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 […]
03
Jun
Jun
Do you set high expectations for your next travel experience? You should, of course, but if you’re anything like me you’re looking to one-up with an adventure that does more than live up to past experiences. You crave a new experience, one that takes you on a “life changing” or “mind-blowing” adventure. Ideally, both.
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 […]
Adventure Travel, Peru Travel
For the Aggressive Latin American Dog, Speak Loudly and Carry a Big Rock
13
Jan
Jan
While I love riding my bicycle in foreign lands for the freedom to soak in the countryside and get to know the locals, somewhere between Cusco and La Paz I changed from free spirit to warrior. Had to. A dog bit my leg. The worst part, I could see it was coming. After months of […]
17
Dec
Dec
As I watched the little girl swimming the black water, a man fishing from the dock spoke to her in soft tones. His line went tight, and with one pull of his hand a fluttering fish hit the dock. Whack! The man’s bucket was filling fast, each fish put still by a club to the […]
28
Aug
Aug
Here at Detour we are always looking for ways to get outside, get some exercise, and cut our carbon footprint, so you can only imagine how stoked we were to discover Yuba Bikes line of cargo bikes. Yuba bikes are fantastic people and stuff movers, and easily take the place of a car or small truck for running errands around […]
Active Galapagos, Testimonials
Review of the Galapagos Islands Multisport Adventure: Family with 3 Teens
23
Apr
Apr
Wondering if the Galapagos Islands Multisport Adventure trip is right for your family? Our most recent review of the trip is a great description of the experience and evaluation of the tour. This family of five traveled with their three teenage kids (ages 12, 14, and 16) in April 2014. They booked a privately guided […]
16
Apr
Apr
(We just received the nicest email from a happy client – Stephanie Mayer who traveled with her son Cooper in Costa Rica. Stephanie previously traveled with her other son in Peru. We love hearing about your great travel experiences – that is why we do this!) Wow! Wow! Wow! Once again there really are no […]
15
Jan
Jan
Planning your international and domestic flights for a Galapagos trip can seem complicated initially, but they’re actually quite simple to arrange. Detour’s tips and suggestions below will help you plan exactly the flights you need without the headache.
Argentina loves a good party and it seems this is never more true than on New Years Eve. My own experience celebrating New Years in Argentina will remain one of my most memorable ever, but I wanted to know how typical Argentinians celebrate as well. The experts over at Wanderlust Expediciones let me know that […]
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 […]
25
Dec
Dec
Christmas celebrations everywhere have at least one common thread: a time for family and friends to gather together. But, the traditions we each have for celebrating can vary greatly (even from town to town). While shops in our cozy town of Bozeman are closing early, our friends down in Cusco are taking to the Plaza […]
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 […]
You’re all set to fly to Argentina where you’ll trek Fitzroy, sip wine, and learn to tango . . . but what is up with that reciprocity fee? This very confusing fee is a somewhat new requirement for US, Canadian, and Australian citizen to enter the country. But no worries, we’ve got you covered with […]
11
Dec
Dec
As a destination, Ecuador’s rainforest is nowhere near as popular as the Galapagos. That famous archipelago shines brightly on every Westerners bucket list, leaving Ecuador’s many other wonders into the background as an afterthought. But in terms of wildlife diversity and unique plantlife, the Ecuadorian rainforest definitely rivals the Galapagos as a must-see destination. Plus […]
Anyone can plan a trip to Machu Picchu, but it takes a real travel ninja to see the site in the wee hours of dawn, avoid the crowds, and hike to the top of Huayna Picchu. Commit these 6 insider tips to memory and you’ll get the Machu Picchu experience you’ve been dreaming of.
You want to visit the rainforest to see monkeys, caimans, toucans, sloths, and capybaras up close, not just sit in a tree and itch mosquito bites. So how do you maximize your chances of seeing pink river dolphins splashing in the river and macaws swooping in by the hundreds? It’s actually not too hard as […]
The end of December and beginning of January are the absolute busiest times in the Galapagos Islands (aka, the Christmas and New Year’s High Season). It’s pretty tricky to find an available trip over these dates, but right now, there are actually some discounted options available for those who move fast. ARCHIPELL I CATAMARAN CRUISE […]
Active Galapagos, Adventure Travel, Machu Picchu Travel, Peru Travel, Trekking in Peru
Awesome Adventure Trips Without Camping
24
Sep
Sep
Love the adrenaline of whitewater rafting, high-altitude trekking, and singletrack mountain biking — but don’t enjoy camping? These exciting tours all over Latin America bring on the adventure without skimping on creature comforts when it’s time to hit the hay. 1. TORRES DEL PAINE “W” TREK WITH ECOCAMP DOMES By day, you’ll hike the famous […]
Costa Rica may be a tiny country but it’s one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, home to about 10,000 species of plants and trees. It should top the destination list of every eco-savvy traveler thanks to its mesmerizing rain and cloud forests and volcanoes. It also boasts some of the most magnificent […]
JOIN A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP RAFTING THE RIO TAMBOPATA INTO THE WILD AND SCENIC AMAZON JUNGLE. Trip Name: Wilderness, Wildlife and Whitewater on the Rio Tambopata Dates: Sept 20 – 30, 2013 Rate: $2,804.00 per person View additional trip details here – https://www.detourdestinations.com/wilderness-wildlife-whitewater-rio-tambopata.html The Tambopata River snakes through the Tambopata-Candamo National Park in […]
23
Aug
Aug
The leaves are turning orange in the northern hemisphere so it’s with a heartfelt sigh that you start rummaging through those sweaters at the back of your closet. But in South America, especially Chile, it’s all so different. There it’s soon to be the dawn of spring, making it the ideal time to don your […]
This sparsely populated nation in central America – 334,000 people in a country of just under 23,000 square kilometers – is an alluring wonderland for those busy, hard-pressed city dwellers looking to escape autumn in the northern hemisphere. With its myriad terrestrial and marine species, and the diversity of its eco systems, Belize is a magnet […]
Dreaming of a Galapagos cruise at a discount price? In the Galapagos, there is a special, little-known time of the year when you can travel on a top-notch boat and during the best weather/wildlife season at a great discount. So when is this magic, sparkly time? The First Few Weeks of December. Do a cruise on […]
Unless you are overnighting in towns or villages along the way, your operator will arrange for a cook to trek with you. They will typically provide food grown or produced locally. Many travelers are surprised at the quality, freshness and variety of cuisine they experience when trekking in South America. Trekking Tours
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 […]
The accommodations for a typical trekking trip in Patagonia will be camping or hotels. If you are camping, 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. Additionally, many Patagonian treks have the option of staying in either […]
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 […]