The Scale of the Bolivian Andes

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The Andes are an incredible mountain range passing from north to south through seven countries making it the longest continental mountain range in the world. There is something about the Andes that is simply magical. The grandeur, scale and scope of the Andes is mind-boggling. Over 4,300 miles long (7,000 km) and at points up to 430 miles wide (700 km), the Andes are immense and are blessed with some of the highest volcanoes in the world and largest ice fields.

I have been lucky to have set foot on the Andes in Peru, Chile, Argentina and most recently, Bolivia. There is no way I can pick favorites as each place has been unique and special in its own way. A four-day visit to the Cordillera Real in the Altiplano of Bolivia gave me once again a feeling of the enormous scale of the Andes. There are over 600 snow-capped peaks in just the Cordillera Real and we only hiked two of them.

On the first day at our camp as the morning sun rose high above the Andes, I shot these photos of what was to come. Judging by the immense beauty, I knew that the Bolivian Andes offered something special.

“In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds”. – Robert Green Ingersoll

“The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world”. – Georges Simenon

“If you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured, it may never arrive. Mountains will not be climbed, races won, or lasting happiness achieved”. – Maurice Chevalier

I will have many mountains to scale next week as I head to Haiti. I have never been there before but I imagine it will be a life-changing trip. I am honored to be going with a fabulous group of women on behalf of Macy’s Heart of Haiti program where we will document the amazing work women artisans are doing to create sustainable lives for themselves and a better future for their families. I am bound to have many inspiring stories and photos to share so stay tuned.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Scale. To view more entries, click here. 

58 thoughts on “The Scale of the Bolivian Andes”

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Mine too Janet. I love the mountains. ☺️

      Reply ↓

  2. Oh, these photos make me want to go back to Bolivia so badly! The Andes are remarkably gorgeous.

    Best wishes for your trip to Haiti!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I love South America! It is a magical place isn’t it?!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sally!

      Reply ↓
  4. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling. In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and then re-established a home in Vancouver. We now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
    Alison and Don on said:

    Amazingly beautiful photos of an amazing place. We too were captivated by the Andes.
    Alison

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Alison! Yes South America is a beautiful place isn’t it?

      Reply ↓
  5. Siaa-Discover Life – Sia is In-Dian!!! **Hunters for Truth** – A Hearty Welcome to all our Readers! We are creations of the Unseen Power prepared to take that unexpected leap ahead and strive to put our best foot forward. We’re deep thinkers, sometimes so much as to get lost in the cloud of life’s philosophy. Over the years we have tamed our head and heart to follow the positive and live at ease in harmony with the Universal Truth. We are here to learn how to live and we are living to learn. The articles are purely our own creations, mostly expressed through our photographs that highlight our unique perspective towards life. Through this blog, we try to capture the thoughts that cross our mind every moment and everyday and share them with the vast and diverse audience. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful journey! :-)
    Sia-Discover Life on said:

    Awesome! 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓
  6. Sue Slaght – Calgary, Alberta Canada – www.traveltalesoflife.com Many years from now, when I am an old lady sitting in the nursing home, I hope to be the twinkly eyed resident still entertaining anyone who I can corner to listen, about all of the wild adventures attempted in a lifetime. Well into the second half of the game of life there is no time like the present to get out there, live big and laugh a lot. Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.
    Sue Slaght on said:

    These are astounding photos Nicole. Wishing you a safe trip to Haiti.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Sue! I appreciate it!

      Reply ↓
  7. maamej – Australia – I'm a single white Aussie mum of anglo-celtic background with a teenage son whose dad is from Ghana in West Africa. I’m blogging to share experiences, insights & funny stories about living in a mixed family. I also blog about health, politics, culture, racism and food.
    maamej on said:

    Wow, what a wonderful place – lucky you, to have been there.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! It is a beautiful place and I feel blessed to have seen it! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓

  9. Beautiful beyond words. I too have visited the Andes in Peru, Chile & Argentina & count them as the most stunning panoramas I’ve ever seen.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! When did you go to South America? Was it for traveling or hiking?

