Extreme Ecuador
We spend our final days in Ecuador in Los Banos, a small town famous for thermal baths and adventure sports. For our ¨adventure¨ day, we split up – Paul, Patrick and Connor go river rafting and Quinn and I go horseback riding and rappelling down waterfalls.
The ¨big boys¨ have a picturesque rafting trip through the mountains and into the jungle. They almost tip the raft when they run into rough, shallow water.
Quinn and I take a 2 hour horseback ride through the country. Our horses are named Popeye and Brutus, and they do not like each other. Each time my horse, Brutus, tries to pass, Popeye, Quinn´s horse, tries to bite. We go down a muddy path with the horses slip-sliding down. I am ready to walk, but our guide informs me that it is better to stay on the horse. We reach a remote bar and cafe by taking a chair attached to a zip-line across a deep ravine. Quinn thinks that all this is great; I fear it is sketchy. On our way back to town, Brutus decides that he does not want to move and all of us need to change horses (our guide takes stubborn Brutus). Quinn drops his jacket and our guide jumps off Brutus to get it. Meanwhile, Brutus starts running away. We go through town with our guide running after Brutus, Quinn trying to catch Brutus on his horse and I stay behind, tired of the crazy and temperamental beast. Too funny…
After replenishing ourselves with almuerzo tipico ($2.50 for soup, chicken, rice, beans, salad and drink – love the food prices in Ecuador!), we start our rappelling adventure. Donned in wetsuits, rain jackets and helmets, we attempt our first rappel. The waterfall is rushing and the rocks are slippery – quite challenging! Even fearless Quinn looks terrified as he rappels down in water rushing up to his waist. By the fourth waterfall rappel, we are ¨experts¨. The guide is impressed with Quinn – his eagerness, courage and helpfulness. A great day!
My main reason for visiting Los Banos is to go to the thermal baths and upon our departure day, we still have not gone. Paul and I decide to go early at 7am, before the kids wake-up, expecting a tranquil soak. However, the place is packed with people of all ages – kids swimming and splashing, adults chatting, old people being tended by their children. We retreat to the hot pool to soothe our aching muscles from the previous day´s activities and have a few moments to enjoy the bath and waterfall cascading from above.
Los Banos is a pleasant surprise – more beautiful, charming and adventure-oriented than I expected. A nice way to end our time in exquisite Ecuador.
Tags: Ecuador
hwy1alltheway
Karen and family,
Great to hear that you enjoyed Banos, it was the sleeper surprise of my trip to Ecuador last November/December, I went there just to chill out after climbing Cotopaxi but it offered more than I expected. Glad you got to do “canyoning” too.
Sounds like the trip has gone really well – congrats!!