The cartoon explorer in question is Dora, a character from the Nickelodeon animated series 'Dora the Explorer'. Dora is an adventurous young Latina girl who embarks on quests to find lost items or solve puzzles with the help of her talking animal friends. She is often accompanied by her monkey companion Boots and her trusty backpack. Dora teaches viewers Spanish words and phrases, as well as problem-solving skills.