So you’ve done a ton of research, and you know that you want to go to the far western part of at the Galapagos Islands: Isabela and Fernandina Islands. But you’ve run into a problem! Most cruises that go to Isabela and Fernandina Islands are 8 day cruises, and you just don’t have the time […]
Adventure Travel, Ecuador Travel, Galapagos Cruise, Galapagos Travel
What is the Difference Between the Classes of Boats in the Galapagos Islands?
26
Jun
Jun
There are four classes of boats in the Galapagos Islands: Luxury Class First Class Tourist Superior Class Tourist or Economy Class These classes vary by price, amenities on board, level of comfort, size of the cabins, and sometimes even by the quality of naturalist guide and itinerary. On Luxury Class, First Class, and Tourist Superior […]
12
Jun
Jun
Daydreaming about your trip to the Galapagos? Here are some of our favorite videos about the amazing wildlife of the Galapagos. Waved Albatross are large, beautiful birds who mate for life and have endearing interactions with each other. Nearly every waved albatross in the world nests on Española Island in the Galapagos. They are on […]
23
Apr
Apr
If you’re like me, it’s the night before you fly to Ecuador, and you’re wasting precious sleeping hours agonizing over what to pack for your trip to the Galápagos Islands and what to leave at home. If you’re like my co-worker Katie, you are super organized and have everything laid out and ready to go […]
30
Dec
Dec
Ecuadorians really know how to party, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. If you’re in Ecuador for this super fun holiday, you’re going to experience many of the same traditions (like kissing at midnight), and a lot of very traditions you’ve probably never seen before. We’re here to fill you in on everything you […]
24
Dec
Dec
Traveling during the holidays is an amazing way to learn about the culture and traditions of a country, and maybe pick up a few new traditions of your own. It also means that you have to arrange your trip a bit differently to accommodate the holiday schedule in that country or make special plans to […]
All tipping is, of course, at your own discretion and you are under no obligation to tip. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the service you received, your tip (or lack of) will reflect this. Trip members can contribute towards a group tip to be shared among the drivers, assistants, cooks […]
Generally, you should not be overly concerned about altitude sickness in Patagonia because the elevation is not too great for many popular hikes. However, if you are climbing higher than 3,000 meters, then you should take precautions.If you are in generally good health, then you can usually prevent or alleviate altitude sickness fairly easily. The […]
Altitude: 3,966 meters (13,004 feet) Average temperature: 9 C Situated on the western highlands of Bolivia, Oruro was the most important mining region in the tin boom. On the shores of Lake Poopó, it is surrounded by archeological sites of importance. Wancarani culture is the one of the oldest in Bolivia and their remains can […]
Altitude: 2,570 meters (8,426 feet) Average temperature: 18 ｰC Known as the Garden City of Bolivia, Cochabamba has 408,000 inhabitants and a warm temperature year around. It is located in the central valley region and agriculture is the main source of income . The Chapare, one of the agriculturally richest subtropical valleys in Bolivia, and […]
Altitude: 437 meters (1,433 feet) Average temperature: 25 ｰC Located in the eastern tropical area of Bolivia, Santa Cruz de la Sierra has 700,000 inhabitants and is the second largest city in the country as well as the industrial center of the lowlands. Its climate shares hot tropical weather with the cool breezes of the […]
Altitude: 4,070 meters (13,345 feet) Average temperature: 10 C Potosí, also known as Villa Imperial, was founded on April 10, 1545, at the foot of the famous “Rich Mountain” with its inexhaustible mineral resources, mainly silver and later tin, which have been and still are a source of economic support for the nation since colonial […]
Altitude: 2,790 meters (9,148 feet) Average temperature: 18 C Sucre is the legal capital of Bolivia and seat of the Supreme Court of Justice. It was founded on September 29, 1538, and is considered as the cultural center of the Americas because of its strong cultural influence from colonial times. Sucre’s architecture is considered one […]
Altitude: 3,636 meters (11,922 feet) Average temperature: 14 C City of 1,120,000 inhabitants is the seat of the government and center of all the industrial, cultural, banking and political activities. It was founded on October 20, 1548 by Alonso de Mendoza as a bridge for the mining transportation between Potosí and Cuzco. Located in a […]
