October 13, 2007
Day 745
The Pailon del Diablo.
I left Riobamba this morning and took a bus to Baños, a beautiful city located in a valley between the Andes and the Amazon. Near the equator and at only 1800 meters altitude, it was a hot, sunny place with tropical vegetation covering the surrounding hills. Baños was a popular tourist attraction for foreigners and Ecuadorians alike, who went there on weekends to get away from the cold of the mountains of Quito. The town was filled with a great vibe as everyone there was on vacation.
I found a nice hostel and met some other backpackers right away who were on there way to a waterfall. The Pailon del Diablo was only about half an hour away by bus, then a twenty minute walk downhill to an area with a few expensive restaurants and hotels. Crossing a shaky suspension bridge gave us a nice view of the waterfall as it spat its water from the cliff formed with twisted rocks. It was a nice place, but I don't think it lived up to the reputation of "Eighth Wonder of the World," as it was called in a flier I received. But if they ever come up with a "10,000 Wonders of the World" list, I'll be sure to nominate the Devil's Pylon.
The photo album for this entry is here.
