Choquequirao: Machu Picchu's Sacred Sister

Best-Kept Secret Destination: Choquequirao

It may not be a secret for too long, but Choquequirao is a true hidden gem of the Inca Empire. Just like Machu Picchu, the Choquequirao ruins make-up an ancient, extensive site perched high in the Andes. The site is nicknamed "Machu Picchu's Sacred Sister" because of their similar layout and importance in Inca society. In fact, these impressive ruins are even better preserved and far more isolated than Machu Picchu.

The location is no less awe-inspiring: nestled high in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, Choquequirao offers majestic view of the surrounding 17,000 ft peaks. The various temples, mausoleums, royal residences and ritual baths speak to the Inca's worship of the natural world. Like all sacred Inca sites, the architecture also reflects the movement of the sun and other celestial bodies. However, we know relatively little about the true importance of Choquequirao. In fact, much of the site is still being excavated and studied. Newly discovered buildings include the so-called Ridge Group, and the Waterfall Temple, an intriguing ceremonial complex facing the cascades of a steep ravine.

Its mystery is only enhanced by the virtually non-existent tourist crowd. On any given day you may run into a few other tourists, but most trek groups report being alone at the site. Travelers can reach the sacred city by way of a 5-day trek, so make sure you're up for a rigorous adventure. If you are looking for the off-the-beaten path experience, Choquequirao is sure to astound and satisfy the most rugged of traveler.

To learn more about this destination, visit Detour and book your trip before it becomes as popular as Machu Picchu.

Galapagos Multisport Adventure SPECIAL DEAL

Special Galapagos Deal!!!

July is one of the busiest time in the Galapagos Islands and most travelers find themselves scrambling for trips. Fortunately, Detour has a great last-minute deal on one of our most popular trip: the Galapagos Multisport Adventure. No matter your group size, you will get the Galapagos Multisport Adventure (7-Day) at our lowest price!

This seven-day trip is perfect for travelers who like to kayak, mountain bike, hike, snorkel and explore the islands on horseback. Unlike the yacht-based tours, this multisport trip lets you explore each island for a couple days. It is also designed to match the needs of all travelers, from the not-too-active to the athletic.

The Galapagos Multisport Adventure is one of our highest rated trips by past travelers. It has gained such a reputation that it is difficult to get space anytime, which is why this deal is so exceptional!

July 10-16
$1591 per person

DAY 1: TRANSFER AND HIKE IN SAN CRISTOBAL

DAY 2: SEA KAYAK PLAYA OCHOA AND SNORKEL IN LEON DORMIDO

DAY 3: SNORKEL IN SANTA FE ISLAND AND SEA KAYAK IN SANTA CRUZ

DAY 4: HIKE AND MOUNTAINBIKE IN THE SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS

DAY 5: HIKE AND EXPLORATION IN ISABELA

DAY 6: HORSEBACK RIDE AND HIKE IN ISABELA

DAY 7: ISABELA - SANTA CRUZ, TRANSFER OUT


To view this trip in more detail, visit Detour's Galapagos Multisport 7-Day.

Please contact Detour, the Adventure Travel Marketplace to book this trip right away! This trip will go fast, so act quickly to secure your Galapagos Adventure.

Inca Trail Permit Availability

UPDATE: For the lastest in Inca Trail Permit Availability, click here: Inca Trail Permits. This page was created 4/23/08 and is updated frequently.

Important Notice!

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is great adventures that many travelers dream to take-on. While planning your trip, make sure that you can get your Inca Trail permits in time; otherwise you might have to postpone your trip another year! All trekkers on the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are required to buy a trail permit. You need to do this usually several months in advance and it must be done through a travel provider. We at Detour, the Adventure Travel Marketplace will set up your permits with a local provider so you don't have to worry, but make sure you are looking at dates with permits still available.

Click here to check out all our Inca Trail trip options and begin the planning!

