CHARITY BIKE RIDE: Antofagasta (0m) in Chile to world´s highest cyclable place on Cerro Uturuncu (5777m) in Bolivia

I am currently undertaking my charity bike ride which you can follow here: https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/sea-to-mountain-5800m-south-american-challenge

SAN AGUSTIN (Columbia)

On the road between Popayan and San Agustin  (one of the bumpier rides I've enjoyed)

Military checkpoint on the road between Popayan and San Agustin

The van breaks down. We waited for a couple of hours for a replacement to arrive.

Another checkpoint

San Agustin Archaeological Park

More photos to come...

LAS LAJAS, LAGUNA DE LA COCHA & POPAYAN (Columbia)

Las Lajas is a basilica church built across a canyon near the town of Ipales, which is close to the border with Ecuador. It was built between 1916 and 1949 through donations from churchgoers, and sits on the site where a miraculous event occurred in 1754.

Pasto (La Laguna de la Cocha)

La Laguna de la Cocha is a Ramsar wetland area which is very popular with locals especially. The village nearby, although obviously largely geared towards tourism, is quite quaint.

Popayan

Is known for its colonial buildings, which are mostly painted white by decree, hence also being known as the 'White City'.

COTOPAXI (Ecuador) - cycle ride

QUITO (Ecuador)

Entertainment at Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) - known colloquially as Plaza Grande

This singer seemed to be revered by most of the crowd watching her

More photos to come...

QUILOTOA (Ecuador)
Picturesque water filled caldera 

Cotopaxi (an active volcano) from the road between Latacunga (overnight stop) and Quilotoa

Crater rim at Quilotoa Village

Cotopoxi on the way back in to Latacunga.

BAÑOS (Ecuador)

View of Baños from above the statue of Virgin Mary on the Sendero de la Virgen (Path of the Virgin)

  

The local hotpools are right next to a waterfall

Fresh goats milk

Swings at Casa del Arbol (The Tree House)

 

Delicious empanadas de viento (wind empanadas)

Making melcocha - a very sweet and extremely chewy candy

Candy stands at the bus station

Canyoning

Ruta de las cascadas (waterfall route) - by bike

Luckily these guys had a bike large enough for me to hire

El Diablo (The Devil)

 

Crawl space to get in behind El Diablo

A day on the fringes of the Amazon

Woolly monkey at a wildlife refuge near Puyo

Capuchin monkey

Spider monkey

South American coati

Tamarin

Margay (Felis wiedi)

River trip

Indian village kids dancing

Fire ants

Jungle swing

 

CUENCA (Ecuador)

Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción or Nueva Catedral de Cuenca (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception or New Cathedral of Cuenca) from the main square

Main square from Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción or Nueva Catedral de Cuenca

Mirador de Turi

Where there is food, there is usually a hungry dog happy to help you out

Rio Tomebamba

Government building

Iglesia de Santa Domingo

Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla (Panama hat museum).Panama hats are originally from Ecuador, not Panama (read more...)

Remigio Crespo Toral Museum

Flower market near the main square

Pumapungo Museo