One way to get from the Northern area of Ecuador to the Southern province of Azuay, to Cuenca, is to go through the Andes and cross the magnificent Valley of Volcanoes.
They don't call it valley of volcanoes for no reason! It's the Ecuadorian spine of the Andes. The Pan-American Highway runs from North to South cutting through the cordilleras, crossing farmland and fields beneath the dormant and active volcanoes. Ecuador is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy orchids and palm trees while gazing at the glaciers and snow on the mountains above. You can find different ecological zones from subtropical to alpine. Driving down South on the Pan-Americana Highway we were welcomed by the Cotopaxi volcano,(5,897 meters/19,350ft), the second-highest peak in the country and one of the world's most active volcanoes. We have seen its snow-caped cone from far and got enchanted by its majestic sight. A bit more South, we laid our eyes on the mighty Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador, only 6,263.47 m (20,549.4 ft)!!! Its height make sit visible from three provinces (Chimborazo, Bolívar and Tungurahua). The area surrounding the mountain has been declared a fauna reserve. It's a great place to do some high-altitude hiking, enjoy the stunning views, learn more about the way the indigenous people live and see some adorable llamas (vicuña or alpaca). PANAMA SERIES: FROM BOQUETE TO VOLCAN PANAMA SERIES: HACIENDA LOS MOLINOS PANAMA SERIES: PANAMA CITY’S SKYLINE AT NIGHT PANAMA SERIES: THE GRINGO PRICE PANAMA SERIES: TEN FACTS OR MORE ABOUT BOQUETE, PANAMA PANAMA SERIES: BOQUETE’S FLOWERS AND COFFEE FESTIVAL PANAMA SERIES: VISITING DAMARLI ESTATE IN BOQUETE PANAMA SERIES: CARIBBEAN PARADISE - BOCAS DEL TORO ECUADOR SERIES: QUITO’S OLD TOWN ECUADOR SERIES: MITAD DEL MUNDO + CABLE CAR RIDE IN QUITO ECUADOR SERIES: ECUADORIAN WOMEN AND CULTURAL IDENTITY ECUADOR SERIES: OTAVALO, THE ARTISAN MARKET MECCA ECUADOR SERIES: COTACACHI, THE CITY BETWEN TWO VOLCANOS ECUADOR SERIES - DUE DILIGENCE TRIP ECUADOR SERIES: TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO ECUADOR HIKING IN MONT-ROYAL PARK, MONTREAL ZUMMER FUN BUS RIDE IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA THE STONEHENGE OF ROMANIA: SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA LAURENTIANS MOUNTAINS: COTTAGE TRIP AT LAKE CACHÉE OTTAWA LIGHTS SHOW ON PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS HIKING AT DANUBE’S GORGES, ORSOVA, ROMANIA DECEBALUS CARVED STATUE, ROMANIA PIRATES TREASURE PLAYGROUND, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 2, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 1, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA GONDOLA RIDE IN MAMAIA RESORT, ROMANIA BEACH DAY IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA BUBBLES - INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA BAHIA DE PAQUERA, NICOYA GULF, COSTA RICA EXPLORING AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS MACKINAC BRIDGE, MICHIGAN, USA CHASED BY TORNADOS IN MINNESOTA MINNEHAHA FALLS REGIONAL PARK, A GEM IN BETWEEN THE TWIN CITIES BANFF, A RESORT TOWN INSIDE THE BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA OLD PORT OF CONSTANTA, ROMANIA MORAINE LAKE, A SURREAL BEAUTY IN ALBERTA, CANADA TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE A LIVING WHILE TRAVELLING THE WORLD FEELING UNINSPIRED? VISIT A WELSH RETREAT: GLADSTONE’S RESIDENTIAL LIBRARY TURDA’S 400 FEET UNDERGROUND AMUSEMENT PARK, A HIDDEN GEM OF TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA VISIT TO SAINT-JOSEPH’S ORATORY IN MONTREAL, CANADA Unless stated otherwise, all photos used in this posts are taken and owned by myself. If you wish to use any of my images, please contact me! Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave your feedback in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Cotopaxi volcano seen from the Pan Americana Highway
Andean plateau at over 4000 m altitude
Cotopaxi volcano
Cotopaxi volcano
Cotopaxi volcano
Chimborazo volcano seen from the Pan Americana Highway
Llama
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