Nathan's Insights

Thursday 12 December 2024
Highlights: Pailón del Diablo, Manto de la Novia cable car, Hacienda la Ciénega

Today was mostly a repositioning day returning to Quito to allow for Friday replacement activities for missing out on staying in the Amazon. We still had a couple of activities on the drive there.

Our first stop for the day was Pailón del Diablo (the Devil’s Cauldron) which is a massive waterfall that you hike down to (cost 3 USD).

You wouldn’t want to get caught in the water as the water crashes against rock walls.

We walked, slowly, over swinging bridges. There were amazing views thoughout our short hike.

Next up was the Manto de la Novia cable car which takes you over a canyon towards a waterfall. Erin took up this option while I watched her.

For lunch, we stopped at Hacienda la Ciénega which had construction begin in 1695. The was an impressive 400 year old Chapel on the premises as well.

During the drive, we also stopped and had some traditional ice cream before some very heavy rain started an hour out from Quito.

Back in our starting hotel Erin and I started looking into the Galapagos Tour starting tomorrow night when we leave this tour early and check into a new hotel.

We believe we have eveything ready and enough USD currency but the Saturday morning 4.30 am leaving for the airport might be tough!