Monday, March 19, 2012

Cotopaxi Volcano and the High Páramo.....













 The expedition begins with an orientation in the vibrant coastal city of Sydney. Break into teams to begin working on your On Assignment project. Visit Cockatoo Island, a former prison and shipyard, and learn about Australia's colonial history; explore the lively Rocks District and cross the city's iconic bridge on foot. Discover the ghost stories of old Sydney on a nighttime tour. Attend a game of rugby or Australian football, or take in a show at the Sydney Opera House. Meet your first koalas and kangaroos at the famous Taronga Zoo, and visit the Sydney Aquarium to get acquainted with the marine life you will encounter on the great Barrier Reef.































































































 From Mindo, head south to our next base, a working hacienda high in the central Andes. Ride horseback over the páramo, a rare ecosystem found between the dwarf forest and the snow line in the equatorial Andes. Spot Andean condors soaring above a landscape of mossy bogs and tussock grasses. Cotopaxi National Park is home to Volcán Cotopaxi, one of the world's highest active volcanoes and the Earth's closest point to the sun. Here, take part in conservation projects, such as trail sign construction or reforestation. Drive up the switchbacks of Cotopaxi, stopping to hike up to the mountain's spectacular glacier (16,000 feet). 


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