosa. They should arrive there by this weekend. Iquitos also meant that there was still roughly 2500 miles (4023 km) to go before the expedition ends in the Atlantic.

West and the rest of the paddlers are making good time these days. Most of their updates indicate that they are covering between 50-60 miles (80-95 km) per day. That's a solid pace on a river that doesn't always offer much in the way of current to help push you along. Still, considering how massive and lengthy the Amazon truly is, they still have many days and weeks to go until they reach the end.

Journey America Update: From Canada To Brazil On Horseback

Way back in March of this year I wrote about an expedition that was still in the planning stages but preparing to get underway. It was named Journey America and it featured cowboy Filipe Masetti Leite traveling on horseback from Toronto, Canada back home to Sao Paulo, Brazil – a journey of 16,000km (9942 miles) that is expected to take up to two years to complete. After months of planning, Filipe hit the trail in July and has been wandering southward ever since and documenting his progress at OutWild TV.

Over the past two months Leite has been enjoying his travels through the American west, first crossing the border into Montana and continuing South into Wyoming and now Colorado. His journey even took him through the heart of Yellowstone National Park, which had to have been a spectacular place to ride. He's averaging about 30 miles per day and has just crossed over the 1000 mile mark. In order to keep himself and his two horses fresh, he takes two days off from riding each week, which will be important for maintaing the health of his mounts over the long haul.

Filipe has reportedly been overwhelmed the support he has received on his journey. Complete strangers have given him food and supplies and offered up a place for him and his horses to spend the night. That kindness has helped make his journey an enjoyable one thus far and hopefully it will continue in that way all the way back to Brazil.



In addition to following daily updates and twice weekly dispatches on OutWild TV, Filipe is also providing information via his Twitter feed and Instagram. Considering he still has a long way to go, it should be quite an adventure to follow in the months ahead. The video below is an example of life on the road for the intrepid cowboy.

Update: Shortly after I posted this story I received a note from the Long Riders Guild informing me that before setting off on his epic journey, Filipe received advice and training from ten different members of the guild, across five different countries, that will prove invaluable on his expedition. The guild also lent him a pack saddle that he is testing on the ride as well. Apparently the pack is part of a special ten-year field test and Filipe is the most recent rider to use it on this kind of sojourn.

The Long Riders also wanted me to point out that Filipe's ride esd inspired by Aime Tschiffely, who is considered to be the greatest long rider of the 20th century. In 1925 the Swiss rider set out on a three year trek that covered 10,000 miles between Buenos Aires and New York City. Along the way he crossed over mountains, jungles and deserts to complete one of the toughest and most grueling equine adventures in history. It is quite a story which can be read in his famous book Tschiffely's Ride.

Dispatch #12 - Drive-thru Cowboy from Outwild TV on Vimeo.

Brazil 9000 Expedition Update: Ready To Go!

Back in July I posted about the Brazil 9000 Expedition which will see adventurers/filmmakers Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones attempt to cover more than 9000km (5592 miles) across the wild and remote places of Brazil. At the time, the boys were still in the final planning stages leading up to the start of their journey, but now they're off to South America and preparing to embark.

The expedition will begin on the mountain of Monte Cabural, which falls on the border of Brazil and Guyana. They'll first begin traveling south by canoe through the Amazon before eventually transitioning to foot in the Caatinga Forests, covering thousands of miles along the way. Finally, they'll finish up their epic adventure by riding their bikes along the Brazilian coastline, eventually ending in the town of Chul on the border with Uruguay.

Aaron and Gareth are currently in Brazil and intend to get started soon. Once they do, they'll be posting updates to their Facebook page and Twitter account to keep us all informed of their progress. Before they left, they made a beautiful short film called Leaving Los Angeles that introduces us to their adventure and shares why they're so drawn to the culture and history of Brazil. You'll find it below.


Brazil 9000: Leaving Los Angeles from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Amazon Express: Solo Speed Attempt To Kayak The Amazon River

While we're on the subject of South America and The Amazon today, it appears that another major paddling expedition is about to hit the water there. Texan West Hansen will soon be attempting to become the first and fastest person to paddle the entire length of the Amazon River, source-to-sea, completely solo and in record time. He calls this expedition The Amazon Express and if all goes according to plan, he'll be getting under way in a matter of days.

