Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean countries and owes its name to the equator line, which runs just north of the capital, Quito. The country is bordered by Colombia to the north and by Peru to the south and east. A journey through this country leaves deep impressions on travelers due to the numerous extremes it offers. Seven men from Siegerland, aged between 22 and 52, set out to explore Ecuador. In previous years, we had traveled to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Himalayan regions in Nepal, each time combined with high-altitude trekking. Thus, it was only natural to visit Ecuador with its mostly snow-capped volcanoes. The volcanoes of Ecuador are the most beautiful and highest in the world. Alexander von Humboldt explored this area about 200 years ago and referred to it as the Avenue of the Volcanoes.