There are no more Inca Trail permits available for any date in June, July, or August; they are currently (as of 6/4 at 12:15 pm) sold out through Sept 5th. Below, you can see the current permit availabilities in September. We always warn folks to be careful not to wait too long; it's common that a date with 100 or fewer permits will sell out in a day or less!

The following dates in September still have permits available:

Date: Number of Permits

Sept 1: 0
Sept 2: 0
Sept 3: 0
Sept 4: 0
Sept 5: 0
Sept 6: 102
Sept 7: 153
Sept 8: 45
Sept 9: 57
Sept 10: 18
Sept 11: 102
Sept 12: 282
Sept 13: 311
Sept 14: 53
Sept 15: 154
Sept 16: 0
Sept 17: 0
Sept 18: 41
Sept 19: 234
Sept 20: 338
Sept 21: 55
Sept 22: 194
Sept 23: 3
Sept 24: 143
Sept 25: 257
Sept 26: 0
Sept 27: 307
Sept 28: 315
Sept 29: 295
Sept 30: 325

Please contact Detour for more up-to-the-minute permit and trek availability.

Biking the World's Highest Active Volcano

If the idea of mountain biking down an active volcano sounds like a great way to get your adrenaline pumping, you should plan a trip to Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador. The centerpiece of this park is the perfectly shaped volcano, Cotopaxi, daring bikers to take on its amazing height.

The volcano is located just 2 hours south of Quito, making it a great getaway from the city or an addition to a longer biking trip in Volcano Alley.

While Cotopaxi is Ecuador's most visited national park, the area still feels incredibly isolated and rugged. As our group biked over the grasslands, we passed herds of wild horses watched condors swooping overhead; but met very few other people. There is a large protected border around the park where you find quaint farms and the occasional Chagra (an Ecuadorian cowboy).

This is the highest continually active volcano in the world (19,342 ft); but keep in mind that "active" is different than "erupting". The last eruption was about 130 years ago and what you enjoy today are stunning grasslands shaped by lava flows. The volcano itself is a perfect cone, standing apart from the nearby mountains, and topped with bright snow (a rarity in Ecuador).

Biking trips start at a location high up the volcano, 14,760 ft. above sea level. The decent is exciting and only a bit technically challenging as the road is sandy in spots. As the road flattens, it becomes more solid so you can really appreciate the scenery as you ride.

For more on Cotopaxi biking trips offered by Detour, click here.
To learn about other adventures in Ecuador, please contact Detour Destinations, the Sustainable Adventure Travel Marketplace.

Diving in the Galapagos Islands

No traveler to the Galapagos Islands should bypass an oppotunity to explore the stunning world found underwater. In the right season, snorkeling is a very popular activity and the scuba diving is spectacular for experienced divers. Bright coral, playful sea lions, and brilliantly colored schools of fish are the usual fare.

At various locations around the islands, you are also likely to encounter giant marine turtles, Galapagos penguins, golden rays, and even sharks. It´s actually the only place in the world where it is safe to swim with hammerhead sharks, which are found regularly throughout the islands.

Of course, any excursion can be disappointing if you are´t prepared. After an unforgettable tour of the Galapagos Islands, I gathered some new tips that should make your planning a bit easier.

First and foremost, if you have your own equipment, it´s probably worth taking. Most tours offer equipment for rent, but it may be difficult to get the right mask or wet suit size. While this isn´t much of a problem since equipment on board is usually high quality and plentiful, those who have brought their own find it preferrable.

On that note, a wet suit is advisable for most dives; make sure to rent one or bring your own. The ocean there is quite pleasant, but it isn´t the Carribean and the water can be a bit chilly in places.

Also, sunscreen is extremely important when swimming. Bring some that is water and sweat proof, of course 30 SPF or higher. If you are worried about burning your scalp, it`s definitely best to wear your swim cap (or skull caps, as they´re sometimes called).

When you return home, you´ll definitely want to show friends the giant turtles or sea lions you found swimming in their natural environment. An underwater camera is well worth taking in addition to your regular camera, but do buy it beforehand. Cameras are available on Santa Cruz and at the airports, though are fairly expensive.

