Travelers Against Plastic

Detour is a member of Travelers Against Plastic, (TAP, https://www.travelersagainstplastic.org). Single use plastic is a problem everywhere in the world, but it is an especially large problem in major tourism destinations in developing countries, where waste disposal is limited and recycling is virtually nonexistent. We strongly discourage the use of disposable water bottles, even if offered […]

Top 3 Reasons to do a Galapagos Multisport Adventure

A Galapagos Multisport trip is a land-based, island-hopping tour that explores the wildlife and geology of the islands by human-powered means while overnighting in hotels along the way. This means hiking in the highlands, sea kayaking and snorkeling the shorelines, biking to visitor sites, and then retreating to the comfort of a hotel room (vs. […]

Sierra Negra Volcano Eruption – June 2018

  The Galapagos Islands are hailed for endemic wildlife seemingly unaware and uninterested in us humans looking on. Equally as fascinating and quintessential to any Galapagos trip is learning about the geology and the island’s creation. Let’s rephrase that. Ongoing creation. Right now the islands are alive! With volcano activity on both Fernandina (La Cumbre […]

How Much Should I Budget For A Trip To The Galapagos?

The Galapagos is a trip of a lifetime, but you want to make sure that you have the right budget for the type of trip you want to do. How much should you budget for a Naturalist Cruise? Luxury Class boats are very high end. They have spacious cabins with larger king or queen beds, […]

How Far In Advance Should I Book My Trip To The Galapagos?

This depends on a few factors: when you want to travel, how flexible your dates are, how big your group is, and how picky you are about your itinerary & accommodations. When do you want to travel?  The busiest times in the Galapagos are around Christmas and New Years, followed by Easter and Spring Breaks, […]

When Is The Best Time To Go To The Galapagos Islands?

There is never a bad time to visit the Galapagos! The weather varies little at the equator and most of the wildlife does not migrate. The “High Season” and “Low Season” in the Galapagos mostly corresponds with holidays. The Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter Holiday are the busiest times in the Galapagos, and it can be […]

How Long Should I Go to the Galapagos Islands For?

Because it takes time and money to get to the Galapagos Islands and the first and last days of your trip are mostly travel days, we recommend that you spend at least 5 days in the Galapagos. The vast majority of travelers go to the Galapagos for 7 or 8 days. The more days you […]

Should I go on a Galapagos Multisport Adventure?

Multisport Adventure trips stay in hotels on one or more of the 4 inhabited islands and explore the wildlife and scenery of the islands while kayaking, biking, hiking, snorkeling and possibly even stand up paddle boarding (SUP). There are a number of different itinerary options for these trips, with differences in the number of islands […]

Inter-Island Flights in the Galapagos

Here’s the nitty gritty on flights within the Galapagos. Emetebe is the airline of the Galapagos and your only choice for flying between islands. Their fleet of Britten Norman Islanders have room for 8 in the main cabin. Because of their low carrying capacity, it is a good idea to pre-arrange your flights prior to […]

Review of the Galapagos Islands Multisport Adventure: Family with 3 Teens

Galapagos Boobie

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 […]

Awesome Adventure Trips Without Camping

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 […]

How to Prepare Your Body and Mind for the Galapagos

The Physical Demand Traveling to the Galapagos Islands cannot really be considered a vacation per se. A vacation typically implies a book on the beach or a leisurely brunch. If you want rest, pick another destination – the Galapagos is all about active adventure. There’s simply too much to see and do around here. Hiking up volcanoes, mountain […]

What is the difference between a land-based and a yacht-based trip in the Galapagos Islands?

There are two basic types of trips in the Galapagos Islands: land-based and yacht-based. In the land-based trips, you will overnight on land in a hotel.  There are three towns that can accommodate tourists:  Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz; Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in San Cristobal; and Puerto Villamil in Isabela.  Often, the town and island […]

What is the difference between a naturalist and multisport trip in the Galapagos Islands?

