Hikes, Horseback rides and Hammocks!
Trip Start
Aug 03, 2006
1
16
75
Trip End
Dec 13, 2006
Vilcabamba,
Ecuador
Thursday, August 24, 2006
We spent the first day hiking up route 4 on the home drawn map from the hostel. It was all going well with Tara on her first navigating hike of the trip until the little house drawn on the map was not where it should have been. The next 4 hours were a little tense between navigator and follower but in the end with the help of a local we made our way around the circuit of the valley, over the ridge where we were treated to some stunning panoramic views and then home to our hammocks
Another view from the peak of our 4 hour hike
! The batteries in the GPS packed up about halfway round, but we reckon we walked about 10km. Luckily there was a nice little bar waiting for us and, after a game of pool, a few drinks and a round of club singing with some other travellers our spirits were high again.We decided to skip out on the home drawn hikes the next day and instead put all of our efforts into relaxing. We played a giant game of lawn chess , some ping pong, and then strolled the 2km into the village of Vilcabamba for some internet and Mexican food.
After a day of relaxing we thought we should get up and do something so our last day in Vilcabamba included a 4 hour horseback ride through the mountains. We were a bit worried that the bloke who picked us up looked as if he had ten different kinds of drugs that morning, but luckily we had another chap lead the trek. Tara rode like a seasoned professional but it was Steve's first time on horseback and he looked like it was his first time as well. He decided to christen his horse "Leslie" just so that he could say "whoah there, Leslie" (Harry Enfield, early 1990īs). After a while though, he started to get into it and even dared to shout a "Giddy-up, Leslie" to whip the horse into a light canter.
Better than a pony ride on Porthcawl beach!
After 4 hours of what was, for Steve, bum-numbing agony we headed back to the hostel where Tara got a full body a massage for 75 minutes! Ahh the life! In the evening we decided to sample some of the German cuisine on offer. Steve had a Bauerpfanne which was some sort of potato concoction. Very nice, but very heavy on the stomach, as was demonstrated at 2.30am the next morning!
DAILY FACTS
- Stayed at: Izcayluma - a lovely german-run place 2km outside of town. We had to put up with outside toilets, but the grounds are lovely and the restaurant is great. Recommended.
- Quote of the day: Steve wakes up in the middle of the night in a panic. Tara: "What is it? What's wrong?" Steve: "I just saw a lobster under the pillow."
- Tip of the day: A taxi to Loja only costs USD$15, even at 5am so that 7am bus from Loja to Peru now becomes a possibility without having to spend a night in Loja if you don't want to.
