FERNANDINA VOLCANO IN THE GALAPAGOS ERUPTS

"The Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute informs that La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos has started a new eruptive process. The island-volcano - 1476 meters high- is not inhabited and located 90 Kms. to the northwest of Puerto Villamil the closest village on Isabela Island, so there is no danger for the human population.

The current eruptive process started during the night of April 10 and was reported by the park wardens and by a tour boat which was in the vicinity. Lava flows have been observed, coming from a lateral fissure located 500 meters below the crater at the southwest side of the island, close to Cape Hammond. This is a radial fissure 200 meters long and 10 meters wide that reaches up to 15 meters high. There is also a large column of smoke.

The volcano of Fernandina Island erupted five years ago, without causing major damage to the flora and fauna of the area.

Tour excursions to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island have not been suspended; authorities of the Galapagos National Park are closely monitoring the developments to determine that it is safe to continue with them."

- from Metropolitan Touring

Inca Trail Permits Sold Out Through June 2009

Inca Trail Permits are selling quickly again this year (although a little slower than last year), and permits are now sold out through June 2009. There are still permits available for most any date at the end of the year, September to January. Check out permit availability on our Inca Trail Permits page.

July 2009

Date: Permits Remaining

11: 88
12: 24
14: 52
15: 94
16: 69
17: 137
18: 73
19: 29
20: 0
21: 175
22: 23
23: 84
24: 0
25: 161
26: 0
27: 103
28: 233
29: 230
30: 5
31: 40

August 2008

Date: Permits Remaining
1: 402
2: 304
3: 0
4: 267
5: 224
6: 369
7: 296
8: 346
9: 23
10: 35
11: 367
12: 22
13: 398
14: 223
15: 354
16: 113
17: 183
18: 11
19: 152
20: 469
21: 355
22: 402
23: 409
24: 377
25: 433
26: 414
27: 418
28: 369
29: 443
30: 417
31: 404

Heavy Rains in Ecuador Cause Landslides

From Detour Partner Metropolitan Touring:

ROAD CONDITIONS IN ECUADOR

The rainy season in Ecuador has been particularly intense this year, and the main roads that descend from the highlands to the coast have experienced landslides that affect the normal traffic between these two regions.

The road Calacalí/Los Bancos that leads to Tulipe and Mindo has been particularly affected, and works are under way to repair the road, so until March 15 tours to the area of Mindo and Tulipe have been suspended in order to guarantee the safety and well being of our guests.
Alternate programs will be provided to affected guests.

The roads in the highlands of Ecuador are fully operative, and all tours in and around Quito, Otavalo, the Avenue of the Volcanoes and south to Cuenca are operating normally.

Pacuare River Obtains Ecological Blue Flag

Detour has received a great update from Adventuras Naturales in Costa Rica about their latest achievement in sustainability. Adventuras Naturales is a Costan Rican company which has received international recognition for its commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism:

"We are very proud to announce that the Pacuare River recently received the highest rating from the Costa Rican government’s Ecological Blue Flag Program for River Watersheds. Rafting and Kayaking experts have long considered the Pacuare to be one of the world’s top white water rivers, primarily due to the quality of its environment and rainforest scenery, and this Blue Flag rating confirms that it is an exemplary natural wonder.

Aventuras Naturales and the Pacuare Lodge leaded the process to get the Ecological Blue Flag Program to recognize the Pacuare River’s healthy environment and clean water. This has included working with local communities to involved them in the river’s protection. The company has always taken great care to ensure that the Pacuare Lodge has no negative impact on the river and together with local farmers and guests, is planting trees in the Pacuare watershed. This designation by the Ecological Blue Flag Program for River Watersheds – a pioneer project on a global level – is yet another recognition that the Pacuare is one of Costa Rica’s natural jewels.

Our commitment to the environment: concrete steps for sustainability!"


