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Ecotourism and
Andes Adventures
A Range Rich in History and Diversity
The Andes is the oldest mountain range on the planet and longest. Think of it as the spine of
South America,
extending more than 4,000 miles along its western shores and through seven countries: Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia,
Chile,
Bolivia, and Argentina. The highest mountain range outside of Asia, Anti, meaning "high crest" in the native Quechua, lures mountaineers from all over the globe. The highest Andean peak is Aconcagua in Argentina, at 22,841 feet above sea level. Another summit of note is the Ecuadorean peak Mount Chimborazo, which because of the equatorial bulge, is the point on the earth's surface farthest from the center of the earth.
The intricate Incan terracing allowed them to farm the challenging Andes terrain.
The Inca empire settled in the northern portion of the Andes in the 1400s, embracing the challenging mountain terrain with engineering feats of stonework roads, irrigation aqueducts, and terracing that still inspire today. In fact, another theory of the derivation of the name Andes is that it came from the Spanish "anden," which means terrace. When the Spanish began conquering South American civilizations, their diseases, foreign to the native cultures, sometimes wrought more devastation than warfare. In 1532, Pizarro and his army of only 180 men were able to conquer the once-mighty Incas because they had been weakened so significantly from European illnesses. Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, the legendary and relatively recently discovered Incan city, gives an exhilarating taste of the area. You can experience extremes in weather in the Andes. The northern Andes, particularly in Colombia, are warm and rainy. The southern portion is typically cooler and rainy, and the central section from southern Peru to northern Chile is more arid and subject to extremes in temperatures. Amidst the wide-ranging eco-zones, trekkers and wildlife enthusiasts are drawn to the Andes for their ever-changing offerings. Tropical rainforests are situated mere miles from the snow-covered volcanic peak of Cotopaxi in Ecuador--which is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Above the rain forest zone in Venezuela and Bolivia, lies a zone of dense growth smaller trees, including the cinchona, a source of the malaria drug quinine. Coniferous forests and high plateaus appear as altitudes rise. In addition to the geographical wonders, as you trek or raft or kayak or mountain climb your way through the Andes range, you are likely to spot condors, the largest bird of prey, llamas and alpacas, which are important as pack animals and sources of wool, and chinchillas, rodents prized for their pelts. And finally, the permanent snowline keeps many peaks snowcapped year-round and popular with skiers. Glaciers at the southern end of the Andes are stunning and an amazing area to trek.
Llamas are powerful pack animals... the fabulous four-wheel drive of the Andes.
Rich with such stunning ancient vistas and cultures, and with such mystical and spiritual paths that connect history to modern day just as much as they do cloud forests to cities, it is no wonder that as my guide told me, his dreams are always amazingly vivid in these mountains.
Ecuador
Aventouras designs tours
to custom-fit your preferences, but they also offer an amazing overview trip through the
Ecuadorean Andes,
enabling visitors to become immersed in native culture as well as adventuring through a variety of Andean attractions that makes this South American jewel such a great getaway for all. Hiking around lakes, and up the extinct volcano Fuya Fuya, boating, rafting and staying in lodges in indigenous villages presents an experience to be treasured.
Traveling to the Andes? Check out Trip Prep Tools.
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