Mandango

Vilcabamba - "The Valley of Longevity"

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August 14th 2009
After visiting last year, returning to Vilcabamba was a little like coming home. To get here, Jack and I hopped on a local bus in Loja and bounced 40 kilometers up and down narrow Andean roads, passing little villages and verdent valleys, our views impeded by our carry-ons and daypacks stacked on our laps. (Knowing the driving style here, maybe it's a good thing we couldn't see how close we came ... read more

South America » Ecuador » North

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The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A b... ... read more