I
highly recommend going to this place .It is a nice walk that will
connect you with nature. You can do it alone but inform
yourself very well before going there because there are a few
ways to get there. It is much better if you go with a tour guide
because the journey can be tricky especially if you are not good with
orientation. Wear old shoes or gumboots always.
You
can take a taxi that will cost you approx. 15 usd one way and will
take 30 minute to get there. Ask the taxi driver to take you to “el
gran canon in kilometro 10 on the way to Quito” (in Spanish:
Lleveme por favor al gran canon de Archidona en el kilometro 10 via
a Quito). Explain to him that you want to go to the end of the road
and not only to the side of the main road (where normally the bus
stops). Some taxi drivers may not know where this place is, so ask
many taxis until you find someone that does. Once you find one, this
is your time to show your business skills and start negotiating the
price. Do not forget to tell the taxi driver to pick you up later. 3
½ to 4 hours is a good amount of time to tell him to come back.
The
other option is to take a bus that goes to Quito in the bus terminal
and get off in the 10th
km (ask the driver to stop in the “kilometro 10” or ask the
passengers where the entrance to “el gran canon” is) Once you are
there you will have to walk 20 minutes until the main entrance. From
here, your walking adventure starts and lasts for one hour until you
get to the place in the picture). Once there don’t be afraid of
going inside of the caves and do the big jump.
