The Ecuadoran Andes up in the clouds. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I did the “trifecta” in Ecuador, visiting the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, and the Andes. It was my second time in the Andes region (the first time was about 13 years before), and it didn’t disappoint.
As you can see, the bird life in particular is special in the Andes.
The Andean Guan. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A female booted racket-tail hummingbird sits on a leaf. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A beautiful fluted flower in the Andes. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A Masked Flowerpiercer. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A scarlet-bellied mountain-tanager enjoys a banana. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A toucan barbet. Photo by Melanie Votaw.In the cloudforest of the Andes, the leaves are often huge and otherworldly. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A white-throated screech owl. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A female white-bellied woodstar hummingbird with her tongue extended. She appears to have a slightly deformed bill. This bird is not much larger than a large bee but makes a very loud buzzing sound. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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There is nowhere in the world like the Galapagos Islands, and they are best experienced via a small yacht cruise. The Ecuadoran government monitors how many visitors can go to each island, which helps to protect what many call “a natural zoo.” This is because the animals on the islands have no predators, which makes them very trusting of humans. While you are advised to stay at least a few feet away from animals, you will see from my photos that they often come close to you. Below are some of my favorite photos from my experience in this amazing and remote place on our planet.
Leaving Las Vegas behind, I accelerated onto the straight desert highway. The two-hour drive to St. George flew by, framed by an endless vista of solitary cacti and sagebrush that felt plucked straight from a classic Western film.
The audience is hushed – all focus is on the stage. Then into the silent darkness, a brilliant scarlet back wall is illuminated with female figures appearing like shadow puppets hanging loose before the puppeteer animates them. The wailing music begins, and the lights go up, revealing dancers in electric-colored and stylized Indian costumes with exposed midriff, bare feet, and lots of arm movements.
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