The Best of Ecuador - Baños and Quilotoa Crater

We set off early Friday morning to head to Baños where we would hike the Quilotoa Crater at 12,841 feet above sea level. Luckily no one got altitude sickness, but we did all feel the effects of the higher elevation on our stamina. I premedicated with ibuprofen and we chewed on some coca leaves just in case. 

Leaving Quito

Passed through the highlands - Ecuadorians living here live in these huts made of the tall grasses

Llamas - Pronounced Yamas (double L)

Baby Jameson at one of the bano stops

Just walking uphill to the bathroom (bano) was super hard

Hiking down was a breeze. We were able to rent kayaks to explore the crater lake.

Kacey and Daniel

Just a normal day at 12,000 feet herding sheep

You could rent a mule, but we were determined

We just had to rest every 10 feet to recoup the oxygen lacking from the thin air

Celebratory helados (ice cream)

Before we knew it, we were back on the bus and headed to Hotel Alisamay where we would stay before heading to Tena to mountain bike in the Llanganates National Park early in the morning. But first, some amazing views of the Tungurahua Volcano and El Vuelo del Cóndor (The Flight of the Condor).

Tungurahua Volcano

El Vuelo del Cóndor starring Maggie and Me (take note of her graceful dismount at the end)

View from our room at Hotel Alisamay