This photo was taken from near the pass (4,000m) at Papallacta. This high moorland country, or paramo, is the haunt of some cool high Andean birds, like Ecuador's national bird, the mighty Andean Condor, as well as the exquisite Ecuadorian Hillstar, and the grouse-like Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. If the weather behaves it is well worth being up there for this alone, a staggering view of the neighboring Antisana Volcano (Ecuador's fourth largest).