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| Please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to... |
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| Got to love a Swiss Bistro! |
Both Tripadvisor and our hostel host recommended the Swiss
Bistro in Baños , so pretty much had no choice but to go and visit (for
those of you who don’t know, Tony is half Swiss), especially after missing out
on the highest* fondue in the world in La Paz. Cheese and meat starter, large
bradwurst for main then a chocolate fondue to clean the palate – Mmmmmmmm!
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| Just a small apetiser |
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And a light chocolate fondu to finish - don't
want to overdo it after all! |
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Followed by a bradwurst
and lovely bit of rosti -
slightly more substantial
than Annaliza's pumpkin soup! |
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Volcano territory - gutted
we couldn't see them! |
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| Wasn't a waterfall on the schedule, but good nonetheless! |
With slight trepidation due to a threatening low cloud, we
set off on bikes (rather than a dune buggy – Annaliza won out this time!) down
into the valley. After 15 minutes Tony led us up a viscous slope, and 20
minutes later we couldn’t continue on the bikes (blaming it on the altitude!) –
given the guide had explained it was an easy ride we had a sneaking suspicion
something was wrong… Turns out that on a waterfall bike ride you don’t always
follow the Ruta de las Cascadas – who knew!
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Not content with seeing the
waterfalls, Tony felt the
need to cycle through one! |
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| Note the trendy helmets... |
After that little mishap, it was downhill most of the 20km.
After avoiding the first few zipline concoctions (never know whether to trust
them if you don’t see someone on them before you!), we made a punt on the
single span cable ‘trolley’ – in true South American fashion there was no
warning prior to starting the race across to above the double waterfall! Relief
all round when we were safely back on our bikes!
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| Check out the cool bum-bag! |
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| Holding on tight - not for effect! |
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The various views of El Pilon del Diablo - waterproofs
definitey required! |
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| A lovely lunch setting |
Several waterfalls later and we made it to El Pilon del
Diablo, where a scramble through a small excavated cave tunnel system brought
us up literally right behind the waterfall. Not too camera friendly, but
fortunately we had the reserve available… Soaked to our skins, we found a nice
place overlooking the view for an impromptu sandwich lunch.
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| With rainbow |
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| Without rainbow |
Whilst most of our cycling peers jumped on trucks back to Baños
at this point, we decided we’d complete the waterfall set (nothing to do with
the fact that we saw another couple cycle on, and didn’t want to be outdone!).
What a great decision this turned out to be – despite requiring another trek
into the canyon, as we were doing so the sun broke free of the cloud shackles,
and when we got down to the waterfall we were rewarded with the most amazing
rainbow either of us have ever seen – if you positioned yourself correctly (and
were prepared to get saturated again!) it virtually made a full rainbow circle.
Stunning.
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| Vulcan Tunguarahua just about staying out of the cloud... |
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| Banos from above - a scenic bathroom! |
Our luck just kept improving – noticed on the ride back that
Vulcan Tungurahua (the volcano towering above the town) had also come out of
the cloud, so jumped straight in a taxi to get to the mirador on the other side
of the canyon. Just about got there before it shyly crept back amongst the
clouds, and felt the cold beer that awaited back in Baños was richly
deserved.
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| Centre square and cathedral by day |
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| By night |
Key Learnings:
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