After deciding that our budget wasn’t going to get us to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, we passed through the country in less than two weeks. It was a stark contrast to our time in Peru – specifically, it was wet and green.

The country was dotted with volcanoes, unfortunately most covered with cloud as we passed through, though we did get up close to the active Volcano Tungurahua. We learned that Ecuador is a densely populated country, it  is very popular with North American retirees, roasting whole pigs on the side of the road is not unusual, and their national soup, locro de papas, is to die for.

We admit that we probably didn’t do the country justice but we were very excited about getting to Colombia!!

See some of our photos from Ecuador below. More are available in our online galleries.

This is one of the five tzantza (or shrunken heads) we saw on display in Cuenca, from the Shuar culture of the Amazon. The skull is removed and the flesh boiled in water enriched with herbs containing tannins, dried and moulded to retain its features. Traditionally, the heads came from enemies of the tribe. The head shrinking process harnessed the enemy’s spirit to thereafter serve the shrinker, who wore the head as a necklace. The eyelids and lips were sewn shut to prevent the spirit from escaping. An eerie sight!

Meeting new people can happen anywhere. On this occasion we were flagged down by Adrian (on the left) and Lauren, who recognised our New South Wales number plates. They were riding with Jeremy (middle) from France.

Riding above the clouds, outside of Cuenca.

Volcano Tungurahua with an impressive plume of ash, just above the town of Baños.

Ready to face the ash. Masks were virtually mandatory on the days we were in Baños.

The Pastaza River at Baños.

Other than the volcano, Baños is famous for, well, baños (thermal baths).

These two workers try in vain to sweep up the volcanic ash from their carpark.

Basilica del Voto Nacional, Quito

The Capilla del Hombre (Chapel of Man) and Guayasamin Museum, Ecuador’s most famous artist, in Quito.

La Ternura (Tenderness), by Guayasamin.

At the equator. La Mitad del Mundo. Fi on the south, Matt on the north.