ENTRY CARDS TO PROTECT THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
The Galapagos National Institute (INGALA) started a trial period to begin issuing a special entry card to the Galapagos, aimed to protect the islands. Earlier this year, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced that the Galapagos Islands are at risk and declared that the archipelago's conservation and environment management is an issue of national priority.
As previously informed, the issuing of this card was supposed to start on October 22; however, it seems they are having internal problems with the different processes and institutions, airlines, travel agencies involved has made it necessary to first implement a “trial period” until possibly November 5.
The Migration Control Card, which has a cost of US$ 10 (payable in cash), seeks to control visitors to the archipelago as tourists must state their status to avoid permanent stay in the islands. This personal yellow card will be given to passengers on their arrival to the Baltra or San Cristobal airport.
As per information of the Director of INGALA, the migration card will be handed out directly or through travel agencies, airlines flying to Galapagos and tourism operators. The card allows tourists a maximum 90-day stay in the islands.
The information needed is full name (as it appears in the passport), passport number and date of birth.
-Courtesy of Metropolitan Touring
Please remember that this card is in addition to the Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100 per adult, to be paid in cash upon arrival)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Detour Partners with Rainforest Alliance to Promote Sustainable Tourism
Detour, The Adventure Travel Marketplace (www.detourdestinations.com), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote Best Management Practices and Certification Support for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises with the Rainforest Alliance, a leading international conservation organization. The agreement will enhance both Detour’s and the Rainforest Alliance’s goals of promoting sustainable locally owned travel providers, and will make it easier for travelers to find green-certified trips at www.detourdestinations.com.
Sustainable Tourism is defined by Agenda 21, a sustainable development program run by the United Nations as, “Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It provides economically viable and environmentally sound alternatives to destructive practices such as clearcutting of forest lands.” Sustainable tourism has the potential to improve the lives of local residents and to provide incentives for conservation of wildlands, waterways, and cultural resources.
Detour was founded to promote environmentally and socially responsible local tour operators, and to change the adventure travel industry by encouraging all tour operators and travel providers to become more sustainable. In the agreement with the Rainforest Alliance, Detour has committed to use green certified local companies where possible, and to encourage its non-certified providers to modify their practices so that they can become certified. Rainforest Alliance will provide support for these local companies through training in best management practices and assistance in becoming certified, as well as recognition for them in the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network once they become certified.
“Tourism has many benefits, including global understanding and the economic importance of tourism to many of the world’s developing countries,” said Greg Findley, Detour’s CEO. “But, tourism also has the possibility to harm local cultures and environments. One of the best ways to ensure that tourism has a positive impact is to promote sustainable locally owned and operated travel companies, ensuring that the local communities gain economic benefits from foreign tourists. Our partnership with Rainforest Alliance makes it easier for travelers to choose locally operated sustainable trips, thus making a positive impact while experiencing a fantastic trip.”
"The Rainforest Alliance is excited to be working with Detour, an innovator in the online travel marketplace," said Ronald Sanabria, director of the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program. "This is the first time we have signed an agreement with an online agency, and we commend Detour for its commitment to supporting certified tourism businesses and making a variety of sustainable travel options accessible to consumers online."
Detour is an innovative online adventure travel marketplace, where travelers can choose exactly the trip they want from a select list of the world’s best local outfitters, helping travelers save money and make sure their vacation dollars go directly into the local economy where they travel. Detour actively promotes sustainable tourism, and works to promote green certified hotels and local tour operators whenever possible.
The Rainforest Alliance is a leading international conservation organization whose goals include promoting ecologically and socially responsible best practices for tourism businesses in Latin America. They promote tourism certification programs by publicizing the various programs' requirements and the benefits of certification. The Rainforest Alliance also gathers and distributes information about current tourism market conditions and trends, provides marketing support to participating tourism businesses and creates commercial alliances that benefit owners of sustainable tourism businesses. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.
Sustainable Tourism is defined by Agenda 21, a sustainable development program run by the United Nations as, “Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It provides economically viable and environmentally sound alternatives to destructive practices such as clearcutting of forest lands.” Sustainable tourism has the potential to improve the lives of local residents and to provide incentives for conservation of wildlands, waterways, and cultural resources.
