Finally, my last day at work! My journey will start at the 4th of november by flying to Cancun with Olivia (my girlfriend). Originally I would have gone 2 years ago, but luckily in this 'waiting time' the trip has evolved into what it is now. A cycling trip of 20.000KM to protect nature. Normally I am a laid back person, but the last 2 months have been hectic. Last to do's at work, finishing things for the journey and host bird excursions to raise money for the landacquisitionfund. I didn't know it was so much fun to teach people about the most fascinating creatures on earth. Birds!  Birds are also the common thread in the coming months. I have had contact with all 15 projects and that gives me a lot of energy!  Inspiring people who follow their passion and who do important work to preserve nature. I am looking forward to meet them all and witnessing myself what they are doing to protect nature and birds. I'm also proud that already 7000 euro is donated.  During the trip I write a blog like this once every month.  Just like I am the blogs would be down to earth and realistic. If you like to know more, follow me on instagram!

The dream has started.  After an 11 hour flight it is 30 degrees warmer and I'm sweating everywhere.  The first week feels a bit unreal. It feels like I wake up every moment and realise that this dream isn't real. But the dream turns out to be reality.  The bikes are rolling and we see and hear the first birds that I have studied for hours and that I could only dream about!  From the moment we turn inland and leave the touristic coast of Yucatan behind us, we're surounded by nature. What a feeling of peace! The dream has now really begun. The first 300km's are done.  On to the other 19.700km's. Curious what comes next!

If you like reading this, follow me on instagram for daily updates.

For those of you who are interested to see where your donations are spent here a blog to explain more about the first project of IUCN NL landacquisitionfund.

At the first project IUCN NL bought crucial land for local ecosystem. The acquired land exist out of 50.000hectares out of which 500hectares are strictly protected due to the waterreserve and fruittrees that lie in the area. They provide the right environment for the Kingvultures (and many more species) to keep the local ecosystem intact. This area was threatend by deforestation by the local community and if these trees would have been cut, then the Kingvultures could not live here anymore. You find a video on my instagram with more info!

The Belize Zoo does a a lot more on top of there Zoo activities. They educate children, guides, have contact with local communities and are working to create a wildlife corridor. The corridor connects the nature reserves in the south of Belize (and even further into Central America) with the north of Belize and Mexico. Jaguars, tapirs, yellow headed parrots and many more animals use this important corridor!  With the current threat of deforestation the Belize Zoo together with the IUCN NL landacquisitonfund protected 385 hectares longterm and strives to protect more. Very inspiring to see! Watch here the short video to learn more!

The last 3 days we visited multiple reserves of Fundaeco at the east coast of Guatemala. We saw manatees,  learned that seagrass is important food for them and that mangroves ensure the growth of seagrass. We also learned that a river without a mangrove is like a city without schools and waterfiltering. Mangroves have at least 5 important functions:

1) cleaning the water

2) takes more than 3x more CO2 than forest

3) place which protect animales from predators (and humans)

4) place where animals can breed

5) place to eat

Because if the above protecting coastlines from deforestation, tourism (hotels & beachresorts) or harbour activities is an important contribution to a country's nature preservation. With cooperation of IUCN NL landacquisitionfund and other partners Fundaeco protects the coastline around Livingston.

The Red-capped Manakin! This is a bird that only shows itself at peaceful surroundings. The bird is famous for his vocals and dance. One of my biggest wishbirds! We stumbled on it at Ensenada Verde. This reserve of Fundaeco has been bought and protected with the cooperation of the IUCN NL landacquisitionfund. With our own eyes we witnessed the beauty and importance of this reserve. Unfortunately this area was threatened by expansion of the harbor. By buying this reserve it contribute to the biodiversity of 400 birdspecies in this region!

Why is it important to donate for IUCN NL landacquisitionfund? Let me explain why! We're travelling by bike for 1,5 month and visited 3 projects that are supported by IUCN NL landacquisitionfund. I'm very impressed about the direct impact of donations for these projects and I hope, as my followers, you are too. I witnessed how every euro goes directly to preserving nature. Preserving is important because there is still a lot of unprotected nature with high biodiversity in central and south america but it's in danger. There are a lot of different threats like livestock, hunt for petting, deforestation and many more. As David Attenborough shows us nature and biodiversity in the entire world are spectacular decreasing.

1960: 62% wild nature

2020: 35% wild nature

We have to preserve these last parts of nature because biodiversity is required to live on our planet. High biodiversity makes it a resilient and healthy system for the entire planet, including us! So let's reach the 20.000 euro as soon as possible. Dream big, save nature, ourselves and donate!

When I told people that I'm visiting El Salvador people often responded 'it is a dangerous country!' Nothing is less true. The people are extremely friendly. Look at the beauty of nature, this is laguna de Olomega! The quantity of birds is incredible! This place moves me! The incredible sweet man were we stayed said it quite clear 'the world once looked like this'. He loves to preserve nature. The laguna looks untouched but nothing is what it seems. Deforestation, hunting and agriculture threaten this area as we have seen before. Paso Pacifico educates farmers on the risks of setting fire to crops (a commun costum here).

