The Best Camera Gear for the Galápagos Islands [by: Ian]

The Best Camera Gear for the Galápagos Islands | by Ian Norman, North to South
The Best Camera Gear for the Galápagos Islands | by Ian Norman, North to South

The Galápagos Islands are a wildlife photography paradise. Of all the places we’ve visited around the world, the Galápagos Islands were the most spectacular place for seeing and photographing wildlife.

We put a lot of thought into the photography gear that we would bring for such a trip, and we learned pretty quickly what was most valuable to us for capturing all of the amazing animals around the islands. In this post we share our list of the best photography gear for photographing wildlife in the Galápagos Islands, with options for different levels of photography experience and trip packing desires.

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Our Friends Are Stuck in Ecuador During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Here’s What’s Happening

Americans Stuck Abroad in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Americans Stuck Abroad in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic

What happens if you’re traveling abroad during a pandemic?

Early this month, our friends Sha and Joe arrived in the Galápagos Islands. Ian and I had just left Ecuador ourselves, and we knew they were in for an exciting wildlife trip — but when borders started closing worldwide due to the rapid international spread of coronavirus, getting back to the U.S. became a journey of its own for them — and it’s not over yet. Here’s what’s happening:

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Baltra vs. San Cristóbal: Which Galápagos Island is best to fly into?

Baltra vs. San Cristóbal: Which Galápagos Island is best to fly into?
Baltra vs. San Cristóbal: Which Galápagos Island is best to fly into?

Baltra or San Cristóbal… That is the question, and it really depends on what your plans are and what you want to get out of your Galápagos Island trip.

After doing a little research before our trip to the Islands this year, we decided to fly into and out of San Cristóbal. We island-hopped by ferry for our Galápagos Island adventure, and I was very happy we chose San Cristóbal as our jumping off point for our self-planned trip. But there are good reasons to fly into Baltra as well.

Not sure which to choose for your trip? Below is some information that should help you decide.

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How to Fly from the U.S. to the Galápagos Islands for Under $200

How to Fly to the Galapagos Islands for Under $200
How to Fly to the Galapagos Islands for Under $200

Last month when I found $89 flights from Chicago to Ecuador, I was dumbfounded. And flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galápagos were less than $100, too. It must have been some sort of mistake… right?

I simply couldn’t miss out on this amazing deal to my top bucket list destination, so within 24 hours of finding the flights we were booked and officially planning our trip to the Galápagos Islands! How did we manage to find such affordable flights to the Galápagos? I’ll share my secrets with you in this post!

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Our Year in Review: Van Living, Chasing Landscapes, and Seeking Balance [2019]

*Our Year in Review 2019 | Diana Southern and Ian Norman, North to South
Our Year in Review 2019 | Diana Southern and Ian Norman, North to South

This final year of the decade was a successful year of finding balance for us, both in our adventures and in our personal lives. We spent a majority of the year focused on two things: the van and photography.

Ups and downs both played a part in our 2019 story, and that forced us to reprioritize what to focus on this year, but we pressed onward and made it through with a better understanding of ourselves and a new perspective to accompany us into the new year.

With the new decade now upon us, it’s time for a look back to appreciate all the great memories we made in 2019!

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Norwegian Air’s interactive route map is my new favorite toy!

Norwegian Air's Interactive Route Map (my new favorite toy) | northtosouth.us
Norwegian Air's Interactive Route Map (my new favorite toy) | northtosouth.us

With the new year upon us, it’s the perfect time to start making travel plans. That’s how we’re kicking off 2020, so today I began consulting with our favorite low-cost international airline to see what deals I could find for flying to Europe.

While perusing Norwegian.com, I discovered a new tool that makes searching flights easier. A new interactive route map lets you select your departure airport, set your budget, and choose your destination type — you can even set a temperature range for your destination.

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How to Fly from the U.S. to Europe for Under $200 [Budget Travel Secrets]

How to Fly from the U.S. to Europe for Under $200 dollars
How to Fly from the U.S. to Europe for Under $200 dollars

Updated: January 2020

I used to expect to pay over $1000 for round-trip tickets to Europe. Now I’d never pay over $500. And one-way tickets for $200 or less are more common than you’d think. When we started traveling full time, our frugal beginner’s travel budget forced us to find the cheapest method to fly to Europe. And now I’m sharing it with you.

Traveling on the cheap from the U.S. to Europe is quite simple, really. It involves just three things:

  • a flexible travel schedule
  • packing light
  • my new favorite airline
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