Detour was founded to promote environmentally and socially responsible local tour operators, and to change the adventure travel industry by encouraging all tour operators and travel providers to become more sustainable. In the agreement with the Rainforest Alliance, Detour has committed to use green certified local companies where possible, and to encourage its non-certified providers to modify their practices so that they can become certified. Rainforest Alliance will provide support for these local companies through training in best management practices and assistance in becoming certified, as well as recognition for them in the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network once they become certified.
“Tourism has many benefits, including global understanding and the economic importance of tourism to many of the world’s developing countries,” said Greg Findley, Detour’s CEO. “But, tourism also has the possibility to harm local cultures and environments. One of the best ways to ensure that tourism has a positive impact is to promote sustainable locally owned and operated travel companies, ensuring that the local communities gain economic benefits from foreign tourists. Our partnership with Rainforest Alliance makes it easier for travelers to choose locally operated sustainable trips, thus making a positive impact while experiencing a fantastic trip.”
"The Rainforest Alliance is excited to be working with Detour, an innovator in the online travel marketplace," said Ronald Sanabria, director of the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program. "This is the first time we have signed an agreement with an online agency, and we commend Detour for its commitment to supporting certified tourism businesses and making a variety of sustainable travel options accessible to consumers online."
Detour is an innovative online adventure travel marketplace, where travelers can choose exactly the trip they want from a select list of the world’s best local outfitters, helping travelers save money and make sure their vacation dollars go directly into the local economy where they travel. Detour actively promotes sustainable tourism, and works to promote green certified hotels and local tour operators whenever possible.
The Rainforest Alliance is a leading international conservation organization whose goals include promoting ecologically and socially responsible best practices for tourism businesses in Latin America. They promote tourism certification programs by publicizing the various programs' requirements and the benefits of certification. The Rainforest Alliance also gathers and distributes information about current tourism market conditions and trends, provides marketing support to participating tourism businesses and creates commercial alliances that benefit owners of sustainable tourism businesses. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Travel tips from Rainforest Alliance
Travel can be hard on a local culture and environment; but there are ways to lessen our impact on the places we visit. That's why we want to feature sustainable travel tips from Rainforest Alliance, an internationally renowned, non-profit conservation group. Rainforest Alliance and Detour are working together to promote sustainable travel and help tour operators become certified. There's also a lot that a traveler can do themselves to lessen their footprint in the host country. These tips from Rainforest Alliance can help travelers make responsible decisions wherever they visit:
Once You Arrive at Your Destination...
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At the hotel: Ask about environmental policies and practices. Talk with staff about working conditions. Does the hotel support community projects?
Language: Learn a few words of the local language and use them.
Dress: Read up on local conventions and dress appropriately. In many countries, modest dress is important.
Behavior: Be respectful of local citizens' privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes or private land.
Photographs: Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people. Always ask first.
Environment: Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails. Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
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Animal products: Never purchase crafts, clothing, furniture or other products that are derived from members of protected or endangered animal species.
Pay a fair price: Don't engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs. Don't short-change on tips for services.
Buy local: Choose locally owned lodges, hotels and B & Bs. Use local buses, car rental agencies and airlines. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets and attend local events. That way money spent in the community stays in the community.
Hire local guides: Enrich your experience and support the local economy. Ask guides if they are licensed and live locally. Are they recommended by tour operators?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Green Living Ideas interviews Detour about Sustainable Travel
Denver, CO – August 29, 2007- Green Living Ideas and Detour, the Adventure Travel Marketplace (www.detourdestinations.com) have partnered together in an effort to publicize information about sustainable, socially responsible travel. On the Green Living Ideas podcast, released on August 16th, Detour Founder, Greg Findley, discusses the history and new directions of sustainable travel with Green Living Ideas.
Green Living Ideas and Detour have collaborated to gather useful information about environmentally sound travel tips which should help tourists choose a truly green vacation. The go local movement in conjunction with environmentally sound practices is a new step for sustainable tourism, one that is being recognized as important for the entire travel industry.
The Green Living Ideas website is an information resource of green tips and eco-favorable how-to articles, allowing consumers to make better "green" purchasing decisions. With a variety of articles, videos and podcasts interviews with industry leaders about environmental issues, Green Living Ideas is designed to help both businesses and concerned consumers make environmentally friendly choices.
To listen to the Green Living Idea's podcast with Detour Destinations, click below:
Ecotourism
Green Living Ideas and Detour have collaborated to gather useful information about environmentally sound travel tips which should help tourists choose a truly green vacation. The go local movement in conjunction with environmentally sound practices is a new step for sustainable tourism, one that is being recognized as important for the entire travel industry.
