Eight gringos took off bright and early this morning to hike up to a waterfall hidden deep within the easily accessible Andean mountain range. Just a short (though almost exclusively uphill) 45 minute walk from our neighborhood is a trail head that sections off into 3 different hikes. After signing in with the trail guides and paying a small entrance fee of 2,000 pesos, we set off up the mountain full of anticipation and with blisters already forming in our new hiking boots. The trail starts off fairly steep but gives way to incredible early morning views.
We stopped frequently to take pictures (and catch our breath) on the way up.
About a 17 km (~10.5 mi.) round trip hike, this is clearly one of the most popular ways to get out of the city without really having to go that far (source: internet). Though our age demographic was by far the most represented on the trail, there were kids and grandparents alike winding their way into the mountain.
We found a mini waterfall on the way up, and stopped to climb around.
We also ventured over a suspension bridge that swung a little too much for comfort as we walked across, yet still stood in the middle and shifted our weight around to make it swing more (sorry Mom).
Eventually, we ended up at a large river that we had to cross to continue on the trail. However, the guides standing on the other side of the river waited until all eight of us had made it across (some with feet significantly more wet than others) to tell us that we needed to have reached the river by 10:30 AM to continue on the trail (it was a little after 11 by the time we got there). Sad and hungry, we sat down to eat our lunch, bitter at the rangers for not telling us this important detail when we started the hike, but also mulling over the realization that had we not climbed so many rocks and taken so many pictures, we might have made it on time.
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