The German natural scientist Alexander von Humboldt (born in Berlin 1769) influenced as a founder of geography and empirical science, the ideology of life in the 18th and 19thcentury. Humboldt was a passionate traveler and explorer with a special interest in other countries and foreign cultures.His 2nd great expedition started in 1799 in Spain. After some research on the Canarias Islands, he arrived 1802 finally in Ecuador’s capital, Quito. And of course, like all the tourists who visited the Andean state a long time after Humboldt, he was totally fascinated by the diversity and the special feature the country has to offer.
Quito was always the base of his journey through the country and always his reference point, if he wanted to rest and to write about his experiences. Exploring the Amazon was one of his “Biggest dreams” and reason enough to go on a new adventure after his 1st expedition. During this time he explored poisonous plants, berries and animals – always with the risk of possibly dying. As well, he studied the great variety of beautiful and strange creatures of flora and fauna, he never saw before. Humboldt was as healthy and happy as ever before in his life and took this as a symbol that he shouldn’t stop with his discoveries.
This special scientist was still hungry to learn and explore more of the interesting country he already fall in love with. From the deep jungle he made his way to the highlands of Ecuador where he climbed one of the most famous volcanos nowadays like Cayambe and the famous Chimborazo, the highest summit in Ecuador and one of the highest mountains in the world. He made it up until an honorable altitude of 5.600m with almost no equipment that helped him in the altitude.
Fascinated by all the volcanoes he was surrounded by, he was the one who named this part of the Andes as “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. From there it became one of the most famous highlights of the country and is well visited until today.
After his time in the Andean state he tried to find a summary to describe his experiences in Ecuador and with the indigenous population. This comment of Humboldt became one of the most famous he ever said:
“Ecuadorians are strange and unique beings: they sleep peacefully surrounded by roaring volcanoes, they live poor among incomparable riches and they become happy listening to sad music”
And exactly that is what makes the population of the Andean state so likeable and special and the country so unique and different from others in South America.
Be adventurous enough to experience on your own what Alexander von Humboldt already experienced a long time ago. Let Ecuador inspire you during a trip you will never forget with Gulliver Expeditions.