Hansen will begin the journey at the headwaters of the Amazon, which start in the Peruvian Andes on Mount Mismi, which gives birth to the Apurimac River, one of the tributaries that helps form the mighty Amazon itself. In those early days he'll be navigating dangerous Class III-VI+ rapids as he descends through Black Canyon and the legendary Acobamba Abyss, one of the most difficult sections of white water anywhere in the world.

That section of the journey will cover approximately 425 miles (684km) before the water begins to even out and slow down dramatically. From there, it is another 3800 miles (6115km) to the sea, all of which West intends to run as quickly as possible, going night and day to the finish line to the best of his ability. All told, the entire expedition will cover 4425 miles (7121km).

West is currently in South America and preparing to start his epic paddle. He has secured his visas and is in the final stages of getting his gear and supplies ready. He'll have a support boat that will resupply him along the way, but he'll be doing all of the paddling completely alone. If all goes as planned, he should hit the water as early as next week.

It should be noted, and Hansen acknowledges this himself, this isn't the first kayaking expedition to run the Amazon. His "firsts" include doing it solo and fast. Seems like it's going to be one hell of a journey and I wish him the best of luck, and not just because he lives in Austin, my place of residence. This will definitely be one amazing adventure.

Follow along at TheAmazonExpress2012.com.

CheapTents Interviews Brazil 9000 Crew

A few weeks back I posted a story on the Brazil 9000 expedition which involves adventurers Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones traveling north to south across Brazil on foot, canoe and bike, covering more than 9000km (5592 miles) in the process. The journey is set to begin in a few months and they expect it to take roughly 15 months to complete.

Today, the CheapTents blog, which is always a great source for interesting stories, has posted an interview with Aaron and Gareth. The two men discuss their inspirations for the Brazil 9000 expedition, their previous experience in the Amazon and what they expect to find as they traverse the remote regions of South America. They also talk about their training as they prepare for the epic journey, what they're most looking forward to on the road and what they expect to be their biggest challenges.

Being a gear blog of sorts, CheapTents always asks their interviewees about their favorite gear and Aaron and Gareth are no exception. This is always one of my favorite sections in a CP interview as I'm often curious about the gear that adventurers take with them on their travels. In this case, Aaron says that he loves their Ally canoe made be Bergans of Norway, calling it "the best collapsible canoe on the market." For his part, Gareth gives the nod to his Arc’teryx Naos 85 backpack, which he lauds for its ability to comfortably carry heavy loads over long distances and for the fact that it is waterproof. Something that will no doubt come in handy in the rainforest.

This is one of the upcoming expeditions that I'm looking forward to following the most. Aaron and Gareth intend to use social media to the fullest while traveling which hopefully means we'll get plenty of updates and lots of information from them in the field. It's going to be one amazing journey to say the least.

Brazil 9000 Expedition: North-to-South By Foot, Pedal and Paddle

In September of this year, adventurers Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones will embark on an epic journey that will cover more than 9000km (5592 miles) across the Amazon Jungle in South America. Along the way they intend to document their travels through photos, video, web updates and film production as they introduce their audience to the diverse and unique people and landscapes of Brazil.

Aaron and Gareth call their expedition Brazil 9000 and it will begin at Monte Caburaí, a 1465 meter (4806 ft) mountain on the border of Brazil and Guyana. From there, they'll travel south by canoe through the Amazon, then by foot across the dense Caatinga forests and along thousands of miles of coastline, before finishing the final stage of the journey by bike, eventually ending in Chuí, a small town on the border with Uruguay.

Once they get under way in a couple of months, we'll be able to follow Aaron and Gareth through updates to their Facebook page and Twitter feed. The boys promise to keep us well informed of their progress and share all kinds of unique aspects of Brazilian history and culture. They estimate that it will take roughly 15 months to finish their human-powered journey across Brazil.

This isn't Aaron and Gareth's first visit to the Amazon. The duo made a great short film of their previous expedition to the Amazon, which you can find below. It's a fantastic look at an amazing part of the world and if this is an indication of what we can expect from Brazil 9000, we're all in for a treat.

 South at the 28th Spring from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.