The Avenue of Volcanoes is a 325km long valley between the major Cordillera ranges. Large and standing alone, the volcanoes provide a brooding, snow covered contrast to the green equatorial lushness that this country usually provides. High altitudes are easily achieved without too much technical ability although the train trip through the volcanoes to Cuenca is probably the best way to see this inspiring countryside. Ecuador was also the birthplace of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the Galapagos are a must on every Ecuadorian trip. The Islands are a living laboratory of evolution where birds and animals have no fear of man. Blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, land and marine iguanas and giant tortoises roam as freely as they did thousands of years ago.