Nature

9-day/8-night ecotour of COSTA RICA.

Highlights: From San José, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens en route to lodge on Rio Sarapiquí/white-water rafting/canopy walks in Arenal Volcano National Park/Ecotermales Hot Springs/boat across Arenal Lake, horseback ride in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve/search for resplendent quetzals, hummingbirds, howler monkeys; optional zipline/Villa Caletas on the Pacific/optional visit to Carrara National Park.

Land only, from $2,999. Single supplement, $750.

Indonesia experienced an increase in earthquakes, tremors and volcanic activity late in 2007.

At press time, four volcanoes were under warnings for possible eruptions: Anak Krakatau (“Child of Krakatau”), in the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java; the Mount Kelud volcano in eastern Java; Mount Soputan in north Sulawesi, and Mount Karangetan off Sulawesi island. 

Out of Guatemala City, there’s a popular half-day trip 30 kilometers south to Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano with trails open to the public. After a two-hour steep hike, visitors can get very close to lava flows and roast marshmallows over hot rocks.

In northern Israel, the 4,000-year-old Abraham’s Gate at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve reopened to the public in March after extensive work by the Nature & National Parks Protection Authority.

Composed of sun-dried mud brick on a foundation of large basalt stones, the gate has been restored to its original height of 22 feet. It serves as a link between the two towers below its arches, the earliest complete arches ever found in the world.

8 days/7 nights. Departs Dec. 20, 2009, Jan. 31 & March 14, 2010. Highlights: Monkeys, sloths, river otters in Tortuguero National Park/quetzals live in Monteverde Cloud Forest/boat across Lake Arenal/Ecotermales hot springs. Land only, $2,995. Single supp., $425. Boundless Journeys (Stowe, VT; 800/941-8010, www.boundless journeys.com).

In the Galápagos Islands, La Cumbre Volcano erupted on Fernandina, an uninhabited island, April 15-16. Gas and steam plumes as well as lava flows were sighted, and there were reports of dead fish and sea lions.

The most active volcano in the archipelago, La Cumbre is known to have erupted 12 times since 1813, the last time in 2005.

13-day/12-night tour of ARGENTINA.  Highlights: In Buenos Aires, Plaza de Mayo, Metropolitan Cathedral, La Boca, Recoleta, tango lesson and show/in the Lake District, boat across Anchorena Bay to Isla Victoria/fly to Iguassu Falls/train ride to Devil’s Throat gorge/winelands of Vistalba Valley. Land, from $6,150. Single supplement, from $3,260. Internal air, approx. $1,160. Big Five Tours & Expeditions (Stuart, FL; 800/244-3483, www.bigfive.com).

8-day/7-night tour in ITALY. Highlights: From Sicily’s Milazzo harbor, hydrofoil to Lipari Island/black beaches and thermal springs on Vulcano Island/boat ride on Tyrrhenian Sea to Stromboli Island and hike Stromboli Volcano/walk Mt. Etna’s lava tunnels and 2002 lava flow. Land only, $1,349. (No single accommodations.)

G.A.P. Adventures (19 Charlotte St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 2H5; 800/708-7761, www.gap adventures.com).

The Swiss train Glacier Express derailed on July 23, killing one passenger and injuring 42 others. Three first-class wagons came off the track and two of those tipped over. The driver had sped up too fast out of a slow zone, before all train cars had cleared the zone. 

This is the most serious accident in the history of the Glacier Express. Operations have resumed.

The Arenal Volcano, 50 miles northeast of San José, Costa Rica, began erupting in May, issuing eight lava flows plus ash and gases. Arenal National Park was evacuated as a precaution, with no injuries reported. The last major eruption was in July 1968, but there have been six small ones since then.