- From Adventuras Naturales

Trip Report: Manizales, the coffee region, Colombia

February 23: We arrived in Manizales yesterday and everyone quickly piled on their layers as soon as we hit the tarmac. It´s obvious that we´ve become accustomed to the warm climate of Colombia because the `coldest place in the country´ has us shivering- despite being a normally comfortable 60 F. This is part of the coffee growing region in Colombia. The microclimate here is a perfect balance of rain and sun, situated at just the right altitude. Additionally, many of the dramatic and steep hills are actually inactive volcanoes, now carpeted in thick green vegetation. The volcanic ash also adds richness to the soil to grow some of the best beans worldwide.

I took a tour of a small coffee plantation which features mostly shade grown coffee. We walked through the entire process, from the berry picking to the drying and roasting stages. Our guide , Ceider, was passionate about coffee like a sommelier; he paused with every sip to determine subtle distinctions in the smell and taste. His warm-hearted demeanor was touching, especially when he interrupted the tour, responding to a dog´s whimper, to carry his very old companion from the porch to the grass for some sun. The morning stroll through the grounds was finished with shared coffee, of course, and blackberry juice which is an apparent staple in Colombia. My appreciation of coffee has always verged on fanatic, but this tour certainly shed light on the many items I consume without acknowledging its origin.

Tomorrow, it´s on to Rio Blanco which is one of Manizales´ nine (!) nature preserves. We´re promised many hummingbirds and beautiful hikes- we´re all crossing that the sun perks up and the rain lets up a bit.

Trip Report: Santa Marta, Colombia

Februaray 20, 2009: Medellín, Colombia

I arrived in Colombia for a birdwatching tour and knowing the names of only a dozen or so species back home, I knew I had a lot to learn. In three days, I´ve at least quadrupled that number. I have some top quality birding guides leading the way which makes it all much easier. But even without the guides, it would be impossible not to notice the amazing avian diversity and density in Colombia. The country actually ranks first in the world for number of species (barely beating Brazil and Peru) with close to 1,900.

That number is growing too, I learned as we watched an owl swoop overhead by moonlight in the El Dorado Nature Reserve. The owl, like a few other species around Santa Marta, has been recently ¨rediscovered.¨ This means that one specimen had been discovered in the early 1900´s, but never seen or recorded since. When it was discovered again in the region, research showed it had been described before but forgotten because it so rarely appeared. At this point, the owl is in the process of receiving its official scientific name so it remains unnamed for the time being.

The new owl is just one example of why Santa Marta, and specially the El Dorado reserve, is such an attraction to birders. Of the over 100 species found in the area, 16 are endemic (meaning they aren´t found anywhere else on earth). Not being a birder I know that I can´t fully appreciate such a destination; for instance, I don´t share the same long face as my fellow travelers when the Tapaculo wasn´t spotted yesterday, despite hearing its calls for 15 minutes. Nevertheless, this is a stunning spot and the biodiversity will charm even the casual naturalist. The Santa Marta Sierra Nevada stands apart from any other mountain chain, rising thousands of meters straight from the ocean. Its most famous area, Tayrona National Park, is finally safe for tourists to explore. After such a tumultuous period in which more than one-third of the area was controlled by guerillas, I´ve found people speak freely of the relief they feel now and embrace tourism to the region.

Tomorrow, flying from Medellín to Bahía Solano on the Pacific coast- a place you can´t find anywhere on google earth. More birding and hopefully some time to surf . . . .

New Eruption on Chaiten Volcano, Chile

Volcan Chaiten, in Southern Chile, has started to show increased activity again, according to Detour travel partner TravelArt Chile.

The activity started on Thursday, February 19th. The volcano, which lies south of Pumalin Park at the northern part of the Carretera Austral, and near the Futaleufu River, erupted in May 2008 causing a great deal of damage in the area, including in Chaiten.

According the Chilean Emergency Management Office, there is a high possibility for the crate to collapse, which woulc cause new pyroclastic bursts and dangerous ash precipitations. A complete evacuation of Chaiten has been arranged, and it is forbidden to enter the town.

Read more about the eruption here:

Chile's Chaiten volcano spews molten rock, ash