In Baños ("Bathrooms")

In the bus to Salasaca we met a Polish trio, also known as "Las Blondynas" - check out their blog http://lasblondynas.blogspot.com/ Ana, Marta and Ola were going to Baños, half an hour further than Salasaca. We had a very nice conversation about their and our trip. The girls are travelling around the world for 6 months - they started in Venezuela, planning to get to Buenos Aires and from there to Australia, Southeast Asia and India. Soon we realised that all we knew about our volunteering in Salasaca was the name of the school - Katitawa - and the name of the coordinator - Robert. It was getting dark and the bus driver told us that there are no hotels in Salasaca and it would be better to get there by day and find a place to stay for this night in touristic Baños. So finally we decided to change our plans, get to Baños for a couple of days and go to Salasaca on 1st of May, as we originally agreed with Robert. We are so glad that finally we got to Baños! In a group of five (Jordi and 4 blondynas :) it was easy to get a cheap hostel $5 per person. We were all very hungry and we found some cheap and fast food. After that we decided to go for a last-minute 2-hour night tour by Chiva (a kind of bus with lights, loud reggaeton music and a small dance floor). We were supposed to see the Tungurahua volcano but it was too dark but at least we could have a nice view over the illuminated city. We were also invited to a short-comedy show (sadly for the girls it was in Spanish) quite funny and had a typical Ecuadorian drink called "canelazo".

Ola, Ana, Karolina and Marta in the "chiva"

Baños by night

The next day we woke up early and went for a nice breakfast to the Mercado (market) for $2 - just like locals!. After that we met with girls to go for "La ruta de las cascadas" (The waterfalls route) by bike. We hired a bike and equipment for $5 and started the trip around 12. This route is an amazing experience of 18 km with stunning landscapes and waterfalls. The first part you share the road with other vehicles but after the first few kilometers you take the "old road" which is now used only by cyclists.

Pajaros in the "Manto de la novia"

 The first waterfall of the "Ruta de las Cascadas"

Close to some of the waterfalls there were some activities you could do such as canopy or bungee jumping. In the "Manto de la novia", an amazing double waterfall around 40 metres high, there was a canopy system around 500 metres long that we decided to try. First we got to the other site of the valley and then go down the hill to the waterfall. Then we crossed a nice bridge and came back by "tarabita" (a suspended cabin). All this for $10. We decided to do it together - Jordi in a "Superman" position and Karo sitting just behind him. Here is the result: 

Ready to go!

 

The 4 blondynas on the way down to the waterfall 

"The Bridge"

Karo in the "tarabita"

It was an amazing experience, not only because of the canopy ride but also because it gave us the chance to get close to the waterfall, see beautiful surroundings and have a beer in a small improvised bar just next to the waterfall. Later we carried on riding the bikes, seeing a couple of waterfalls more. Blondynas decided to come back to Baños and we reached the last waterfall before the sunset, "El Pailón del diablo", the largest in this area. We had to leave the bikes and walk around 40 minutes in order to get there. It is an incredibly strong waterfall and we could hear it already in our way. There were several "balconies" from where you could admire as well as a low tunnel - we had to crawl - leading behind the waterfall.

 

In one of the balconies at Pailón del Diablo

 

The low low tunnel

  

This is hell!

After that we were exhausted and luckily we found a camioneta (small truck) that drove us and our bikes back to Baños for $3. Almost straight away we got ready and went to "Aguas termales" (hot springs that give the name to the city) where we were relaxing in hot water with an amazing view of one of the city's waterfalls for a couple of hours. After this exciting and exhausting day we had to eat something and went to a small restaurant with lots of paintings on the walls. We got there one of the best pizza we ever had in our lives.

Next day, just after breakfast, we said goodbye to our travelling friends and finally took a bus in direction of Salasaca.