Our first trip to South America, and quite an adventure it was, ranging from delayed flights, to hospital visits, to magnificent birding in rain forest and the high Andes. Nearly 400 species were seen, with more than 300 new life birds. The birds and plants of Ecuador are an overwhelming experience for the first-time visitor. Here is a sampling of what we saw. To view a more extensive collection of bird photos from this trip, click here. A summary of our experience that might be useful for others planning a trip to Ecuador can be found here.