[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ant to get away from frozen pipes, frostbite and frigid temperatures? Well, it’s summertime in South America and it’s especially nice in Ecuador this time of year.
While you’re there, you’ll see some of the most beautiful and unusual birds on the planet. Among the 1,600 bird species in this country, you should especially enjoy the long-wattled umbrellabird, black-crested tit-tyrant, violet-throated metaltail and orange-throated tanager.
Brazil is also a birder’s paradise, and, in addition to avian wonders such as the hyacinth macaw, you can visit awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls, one of the most spectacular cascades in the world. It makes Niagara Falls look puny in comparison.
I would rate Iguazu and Victoria Falls in Africa as my two favorite waterfalls of all time. There’s something about tons and tons of thundering, plummeting water that thrills me to the core.
The Pantanal region of Brazil is especially rich in wildlife. I spent some memorable hours floating in a homemade canoe with a local guide, seeing not only the herons, kingfishers, ibises and sunbitterns, but also sharp-toothed caimans and huge hippos. I was told those innocent-looking hippos kill more people than any other wild animal. “They bite you in two,” said our guide.
So if you go, stay in the canoe and try not to get soaked by the spray from the waterfalls. Although, as I recall, it felt pretty good on a hot day.
