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.
Thanks for the trip to the mountains, my favorite place. 🙂
janet
Mine too Janet. I love the mountains. ☺️
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!
Thanks! I love South America! It is a magical place isn’t it?!
Gorgeous landscapes…
Thanks Sally!
Amazingly beautiful photos of an amazing place. We too were captivated by the Andes.
Alison
Thanks Alison! Yes South America is a beautiful place isn’t it?
Awesome! 🙂
Thanks!
These are astounding photos Nicole. Wishing you a safe trip to Haiti.
Thanks so much Sue! I appreciate it!
Wow, what a wonderful place – lucky you, to have been there.
Thanks! It is a beautiful place and I feel blessed to have seen it! 🙂
Beautiful 🙂
Thanks!
Beautiful beyond words. I too have visited the Andes in Peru, Chile & Argentina & count them as the most stunning panoramas I’ve ever seen.
Thanks! When did you go to South America? Was it for traveling or hiking?
Feels like forever ago. Went to Peru in 2008 to hike the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu. Did some travelling also.
https://mistynites.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/on-the-trail-of-the-incas/
Visited Patagonia in 2010 and had an all-too-short vacation between Chile and Argentina. Did a few day hikes in the National Park in Chile. Stunning places to visit.
https://mistynites.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/la-tierra-de-los-glaciares/
These are fabulous! Looks like you saw a lot in South America. I loved Patagonia both Chile and Argentina sides. Lovely! I didn’t make it to Tierra del Fuego but would love to hike there as well.
Reblogged this on frenchspanishcritic and commented:
Amazing shots of the Bolivian Andes!
Thanks so much for the reblog! I appreciate it!
That place looks absolutely magical!
Thanks!
Beautiful shots! Enjoy your adventures!
Thanks so much! 🙂
What an incredible place, and your photos are great.
Thanks Debra! 🙂
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).
Thanks so much! I’ve been to Nepal and loved the Himalayas. Gorgeous! 🙂
Majestic!! Love the first one!
Thanks Amy! 🙂
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!
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!
Beautiful images. I have been hiking in various places in the Andes, too, and I know what a magical place it is. Enjoy the trip to Haiti!
Thanks Otto! That is a great comment coming from you as you are such a fabulous photographer! 🙂
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.
Thank you so much! I love using inspiring quotes along with photos. 🙂
Wonderful images showing the enormity of those mountains, Nicole. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia!
Beautiful post, you’re amazing!! Best of luck with the Haiti challenge–good for you.
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.
Gorgeous pictures. Best of luck scaling all those feet (for a good cause, too).
Thank you so much! 🙂
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. 🙂
Thanks so much! I just love the Andes and especially love the southern tip of Chile and Patagonia.
Amazing landscapes, nice post!!
Thank you so much! 🙂
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. 🙂
Thanks LuAnn! 🙂
Simply stunning images 🙂
Perfect for the challenge 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
Reblogged this on ECO PATH TREK.