2 months on my way from Cancun to Ushuaia! After 2050 km's and 10.000m altitude I'm currently in El Salvador. Most of the times I enjoyed cycling but climbing makes it a little bit hard sometimes;) My secondhand (old) Giant bike is doing an awesome job. After countless hills my gears are still working great but I already had to change my chain. Luckily there are great bike repairshops on my route. We visited 4 IUCN NL landacquisitionfund projects were your donations are being spend!

Wooow! What a project from Paso Pacifico in nicaragua. At this moment I'm feeling a lot and it's difficult to find the right words for it. Since the moment I have crossed the border and met the amigos of Paso Pacifico it's a rollercoaster. They're doing wonderful work to protect nature in the pacific. They protecting monkeys, yellow naped parrots, turtles and have a program with junior rangers. I have visited the reserve mono Bayo for 2 days. This reserve have been bought with help of IUCN NL. There live a lot of different animals but it was threatened by plantations for teak. Teak needs a lot of water so nature doesn't have enough water and will dry. Thanks to your donations nature has been saved! Paso Pacifico doing so much different things, it's to much for one post. Will share more in the other blogs

Yellow Naped Parrots! This beautiful parrot is threatened by illegal animal tracking with the aim to keep them as pets. Paso Pacifico has a nestbox programma to protect this parrot. The Yellow Naped parrots like the nests and the population is rising. I was very lucky to see 2 little parrots from close by! Do you love birds and wanna save this species? Please donate via this link

As kids are the future education is the solution to protect nature. Paso Pacifico has a junior program for this reason. The chicos learn a lot about monkey's, naturereserve parrots and turtles! 2 out of the 5 beaches where turtles are laying eggs in central american pacific region are in Nicaragua. Unfortunately poachers are robbing the eggs. Paso pacifico protect the turtles by:

1) Educating junior rangers. The juniors learn how to protect turtles.

2) Local guards are protecting beaches and collect eggs from remote beaches.

3) The collected eggs are protected in a sanctuary.

I had the honour to release little turtles. Lets protect the turtle and support this project. Don't hesistate and donate quick! Thanks on behalf of the turtles and all these incredible people who work for Paso Pacifico

After 4 months cycling, 3000km and more than 16.000 meter altitude it's time for an update! First of all, muchimas gracias for all your donations. With the price (€675,-) from TFI groen together we collected more than €12.000,-!

I have witnessed with my own eyes that the money is being spend very effective in the 4 projects I visited. I will explain how per project.

The first project was in Yucatan. Land in the south of the peninsula have been bought with funds from IUCN to protect the incredible kingvulture.

Belize zoo was my second project and here land has been bought with your donations to create a naturecorridor for wildlife from the south of Belize to the north. A very important achievement to ensure biodiversity in that region for many years to come.

On the Caribbean side of Guatemala I have visited a project of fundaeco. Here land has been bought to protect a reserve threatened by the expansion of the local harbour.

My last project at Paso Pacifico is amazing. The organization does a lot of different things to protect nature. Mono bayo reserve has been bought to protect nature from the expansion of teak plantations. On top of that Paso Pacifico also has a junior rangers program and protects turtles.

After the mountains I arrived at Boca Chica. It's a small island in the pacific and the wildlife is incredible. Howler mockeys are everywhere and the Lance tailed Manakin is very common here. Since 1999 reseachers of the Florida University are monitoring this bird.

When I went on a walk I was lucky to meet some of the researchers. Because of them I got the chance to get a closer look at this manakin!

What a week! I'm back on the road again cycling through Panama. And what an adventurous week it was! I cycled from the caribean to the pacific and climbed 4000m. The weather conditions were a little bit extreme. Had a lot of rain and I was almost  blown off the mountain. Luckily it was all worth it. After the rain passed I cycled downhill to Boca Chica!

I have visited proyecto Titi in the north of Colombia and I'm impressed. The wonderful reserve is the last remaining habitat for the highly endangered cotton-top tamarin. There are only 6000 left! Thanks to your donations IUCN NL landacquisitionfund and Proyecto Titi were be able to buy the reserve. A part of the area were former grasslands for cattling. These areas be restored by the reforestationprogram of proyecto Titi!

I have visited Reserva El Silencio. IUCN NL and Fundacionbiodiversa have bought 73 hectares of grassland in 2012 and another plot of 590 hectares in 2018. They have restored the grasslands into jungle! Look at those awesome results! The first picture is from 2012 (grassland) and the last picture and video are the results at this moment. Thanks to your donations the jungle is back!