These tips should help you plan and pack for your unforgettable trip to the Galapagos. When you contact Detour the Adventure Travel Marketplace, we can help answer any other questions you have about this amazing destination.

To find your ideal trip to the Galapagos Islands, please visit the Detour website.

Apu Salkantay: The Backdoor to Machu Picchu

If you've been trying to book a trek this summer on the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you may have been disappointed to find that permits are sold out until August. But there's good news for all you hopeful trekkers. The famous Inca Trail is only one of thousands of Inca Trails, many of which are in the Machu Picchu area. In fact, you'll probably have an even more scenic and less crowded trek if you take an non-permitted Inca trail to this fantastic destination.

The Apu Salkantay trek is one of the most popular alternatives to the Inca Trail-- it's even referred to as the backdoor to Machu Picchu. The true highlight of Apu Salkantay is the stunning scenery, considered by many to dwarf the views on the famous Inca Trail.

On this five-day, four-night trip, you traverse the high Andean plateau, hiking up passes as high as 15,585 ft. for an up-close view of the sacred Inca peak, Salkantay (20,598ft). The route then descends into the beautiful Aobamba valley with its tropical climate and vegetation. Passing through Andean towns, you also get a rare glimpse in traditional Peruvian mountain life where the dress, farming techniques, and customs have been preserved for hundreds of years.

At the end of the last trekking day, you take a short train ride to Aguas Calientes where you can soak your tired legs in the town’s famous thermal pools. The next morning, you get to visit Machu Picchu in the stunning early light away from the tourist crowds that arrive in the afternoon.

We have received glowing reviews about Apu Salkantay from both travelers and local guides. Because of these recommendations, we've decided to offer a fixed group departure every Tuesday for this trek. Please contact Detour Destinations to book this trek or to learn more about this stunning journey.


http://detourdestinations.com/products/Apu_Salkantay_Trek_16256.html

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu this Summer

UPDATE 4/24/08: See the latest on Inca Trail Permit availability here: http://www.detourdestinations.com/pages/Inca_Trail_Permits_31.html
Before planning your trip to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you need to know about the Inca Trail permitting system. A few years ago, the Peru government established a permitting system for the famous Inca Trail, so that the trail and the surrounding vegetation won't deteriorate due to overuse. There are only 500 permit available for any given day and about 300 of those are reserved for trek operators, cooks, porters, and guides.

This means there are around 200 left for trekkers a day. Tourists cannot buy these permits independently because they must travel with an official trek operator . Thus, travelers need to book their Inca Trail trek with a provider several weeks , if not months, in advance!

It's worth noting that you only need a permit for your trek departure date.

For more information on the Inca Trail please click the link below:

Detour's Inca Trail Treks

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Permits are currently (as of morning of 4/17) sold out through July 23rd. It's common that a date with 100 or fewer permits will sell out in a day or less! Contact us for up-to-the-minute availabilities.

The following dates in July and August still have permits available:

July 24: 14
July 25: 198
July 26: 222
July 27: 204
July 28: 239
July 29: 21
July 31: 103

August 3: 5
August 10: 195
August 12: 301
August 13: 229
August 14: 301
August 17: 246
August 18: 399
August 19: 211
August 20: 157
August 21: 288
August 22: 258
August 23: 343
August 24: 282
August 25: 353
August 26: 409
August 27: 342
August 28: 432
August 29: 353
August 30: 388
August 31: 394

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Of course if you can't get a permit in time, there are several ways to trek on an Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu that don't require an Inca Trail permit. There are thousands of miles of Inca Trails in Peru, and the "Inca Trail to Machu Picchu" is only the most popular treek on an Inca Trail. There are a number of other fabulous treks in the Cusco/Machu Picchu area that follow Inca Trails, visit Inca ruins, and either include or can be combined with a one- or two-day visit to Machu Picchu. These alternative treks do not require a permit and feature some of the Sacred Valley's most fascinating and impressive ruins. To check out these treks, click here:

Non-Permitted Inca Trail Treks