3 months in South America - Quito to Santiago

[London_Calling]

mmmmm, Man at C&A

Did you see a Saturn 5 at NASA???

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

we've got 11 weeks to get to Santiago, Chile.

That sounds very tempting.

 

[Crispy]

That jacket was 15 quid at Lidl I´ll have you know!

Ok, here´s a couple more:

Otavalo train station. The railway finally stopped running in 1998 after years of low maintainence and a final killing blow by rain and mudslide damage in el niño storms.

View from our hostel. The mountain is Cotacachi volcano, which is extinct, but a subsiduary eruption of which is responsible for the fertility of the valley's soil.

...and is also responsible for this crater lake, Cuicocha. Man from C&A checks out the view.

 

[Maggot]

Nah, we're sticking to West of the Andes, and it'll be October-December so we will miss each other ):

So you're only going to Equador, Peru and Chile? I'm sure that's plenty.


Hope you have a great trip!

 

[London_Calling]

Man from C&A checks out the view.

He's probably still looking for that Saturn 5.

 

[skyscraper101]

View from our hostel. The mountain is Cotacachi volcano, which is extinct, but a subsiduary eruption of which is responsible for the fertility of the valley's soil.

That could almost pass for the British Isles you were visiting there.

 

[sleaterkinney]

In Peru the Colca canyon and Arequipa were interesting. The Ica area is good for those who like deserts. The north of the country is where I really wanted to go but didn't have time. There's supposed to be quite good surfing on the coast.

The Inca trail is fun but there's supposed to be many more interesting hikes run by tour companies in the general area though a lot of that will depend on how well you can acclimatise to the altitude and how fit you are.

Just to add to this, I would check out the Nazca lines, which are south of Ica. which are great, the Inca trail is one of the best walks in the world but it is a 5 day trek at altitude so be aware of that.

I wouldn't bother with Lake Titicaca and the reed islands etc, it's a bit of a tourist trap.

It's just started to get cold here btw.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

That could almost pass for the British Isles you were visiting there.

I was thinking that

 

[Crispy]

what you can't see in the photo is the SNOW CAPPED VOLCANO behind the camera
more photos when this bloody computer pulls its thumb out of its arse

EDIT: ah, I think it's connected via satellite. that would explain things.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Looks like you and Sparrow are having a great time.

More pics please.

 

[Crispy]

Quilatoa, another crater lake.

These children conned Sparrow out of her water bottle. Sneaky devils!

Looks just like the Sierra Nevada in places, but with thinner air

We're in Banos now, which has hot springs and thousands of tourists and are treating ourselves silly. One more week in Ecuador, then we'll cross the border to Peru.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Quilatoa, another crater lake.

then we'll cross the border to Peru.

Looks a bit like the volacanic crater lake I saw just south of Manila. Not as inhabited though. Have fun in Peru. Are Sendero Luminoso still in business. Love to Abimail.

 

[linerider]

Quilatoa, another crater lake.

These children conned Sparrow out of her water bottle. Sneaky devils!

Looks just like the Sierra Nevada in places, but with thinner air

We're in Banos now, which has hot springs and thousands of tourists and are treating ourselves silly. One more week in Ecuador, then we'll cross the border to Peru.

Trujillo is worth a visit as the Chan Chan ruins are amazing.

 

[heinous seamus]

The kid with the water bottle looks like an actual devil child.

 

[Crispy]

Baños, spa town and full of tourists, but very pretty.

In the hills around town

Volcán Chimborazo, highest mountain in Ecuador (6310m). Snapped this one out of the window of a moving bus. The peak was clear! Lucky shot.

View from the road to Cuenca. Staggering scenery. I have dozens just as good as this.

We were treated to a phenomenal sunset as we headed south , with the coastal plain to our right and mountains dipping into the clouds. Best sunset EVAR. And yes, there´s a speck of grit on the lens >_< - to be photoshopped later.

 

[mitochondria]

Wow - beautiful.

 

[Diamond]

How's the acclimatisation going?

 

[Hollis]

I aint' looking at the pictures.. In my day and age you'd bugger off for 6 months then come back with the photos. This ain't right.

 

[London_Calling]

Greetings Butch and Sundance!

 

[Dr Jon]

Great pics! Looks amazing.
keep 'em coming.

 

[Crispy]

How's the acclimatisation going?

No problem at all. Only feel the altitude when actually pushing ourselves at 3000m+

Just booked tickets on the Ferrocarril Central Andino which, before the Chinese built the line to Tibet, was the highest railway in the world. Going swanky tourist class with free food and drink and huge reclining leather chairs Got 7 days to make it to Lima. Will be a bit of a rush...

 

[Part 2]

Jealous

 

[Voley]

Looks beautiful.

 

[Maggot]

Loving the pics and getting plenty of vicarious enjoyment from this thread.

 

[Crispy]

not much to report. We've been on the beach. Also, long distance buses in Peru piss all over national express.

Trujillo is worth a visit as the Chan Chan ruins are amazing.

Going to chan chan tomorrow

 

[editor]

Can you hear that, Crispy?
That's the sound of envy coming straight off my keyboard onto these boards.

 

[bluestreak]

Yep, that's just what I needed to see this morning. You lucky lucky bastards

 

[Strumpet]

Great pics!

 

[Crispy]

chan chan is boring. huaca de la luna, nearby, 700 years older and much better preserved, kicks its ass

 

[Agent Sparrow]

He went on a train yesterday, the second highest railway in the world, which stops at the highest passenger station. He was a very happy boy.

(I had a lovely time too, I'm just very gently ribbing him about his geekery )