Cerro Brujo Beach, San Cristobal (Galapagos)

There are two main types of trips in the Galapagos: naturalist tours and multisport tours.  Naturalist Tours are the standard type of guided trip in the Galapagos wherein you go for guided walking and snorkeling excursions each day.  Multisports are the more active and adventurous alternative to this standard tour.  Both tours are geared towards […]

Snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands contain some of the most exciting snorkeling and diving sites in the world, and you will be able to snorkel on any cruise or land-based tour.  Even those who are lukewarm about snorkeling will be delighted by swimming with playful sea lions and watching green sea turtles much on seaweed lawns.  In fact, […]

When is the best time of year to go SCUBA diving in the Galapagos Islands?

The best time to go SCUBA diving in the Galapagos is from September to November when the water is clearest.  During these months, seal pups are abundant, booby, frigate and albatross chicks can be seen. However, also rougher seas can be present in these months. From Novermber to April, the water is warmer and calmer […]

Galapagos Multisport Adventures Are Perfect For The Active Traveler

Snorkeling at Kicker Rock, San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Multisport Adventures can provide amazing active Galapagos experiences. Do you want to travel to the Galapagos Islands but you’re worried that the trip will be too passive? If so, you sound just like my wife. Unfortunately for her, when she visited the Galapagos Islands in 2004 there weren’t really any good options for a […]

New Galapagos Cruise Video From Ecoventura

Ecoventura, the owners of the Eric, Letty, and Flamingo I have a new video about their Galapagos cruises. Check it out below. If you haven’t been to the Galapagos, you need to go!

New Trip: Galapagos and Cotopaxi Multisport Adventure

We’ve got a cool new trip, the Galapagos and Cotopaxi Multisport, from one of our great Ecuador providers Tropic, Journeys in Nature. This new trip combines a Galapagos Multisport Adventure with a great exploration of Quito and mainland Ecuador in a very active multisport trip that includes hiking, biking, horseback riding, zip-lining, kayaking, snorkeling, and wildlife […]

Family Galapagos Cruises on the Eric, Letty, Flamingo I

The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s top family travel destinations, and a family cruise is a great way to experience the amazing archipelago.  The weather is pleasant, the activities are not so strenuous or difficult that they can’t be enjoyed by multiple age groups at once, and the wildlife viewing is out of […]

Traveler Testimonial: Galapagos Gallavant

Trip: Galapagos Islands Multisport Adventure This trip kept two very energetic people pretty darn busy!  The snorkeling was so amazing.  The animals did not spook easily. We played with a sea lion pup for 1.5 hours and could have stayed ALL day.  We were the only people in the popular snorkeling area at the time […]

Do I need a wetsuit for my Galapagos trip?

  Snorkeling is one of the top activities in the Galapagos Islands, as the wildlife under water is as unafraid of humans as the wildlife on land. On one trip there I found myself swimming in a living room sized cove with 5 large sea turtles, who, oblivious to my presence, were munching (happily I […]

Planning Extra Days in the Galapagos

There are 3 islands that you can extend your stay on in the Galapagos: Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal. Most trips start/end at the Baltra Airport, which is right next to Santa Cruz Island. So, this island will have the most options for hotels, restaurants, renting kayaks and other gear, scuba diving and joining […]

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) on the Blackfoot River, MT

I first tried Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, in February of this year when I paddled down the Shiripuno River to the Huaorani Ecolodge in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin, and then on a Galapagos Stand Up Paddle Multisport Adventure.  SUP’ing was a great way to experience the Galapagos, and it added one more activity to an […]

Tsunami Does Minimal Damage in Galapagos Islands

The Tsunami Warning and State of Emergency for the Galapagos Islands was lifted early Saturday morning, and flights and tours all resumed as normal on Saturday. We received a number of reports from our Galapagos partners, all assuring us that there were no serious injuries to people, and that damage was minimal. The tsunami, caused […]

Galapagos Conservancy Announces 2011 Photo Contest Winner

Galapagos Conservancy announces their 2011 photo contest winners. Alice Bartlett of Fyansford, Victoria (Austrailia) won the contest with her Spotted Eagle Rays photo above. Click here to view the other contest winners. The Galapagos Conservancy (GC) is a United States advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to the long-term protection of the Galapagos Islands. Collectively, GC members […]