Falls!

Returning from our wonderful jungle excursion in the Cuyabeno Reserve, we headed back west towards Quito, through spectacular green valleys on our way to the San Rafael Falls, a thundering cascade where the Rio Quijos virtually comes to a cliff and drops 475 feet. Joined by the two Australian guys we met on our jungle trip, we were all elated to be on our way and escape the mugging humidty and dirty air that greets you in L. Agrio. Although we knew there for sure was one place to stay near the falls, we had no idea if it would still be open when we were set to arrive at around 22:30pm nor if it would have enough space to accomodate four - beings that it was a weekend and most places are usually just small houses turned into cubicle-like accomodation.

After enough 50 mph curves to seriously make one nautious and multiple attempts to by the bus driver to pass trucks and cars on blind curves and downhill grades, I was begining to wonder if we would even live to see the falls the next morning. Before I knew it, a flourescent hotel light and a San Rafael Waterfall sign blurred past the bus window. There went our stop! Even after numerous conversations with the busdriver on where we wanted to be dropped off at and him acknowledging our request. After five minutes of pointless discussion, we were dropped up at 22:30 in the middle of nowhere, on a steep grade 1-2 miles downhill from the hosteria. We slowly made our way along the edge of the road, sidestepping trucks and buses doing the same crazy driving as our previous busdriver and eventually made it to the hosteria. To our avail, the light was off and the dogs were out. We meandered up the path, shouted a few "Holas" and soon found ourselves at the best $10 accomodation money could by. Hot and sweaty even at that hour, instead of showers we all took a moonlight dip in the river-fed pool. HECK YEAH! I can still recall the memory of that utterly refreshing swim!

The next morning we arose at six and got a move on to the falls, as we were given advice from the hotel owner that if you arrived at the enterance to the park early in the morning you maybe able to sneak in and not pay the exorbitant $10 entrance fee, a 500% markup from the national citizen price. And so we hiked down the trail in silence, everyone in covert/save money mode. Well, it kinda worked. While we didn´t manage to sneak past the entrance, we did manage to fix a discount of 50%. As it turned out, the people who stand guard at the entrance were not there yet but other park service workers were. The discount was bartered by savy Josh the Aussie under the notion that we all know the guy who was taking the money was going to pocket it anyway. Both sides ended the negotiation with a good sense of satisfaction. We got saved $20 altogether and he made an easy $20 to boot.

The Falls were stunning. Pictures to come! Sorry. I best be on my way. Tena and Baños updates to come.

A Glimpse

Around Reventador

in route to Cascales

Papallacta

San Rafeal Falls

us!