The Green Living Ideas website is an information resource of green tips and eco-favorable how-to articles, allowing consumers to make better "green" purchasing decisions. With a variety of articles, videos and podcasts interviews with industry leaders about environmental issues, Green Living Ideas is designed to help both businesses and concerned consumers make environmentally friendly choices.
To listen to the Green Living Idea's podcast with Detour Destinations, click below:
Ecotourism
Friday, August 24, 2007
Carbonfund.org names Detour a "Model for Sustainable Business"
Detour has been recognized by Carbonfund.org as a leader in the sustainable business movement. We are honored by their endorsement and appreciation for our sustainability efforts.
Carbonfund.org is one of the highest recommended carbon-offset organizations in the world. They help individuals and companies off-set their carbon by contributing to projects in reforestation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
To calculate and off-set your trip's carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org, please visit the "Go Green" tab on the Detour homepage.
Courtesy of Carbonfund.org:
"Detour is the leading online marketplace for adventure travel. The company was founded to promote small-scale tourism directly through socially and environmentally responsible local tour operators and outfitters.
Action-hungry travelers merely have to go to www.detourdestinations.com, and choose among various trip packages in Africa, Central and South America. To name a few, their packages include hiking Mount Kilimanjaro's Machame Route, kayaking and snorkeling in the Galapagos islands, and mountain biking in the Andes. Detour allows their customers to conveniently plan their trips online, save money, and ensure proceeds go to the local economy.
"International travel has so much good to offer from much needed relaxation; to cross-cultural understanding; to learning about new people and ecosystems around the world," says Detour CEO Greg Findley. "But carbon emissions from flights and ground travel are troubling."
Findley and his colleagues have strong environmental and social responsibility convi
ctions. As such, Detour has made strong commitments to protect the environment and minimize global climate change.
The Detour office location was selected based on ease of travel by foot and public transportation. Their office is powered completely by wind energy. Their office is cooled by a low-energy, CFC evaporative cooler. Their company vehicle is powered by biodiesel. The encourage non-motorized forms of travel, and have most of their employees telecommute. All their business transactions are conducted online.
Not satisfied, the eco-conscious business took their efforts further. They have become a CarbonFree™ small business partner, offsetting the carbon emissions of their entire operations, including a handful of their trips. They will soon start offering the option for their customers to voluntary offset their trips. They have also partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to promote
green certified local travel companies in Latin America.
Congratulations Detour, you are a true model for sustainable businesses!"
Carbonfund.org is one of the highest recommended carbon-offset organizations in the world. They help individuals and companies off-set their carbon by contributing to projects in reforestation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
To calculate and off-set your trip's carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org, please visit the "Go Green" tab on the Detour homepage.
Courtesy of Carbonfund.org:
"Detour is the leading online marketplace for adventure travel. The company was founded to promote small-scale tourism directly through socially and environmentally responsible local tour operators and outfitters.Action-hungry travelers merely have to go to www.detourdestinations.com, and choose among various trip packages in Africa, Central and South America. To name a few, their packages include hiking Mount Kilimanjaro's Machame Route, kayaking and snorkeling in the Galapagos islands, and mountain biking in the Andes. Detour allows their customers to conveniently plan their trips online, save money, and ensure proceeds go to the local economy.
"International travel has so much good to offer from much needed relaxation; to cross-cultural understanding; to learning about new people and ecosystems around the world," says Detour CEO Greg Findley. "But carbon emissions from flights and ground travel are troubling."
Findley and his colleagues have strong environmental and social responsibility convi
ctions. As such, Detour has made strong commitments to protect the environment and minimize global climate change.The Detour office location was selected based on ease of travel by foot and public transportation. Their office is powered completely by wind energy. Their office is cooled by a low-energy, CFC evaporative cooler. Their company vehicle is powered by biodiesel. The encourage non-motorized forms of travel, and have most of their employees telecommute. All their business transactions are conducted online.
Not satisfied, the eco-conscious business took their efforts further. They have become a CarbonFree™ small business partner, offsetting the carbon emissions of their entire operations, including a handful of their trips. They will soon start offering the option for their customers to voluntary offset their trips. They have also partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to promote
green certified local travel companies in Latin America.Congratulations Detour, you are a true model for sustainable businesses!"
