Photos and Videos from my time in Mainland Ecuador

In May 2017 I travelled overland through spectacular Andes mountain scenery from Peru to Ecuador, the next country on my journey around South America. Below are some of my favourite photos and videos from continental Ecuador. My Galapagos Islands visit will be blogged separately.

I spent my first few Ecuadorian days in and around the idyllic Hosteria Izhcayluma and nearby Vilcabamba.

Mosquito with extremely long legs at Rumi Wilco Nature Reserve, Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Mosquito with extremely long legs at Rumi Wilco Nature Reserve, Vilcabamba, Ecuador

4 butterflies with orange-lined transparent wings on green plants at Hostel Izhcayluma, Vilcabamba

Transparent-winged butterflies in the grounds of Hosteria Izhcayluma, Vilcabamba

An epiphyte tillandsia bromeliad living on a powerline, Vilcabamba

An epiphyte tillandsia bromeliad, also known as an ‘air plant’, living on a Vilcabamba powerline

Tiny scorpion on shirt cuff at Izhcayluma, Vilcabamba, Ecuador

A tiny scorpion ~1 centimetre long on my shirt cuff, Izhcayluma, Vilcabamba

My next destination was another part of the Ecuadorian tourist trail: Cuenca.

Cuenca is the only place in the world I recall seeing cycling lights that cycled like this.

Stained glass window depicting produce market stalls above Cuenca's 10 August Market ('Mercado 10 de Agosto')

Topical stained glass window depicting market stalls above Cuenca’s 10 August Market (‘Mercado 10 de Agosto’)

Graffiti mural of person playing guitar and wearing colourful balaclava, dark grey top, blue jeans and white/grey sneakers, Cuenca, Ecuador

Clever graffiti mural on a wall in Cuenca

Rows of indigenous food crops: chilli, tomatillo (or cape gooseberry), quinoa and corn in Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo, Cuenca, Ecuador

Rows of indigenous food crops in Cuenca’s Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo. From front to back: chilli, tomatillo (or is it cape gooseberry?), quinoa and corn.

Balcony containing many pants on first level of house in Cuenca, Ecuador

This gorgeous shared balcony on a hilly Cuenca street contains entries 6 and 7 of a local balcony flower contest.

A few hours by bus from Cuenca, Ecuagenera Orchids breeds and grows thousands of varieties of orchids in Llampasay, near Gualaceo. The nursery and headquarters is a must-see for plant and flower lovers.

Several almost identical market stalls next to each other, each selling roast pork; Gualaceo, Ecuador

Outdoor stalls in Gualaceo, all selling delicious roast pork. The stalls were temporarily moved from the 25 de Junio market hall.

Hundreds of flowering orchids in many different colours in Ecuagenera's showroom, Llampasay, Ecuador

Stunning floral display in Ecuagenera Orchids’ Llampasay showroom

Partially-made Panama hats of different colours piled together, Homero Ortego hat factory, Cuenca, Ecuador

Panama hats in production at Homero Ortega hat factory, Cuenca. The factory is part of the worthwhile ‘Museo del Sombrero’ (Hat Museum) guided tour.

From Cuenca I bussed to Guayaquil before flying to the Galapagos Islands. Returning to the mainland at Quito, I stayed at the wonderful and friendly Casa Urbana Hostal (sadly now closed). There I met fellow solo travellers Jordan and Franziska and we spent a week together, including visiting Lake Quilotoa and Mount Cotopaxi.

Joe leaping into the air next to a human cosplay 'statue' outside the Mesabe food fair in Quito, Ecuador

Leaping into the air next to a human cosplay ‘statue’ outside the Mesabe food fair in Quito, Ecuador

Indigenous youth singing, playing music and dancing in Quito’s Plaza de la Independencia.

Egg falling off nail at 'Mitad del Mundo' (Middle of the World) on the equator, north of Quito, Ecuador

Egg falling off nail at ‘Mitad del Mundo’ (Middle of the World) on the equator, north of Quito, Ecuador

Lake Quilotoa is a spectacular location to herd sheep!

Selfie of three people in front of Lake Quilotoa

Myself, Franziska and Jordan on an early morning visit to Lake Quilotoa

Scarecrow in foreground with Lake Quilotoa in background

Scarecrow protecting crops adjacent Lake Quilotoa

Boy throwing flying disc to backpacker, Quilotoa Bus Station, Ecuador

Boy throwing flying disc to backpacker, Quilotoa Bus Station, Ecuador

Clear glass cup containing coca leaves in hot water at the Cotopaxi National Park Visitors Centre

Coca leaf tea at the Cotopaxi National Park Visitors Centre. Coca leaf is a traditional Andean food/medicinal/cultural ingredient and remains legal in much of the Andes despite being banned elsewhere.

Water droplets on yellow flower and green plant at Cotpaxi National Park

Water droplets on yellow flower and plant in Cotopaxi National Park

Snow on path up to Mount Cotopaxi's José Rivas Refuge building

Snowy path leading up to Mount Cotopaxi’s José Rivas Refuge, 4,864 metres high

Man draping hair over snowman giving snowman the appearance of having hair; in foreground 3 people taking photos of snowman.

Giving the snowman hair outside José Rivas Refuge, Mount Cotopaxi

Ecuador’s far north, near Colombia, contains a unique a large-scale topiary display – in a cemetery! The Tulcán Municipal Cemetery is worth a stop-off before (or after) crossing the border.

4 green topiary hedges trimmed into exaggerated human designs at Tulcán Municipal Cemetery

Topiary figures at Tulcán Municipal Cemetery, northern Ecuador

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