Ecuador
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A trip to Ecuador has been a plan of mine for most of my adult life. The initial attraction was, of course, the Galapagos Islands, home of edemic species found nowhere else on the planet. The Galapagos are volcanic islands scattered in the Pacific Ocean, beautiful and daunting in their sparce severity. Never having to fear predators, most of the animals are unaffected by the humans who visit, so close encounters are the norm rather than the exception. The Ecuadoran National Park Serivce regulates visitors and itineraries, so that hopefully, the animals' rights are more important than the tourists' desires. Charles Darwin is the human most associated with these islands, for the time he spent here that contributed to his theory of the evolution of species based on natural selection.
As I began my planning research, I also discovered that the country of Ecuador, itself, has so much to offer in the context of nature. Its diversity of habitats is unparalleled for the size of the actual area the country inhabits. Ecuador sits on the equator, and the great diversity of plant and animal species results from tremendous changes in altitude. The Andes Mountains run through the center of the country. Starting at the highest altitudes, one can view volcanoes and high, dry plains. As a descent is made, within a very short time, one enters the cloud forest environment. To descend still further envelops a person in the marvelous scenes of the rain forest. We were only able to spend a few days discovering this part of Ecuador after the Galapagos but were awed by the dazzling array of birds, hummingbirds, orchids and flowers.
As I began my planning research, I also discovered that the country of Ecuador, itself, has so much to offer in the context of nature. Its diversity of habitats is unparalleled for the size of the actual area the country inhabits. Ecuador sits on the equator, and the great diversity of plant and animal species results from tremendous changes in altitude. The Andes Mountains run through the center of the country. Starting at the highest altitudes, one can view volcanoes and high, dry plains. As a descent is made, within a very short time, one enters the cloud forest environment. To descend still further envelops a person in the marvelous scenes of the rain forest. We were only able to spend a few days discovering this part of Ecuador after the Galapagos but were awed by the dazzling array of birds, hummingbirds, orchids and flowers.