I fell in love with Colombia. The people are incredible friendly and the nature is mindblowing. I saw a new aspect of those beauty in reserva La Mesenia! There were hundreds of hummingbirds! In this reserve live 36 different species of those incredible bird. Reserva La Mesenia is protected with the help of the landacquistionfund from IUCN NL. Donate to protect the beautiful nature!

Crossing the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes was tough. A lot of climbing, rain, hail and thunder. It was quite terrifying but after this happened I've to think about Humboldt. Humboldt is a forgotten explorer and one of my heroes. Alexander Humboldt explored a part of Colombia and Ecuador in 1800 and crossed the Andes aswel. In those days there were no roads, places to hide, shops, restaurants and hotels. He explored at the top of the Chimbarozo that everything is connected with each other. The beginning of ecology and the theory of Darwin. Even though I was incredibly tired after crossing the Andes, I had to laugh at myself when I compared myself with Humboldt. Humboldt is the true explorer!

I've been cycling for 3 months in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes. During this time I was searching for many birds that live specific in the Andes. At refugio Paz de las aves I saw this Toucan Barbet. I was luckily to see also the Common Potoo, Golden-headed Quetzal, Plate-billed Mountaintoucan, Flame-faced Tanager and the Giant Antpitta. You will find more pictures of those birds on my instagram.

Reserva dracula is very close to the border with Colombia. Ecominga have protected an area with a high biodiversity. The local youngsters from 'club de ecologia' showed me the beauty of this place! We saw a lot of birds and special plants with a flower that looks like a dracula. That's were the name of this reserve came from.

After the high mountains of the Andes and climbing a lot I'm at the almost flat Ecuadorian coast. 8km from the Pacific is Reserva Jama Coaque, protected by TMA. The 1000hectares are rain and cloud forest. The land have been bought with the help of IUCN NL Landacquisitionfund. Nowdays the former cattlefields have been transformed into rainforest with a massive amount of animals and plants. The endangered Capuchins are living in the top of the trees. They have cameras in the top of the trees to monitoring those species. So I've to learn how to climb in a big tree. I climbed 20meters in a big tree and saw the magnificent view of the canopy.

Hard to describe my feelings about the Galapagos. It's for sure a magical place. I saw for the first time in my life my alltime wishbird: the Albatross. The whole population of 45.000 Waved Albatrosses are breeding on Isla Espanola. They are only for 5 months on land during breeding. They spend the other months on the oceans, far from the mainland Breathtaking!

The Galapagos and the Blue-footed Booby are two major inspirations to start my cycling journey. Darwin and Humboldt, my heroes, come together on the Galapagos Islands. Darwin discovered the evidence for his evolution theory on the Galapagos thanks to earlier journeys of Humboldt

During my first days in Peru I've visited two projects of AMPA. AMPA has over 100 projects and more than 2 million hectares in the region of the Amazone. During my visit I'm mostly impressed by the scale and  professionality of this organisation.

While visiting those two projects of AMPA, the first was Reserva Santa Elena. This is a project in the Amazone. Due to deforestation a big plot of the Amazone was used for cattle fields and producing mais. Since 2002 AMPA is the owner of this plot and it is mind blowing how fast nature has recovered here. I was very impressed by the huge trees and with all the animals living in an area which is only 20 years old. The reserve is open since 2013 for tourism. The main visitor group are people from Peru visiting Santa Elena. Due to this large amount of native visitors, education about the Amazone is a big part of this project. The income of the tourists enables the reserve to protect this part of the Amazone with more than 300 species of birds, 6 species of monkeys, 30 species of butterflies and more than 20 mammals. Aka - impressive biodiversity in this reserve. The Black faced Nunbird was one of the beautiful lifers I saw and this sleepy sloth!

A beautiful & inspiring example of the impact of the IUCN projects. So let's continue to ensure that nature is protected and restored by donating!

Sometimes it's harder to quit than to start.

As some of you have already noticed, the last weeks I have found myself enjoying my adventure less and missing the Netherlands more. However, as my cycling journey has been my dream for a long period I needed some time to make a though decision. I've decided to go home in September.

As said - not an easy decision as it also feels a bit like failing, but there are more and more reasons to go home. 

First of al I miss my girlfriend a lot and looking forward to be with her again!

On top of that, cycling in the Andes is extremely hard and it will take me at least 1 year extra to reach Ushuaia if I want to enjoy nature along the way as well. Looking at my excel planning now of last year I laugh to think how inexperienced I was making that planning. I've already cycled from Cancun to Peru, saw the most incredible places and visited amazing nature projects with wonderful people. What a mindblowing journey it has been so far. I went through ups and downs and in those downs I have learned a lot about myself. I've enjoyed every part of my journey but the last weeks I discovered that I'm not enjoying cycling anymore. The third reason for going home. The learning have resulted into many new ideas and for sure I will contribute to nature in an other way when back in the Netherlands.

Thanks to all of you I have reached the goal of €20.000,-!

Donating is still possible;) The coming 1,5 month I will cycle trough Peru. Keep you posted!