Day 1 in Banos

 I loved our hostal in Banos. It was built with really dark wood and white walls. it was very clean and the architecture was so pretty. We were the only guests there so it was pretty quiet.

 We had a nice breakfast, every breakfast in Ecuador was nice. 

 

Day 6 was trekking in Llanguanates National Park. This is the rain forest in the area of Ecuador we were in. While driving our guide told us he had a surprise for us. We were driving up a crazy road that took us so high. We were going up the side of a volcano. The road was very steep and we were able to watch Banos get smaller and smaller as we continued up. The surprise was a stop at the Hands of God and a chance to swing on the end of the earth.

 Up on the mountain there was a swing overlooking the valley. It was made popular by a National Geographic article years before when the Volcano was actively smoking. We got to swing in the swing.

 Unfortunately for us it was a cloudy day and so you could not see the volcano in the distance.

 After Amber and I each did the swing we drove the rest of the way to the trailhead to begin our hike. The hike was on a dirt road. It was a moderate hike. It was a completely different vegetation then we experienced on the other hiking days. It was wet the entire hike. I didn't take as many picture this day.

Our driver Jose, he drove us for tat day, had lunch prepared for us when we got the pick up location. He made such yummy food. It was the best guacamole I have ever had. I love the fresh fruit and vegetables so readily available.

Ecuador has a tomato that grows on a tree. It was so pretty.

Enjoying lunch

Later in the day the clouds lifted and Paul drove us back up the crazy steep road so we could see the volcano. I was shocked at how huge it was. Such a pretty sight!

We went into Banos and tried the ice cream with shredded cheese. It is an Ecuadorian special. I will stick to just ice cream but it was good to try something new.

This evening the doctor cam to give us our COVID test. We had to get a negative test to come back to the United States. It was nice that they came right to out Hostal. It was not so nice that they performed the tickle your brain test. That wrapped up another successful day in Ecuador.