Next stop, Adventure Town.

After the Riombamba fiasco, I was very happy to arrive in Baños. Lower in altitude, Baños is much more tropical...and it just the CUTEST little adventure town nestled in the mountains of Central Ecaudor. Please keep in mind, I use the term "adventure town" because there will be a lot of excitement to follow...

Baños

Baños is also famous for its taffee making.

Ok, first Baños adventure: white water rafting. Unfortunately, I don´t have many pictures as we were on the rafts most of the time. I wanted to do Level 4 or more rapids, but there weren´t any other people signed up for that, so I had to settle for Level 3.


The guides getting the raftes ready. That was my guide Paulo in the middle. I made good friends with him on the ride up, so I lucked out and half way down the River and got to leave the big raft and go in a smaller, two-person one. It was way more volatile in the rapids, so naturally I loved it!

And we´re off...so no more pics after this, haha. This is at the finish. This big crew was a group of study abroad students who come to Baños for the weekend from Quito. Now, I know I´m not that old...but did I REALLY act that immature at the age of 20? These girls/guys drove me banannas! Thankfully, they all took a big bus and the other 7 of us and the guides took a seperate van! We had the best little group ...very fun! Another one of the guides! They are all crazy!

Well, in small town Baños, everyone ends up at the same bars and clubs later that night. This is Paulo, my guide from rafting, and I at the "Leprachaun."
And this is Jaime, my good buddy from my 5 days here in Baños. She is an archeologist from Canada and has actually been living in Peru for a few years. Thankfully, I had her to hang out with so when the Gringa Meat Market started at the bars later that night we could just sit back and make fun of all the little college girls making love connections with the "guias" (guides). Baños is aso known for its hot springs. So, after the bars closed at 4am, Jaime and I went to the hot Springs at 4:30 and stayed until the sun rose! It was beautiful!
The next day, we went hiking around Baños to a few of the "Bellavistas" (view points). I made a little friend on the way...

And Jaime made a little friend on the way when she carried his bag of dirt for him. View of Baños from the top!

The next day, we rented bikes and rode along the Avenue of Waterfalls around Baños. I absolutely HATED biking through these crazy tunnels carved into the mountain. Half way in there is no light whatsoever. You cant see in front of you or to your sides!

Well, on our way we came upon a bridge where some bridge-jumping was set up. If all your friends were jumping off a bridge, would you?

YES!!

(Actually, I was quite the chicken about this. You have to dive off head first. I went last out of everyone. I Climbed up and then had to climb down because I got too freaked out. Notice me shaking my finger at him, like "No, no don´t you dare make me go!" Well, finally I got up there and closed my eyes and told him to just push me off...which he did!)

I hope this will work. The video is only about 2 seconds long and it´s sideways...you will probably need to play it a few times to catch it! But you get the idea...

After our little Bridge Jump, we continued with our bike ride to the big waterfall, El Pailon Del Diablo. It was huge!!! The really nice hike up to the Diablo!
Had to note this sign. In the U.S. if a sign said maximum of 5 persons, you know it could probably hold around 10. in South America, Jaime and I made sure it was just us!
The water from El Pailon Del Diablo was so powerfull that it was splashing up 35 feet!
A little refuge on the other side of the bridge.

And now it´s time to catch a ride back to Baños. Please note what fit into this "camioneta" (truck):

7 Bicicletas

8 tourists

5 locals

2 babies

I kid you not.

Bright and early on Canyoning day! And Boston thinks they have fashion? Check these bad boys out!

Harness Diapers!

At the top of the mountain and ready to Canyon down our first waterfall! Fine, Jaime. You jumped off the bridge first. I´ll plummet down the waterfall first...

it´s only fair.This doesn´t look so hard...as long as you don´t look down!

This canyoning business turned out to be a lot scarier and more physically challenging than I had expected!
There goes Jamie!

We went down about 5 different waterfalls in total...

Happy to be alive at the bottom and taking a rest!

This was me coughing after a face full of water! There was a little pool half way down the waterfall that was as deep as my shoulders!
But one must continue down...that darn law of gravity.Bravo! All finished!And for your viewing pleasure...a little slide down the waterfall at the finish of our course!!

Can you see that little speck of light? That is how far away the exit of the long, pitch dark tunnels they carve into the mountain are! Getting closer...Some more fun in the crazy tunnels on the way home!