Bright, sunny Española is home to a multitude of sea lions, sea turtles, white tipped sharks, fish, iguanas, and birds.

On San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos, a tortoise breeding and nursery center helps preserve the species and keep the tortoises safe from harvesting by humans.

An old Ecuadorian tale provides an important reminder to protect innocent life.

Cotopaxi is the oldest active volcano in Ecuador, and we found ourselves visiting somewhat accidentally!

The hilly city of Quito offers much for visitors to experience with all five senses, including historical museums, beautiful park areas, vibrant street music, and restaurants serving aromatic and delicious Ecuadorian food.

There is much beautiful and colorful plant life, including many orchids, on display at the Jardin Botanico in Quito.

Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin dedicated his life to raising awareness of the cruelties and injustices of life, to which he was exposed at an early age. From 1945 until his death in 1999, he depicted the poor and oppressed, and the brutality of those who oppressed them. His work is displayed at the Museo Guyasamin in Quito.

In Ecuador, sunrise is at 6 AM and sunset at 6 PM the year round, so our second trip up a mountain was in the dark. The restaurant we visited was built on the very edge of the world, and I was lucky to have a seat by the window.

As I contemplated the bridges, the formations of the clouds, and the peek holes through the branches, the thought came to me that I was having a sacred moment, and that there was nothing I could possibly be missing.

The Teleferico gondola ride takes 20 minutes from the sprawling, densely populated city center of Quito to Cruz Loma, 2717 feet higher.