      Reply ↓
  10. frenchspanishcritic – Newcastle, UK – Hey there! I'm Lucy, a student from England and enjoy blogging about French and Spanish literature, cinema, culture and more. I also love to travel and will be posting updates of my recent travel adventures.
    frenchspanishcritic on said:

    Reblogged this on frenchspanishcritic and commented:
    Amazing shots of the Bolivian Andes!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much for the reblog! I appreciate it!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓
  12. Krista – Mother, Wife, Business Owner, Professional, Wine-drinker, Yogi, Traveler, Italian. This is for all the working moms trying to make it appear like we have the white picket fence house -- however behind that white picket fence you're likely to find toys & sad ripped up stuffed animals from the dog left on the lawn, a knocked down plant in the entry way & a chronically messy kitchen. And let's not lie, there's bound to be a freshly poured glass of wine. With our busy life I've learned a few shortcuts in the kitchen, organization tools for traveling and most importantly how to breathe deeply in the midst of any daily storm. Check out my e-commerce site @ Shopify for great pre-packaged travel kits for those of us who are brave enough to travel with children! Cheers!
    behindthewhitefence on said:

    Beautiful shots! Enjoy your adventures!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Debra! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  14. Wow incredible pics. the Andes sure look amazing, I cannot wait to get close to them (though unfortunately won’t be close enough). I wish we had mountain ranges like that in Asia (apart from Himalayas obviously).

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I’ve been to Nepal and loved the Himalayas. Gorgeous! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Amy! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  16. Wow! Bolivia’s going on my bucket list! Not sure if I’ll have the stamina to trek The Andes though… I could barely climb back up the cliffs in Oia, Santorini!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! Bolivia is gorgeous. You can visit of course without climbing mountains yet the altitude is very high, especially the city of La Paz! So as long as that is ok with you, then you can see the beauty of the mountains from afar!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Otto! That is a great comment coming from you as you are such a fabulous photographer! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  18. leeannminton – United States – Leeann Minton Virtual Assistance and Living Positive Post Depression are a result of four years of cumulative Blog work, through 2 babies and up and down trials of financial hardship I found my voice as a writer and my career driven life path.
    leeannminton on said:

    Your photos are absolutely beautiful and I love how you captioned them with quotes that were perfectly fitting of the image. Absolutely Gorgeous I feel like I can travel there just by starring at the images long enough.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I love using inspiring quotes along with photos. 🙂

      Reply ↓
  19. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    Wonderful images showing the enormity of those mountains, Nicole. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sylvia!

      Reply ↓
  20. Tina Schell – I am passionate about photography, love traveling and exploring new places and faces, and seeing the world from different perspectives. My lens is always on the lookout for something beautiful or interesting.
    Tina Schell on said:

    Beautiful post, you’re amazing!! Best of luck with the Haiti challenge–good for you.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thanks Tina! I am very excited to go to Haiti and see what it is like after I’ll I’ve read. Should be a great experience. I’m sure life-changing.

      Reply ↓

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    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓

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  24. Josie – Since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to travel the world and learn about different places. This blog is my space where I write about the journey to making that dream come true.
    Josie on said:

    WOW! Simply breathtaking photos. I have been to the Andes for snowboarding in Chile a long time ago, but never to Bolivia. The reflection of the mountains in the water literally made me gasp. This post reminds me that I need to go back to South America to see more of the mountains. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I just love the Andes and especially love the southern tip of Chile and Patagonia.

      Reply ↓
  25. Manuel M. Alonso – Arqueólogo, profesor y peregrino en los Andes. Del Mediterráneo al Ecuador , ahora puedo hacer lo que siempre quise: viajar por Iberoamérica, conocer sus gentes y sentir sus paisajes. Espero que mis vivencias, impresiones y recorridos por este fascinante mundo puedan servir de ayuda e incentivo a aquell@s que pretendan adentrarse en los desiertos, selvas y cumbres de los Andes.
    Manumediterráneo on said:

    Amazing landscapes, nice post!!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓

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  27. Thanks for taking me back to the mountains Nicole. I hope to see them for myself some day. I look forward to your Haiti posts. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  28. Simply stunning images 🙂

    Perfect for the challenge 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓

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