Ecuador is a country of contrasts : after vibrant Quito surrounded by volcanoes, the stunning galapagos islands, we went to the north of Ecuador in the Highlands. The scenary changes completely and we're surrounded by luxuriously green mountains. It's a key agricultural region where you see corn fields and roses plantations stretching across the mountain flanks. We headed to the Cotacachi ecological reserve where we found the Cuicocha lake: a stunning dark lagoon cradled in a volcanic crater (still active, with hot bubbles bursting at the lake surface !). We then went hiking around the 2 Peguche cascades, situated in the mountains near a small weaving village. These cascades are sacred to locals who come here to cleanse their body and souls in them. I won't describe Andy's embarrassed face when 3 old indigenous women walked past him completely naked after their cleansing bath ...And because we are in Ecuador, we couldn't miss going to La mitad del Mundo : the middle of the earth, on the Ecuador line, in order to stand with one foot in each hemisphere!! In a small museum on site we had fun experiencing the different physical effects of being on the Ecuador line (like flushing the toilet on each hemisphere side to see the water spinning in opposite directions..... and plenty of more serious experiments of course ! :)

Last but not least in this beautiful region, we went to Otavalo – small town renowned for its huge indigenous handicraft market (the biggest of South America). We couldn’t resist buying a few bits and pieces that will probably get lost in the post back to the UK. Our favourite bit though : the food market : colourful, aromatic with about 2 billions varieties of fruits and vegetables we couldn't even name.

Tomorrow we’re on our way to the jungle – another completely new environment. Can’t wait!