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Earthquake hits Peruvian Coast
From Andean Adventures:
Earthquake Strikes the Peruvian Coast
A powerful earthquake hit the coast of Peruvian early on Wednesday evening, local time. The US Geological Survey reported that the epicentre was some 145 kilometres off the Pacific coast, southeast of Lima, and the most seriously affected area is the province of Ica, with extensive damage caused to the towns of Pisco (60 kilometres from the epicentre), Chincha and the regional capital of Ica.
Two tremors, each lasting approximately twenty seconds, were felt, measuring 7.9 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.
First reports indicate that 337 people were killed by the quake, with all but one of the deaths occurring in the department of Ica. Seventeen people were killed in the town of Ica when the church of Señor de Luren collapsed on the congregation during evening mass. Although some buildings collapsed in the capital, Lima (where one third of the country’s population lives), only one death was reported.
Some sections of the Pan-American Highway are closed to traffic still, and Pisco airport is being used to coordinate government efforts to assist those whose homes were damaged by the quake.
No foreigner nationals have been listed among the dead, and no Andean Adventures passengers or staff were affected by the quake. Nevertheless, I am sure I speak for us all when I say that our thoughts go out to all those affected.
In the coming days and weeks we will keep all our overseas clients informed of developments in the department of Ica and the operability of the area as infrastructure is restored.
Earthquake Strikes the Peruvian Coast
A powerful earthquake hit the coast of Peruvian early on Wednesday evening, local time. The US Geological Survey reported that the epicentre was some 145 kilometres off the Pacific coast, southeast of Lima, and the most seriously affected area is the province of Ica, with extensive damage caused to the towns of Pisco (60 kilometres from the epicentre), Chincha and the regional capital of Ica.
Two tremors, each lasting approximately twenty seconds, were felt, measuring 7.9 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.
First reports indicate that 337 people were killed by the quake, with all but one of the deaths occurring in the department of Ica. Seventeen people were killed in the town of Ica when the church of Señor de Luren collapsed on the congregation during evening mass. Although some buildings collapsed in the capital, Lima (where one third of the country’s population lives), only one death was reported.
Some sections of the Pan-American Highway are closed to traffic still, and Pisco airport is being used to coordinate government efforts to assist those whose homes were damaged by the quake.
No foreigner nationals have been listed among the dead, and no Andean Adventures passengers or staff were affected by the quake. Nevertheless, I am sure I speak for us all when I say that our thoughts go out to all those affected.
In the coming days and weeks we will keep all our overseas clients informed of developments in the department of Ica and the operability of the area as infrastructure is restored.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Ecuador's Independence Holiday
Today, August 10th, Ecuador observes a national holiday, celebrating the first call for independence from Spain. For nearly 300 years, the Spanish had occupied and imposed colonial rule over Ecuador and much of Latin America. The inhabitants of Quito, the present-day capital of Ecuador, declared on August 10, 1809 their intention to secede from Spanish rule. Their success came 1822 after the Battle of Pichincha and they joined Simon Bolivar's Republic of Gran Columbia. In 1830, with the dissolution of Gran Columbia, Ecuador formed its own republic.
Ecuador's proclamation in 1809 is widely regarded as a catalyst for the continent-wide independence movement that soon followed. Because of their inspiring initial efforts to oust the Spanish, Quito is referred to as "Luz de America" which means "light of America."
August 10th has since become a federal holiday wherein Ecuadorians can celebrate and honor the heroic achievements of their ancestors.
One of the best ways to learn about Ecuadorian history is to visit the country itself. Detour features cultural tours of this amazing destination, including tours of Quito (a UNESCO world heritage site) and other places of special historic importance. Visit Detour to learn more about cultural tours of Ecuador.
Ecuador's proclamation in 1809 is widely regarded as a catalyst for the continent-wide independence movement that soon followed. Because of their inspiring initial efforts to oust the Spanish, Quito is referred to as "Luz de America" which means "light of America."
August 10th has since become a federal holiday wherein Ecuadorians can celebrate and honor the heroic achievements of their ancestors.
One of the best ways to learn about Ecuadorian history is to visit the country itself. Detour features cultural tours of this amazing destination, including tours of Quito (a UNESCO world heritage site) and other places of special historic importance. Visit Detour to learn more about cultural tours of Ecuador.
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