There are few countries in the world quite as fascinating as Bolivia. This marvelous country houses the most diverse geographical environments, beginning with the gigantic Highlands in the eastern part, always protected by their eternal Guards, the majestic Andes Range. There, too, is the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, the center of […]
All tipping is, of course, at your own discretion and you are under no obligation to tip. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the service you received, your tip (or lack of) will reflect this.We suggest a range of $6-12 to your guide per day depending on the level of satisfaction. […]
POPULATION: 7,500,000 Inhabitants. AREA: 1,098,581 km2 (424,165 square miles). CAPITAL: Sucre (La Paz, seat of the Government) FOUNDATION: August 6, 1825. LANGUAGE: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. Many languages and dialects survive, including: Tupi-Guaraní;Mataco; and Guarayo. RELIGION: Catholicism is the official religion. LOCAL TIME: Official […]
On the Inca Trail, there are over 250 known species of orchids, as well as numerous rare birds, animals, and reptiles including several species considered to be in danger of extinction. There will of course be insects, especially at lower elevations. It’s always a good idea to bring insect repellent with you just to be […]
Considering the very high altitude, the weather on the Inca Trail is relatively mild all year round. The rainy, cooler season is between November to March; the warmer, dry season is from April to October. The average annual minimum temperature ranges between 5°C and 11°. In the months of June, July and August the temperature […]
Toilets along the Inca Trail have improved a lot in the last couple of years and all of the larger campsites have toilet blocks with flush toilets and running water. On the whole they are kept pretty clean. If you do need to go the toilet between campsites then proper “leave no trace” policies should […]
The Inca Trail is open 11 months out of the year, closing for the month of February (see below). The dry season from April to October is probably the most comfortable period to visit the Inca Trail, however there is always a chance of rain throughout the year. The rainy season is from December to […]
The Inca Trail will be closed during the month of February each year, which is the height of the wet season. The last group will depart on January 31st and the next group will start on March 1st. The closure is to allow conservation projects to take place, give an opportunity for camping facilities to […]
The accommodations for an Inca Trail trek will be camping while on the Trail. With a high quality company, you will usually get higher quality gear. Typically, you will have to provide the sleeping bag and pad yourself while the trek operator will provide the tents, cooking equipment, food, and water purifiers. If you are […]
The entrances to the Classic Inca Trail are marked according to the kilometers on the railway between Cusco and Aguas Calientes. For example: “km 104” is 104 kilometers from Cusco on the way to Aguas Calientes.If doing the four or five day trek, you will start at km 88 or km 82, which is a […]
You will most likely have porters to carry the majority of your gear on the Inca Trail. Any gear you won’t need on your trek should be left at your hotel in their luggage storage or, in some cases, it can be left at your trek operator’s office. Porters are not allowed to carry more […]
Your tour operator will hold onto your Inca Trail permit. It will not be given to you before your trek. With many companies, your guide will carry your permit for the entire trek so there is no chance that a passenger will lose their permit along the way. Inca Trail Treks
If the price looks too good to be true, it often is. A cheap trip often means that it is the porters and guides who suffer the most. Many of these workers have to sleep in the dining tents, have very little to eat, and are compensated very poorly. The trips featured on Detour have […]
By the late 1990’s, the famous stretch of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was becoming very popular and very crowded. There was very little regulation, and trekkers could travel independently or with any guide. The trail was becoming loved to death, and garbage and human waste were not being disposed of properly, erosion was […]
Three months in advance at least is ideal for planning a trek. Keep in mind when you want to trek; if it’s in the busy season, it’s best to plan four months or more in advance to be safe. Trekking Tours
No, the permit system is put in place to protect the safety of tourists, employees, and the environment. It is illegal for you to trek on the Inca Trail without a licensed trek operator. Also, due to the popularity of this trek, it is nearly impossible to find a legitimate tour group with extra space, […]