Papallacta

A couple of weekends ago we went to Papallacta for a three day weekend. We stayed in a cabin at Termas for Friday and Saturday nights. Since I am good friends with the people at Termas they found us an extra cabin (I think it is for family and friends of the business) even though they were fully booked and even gave us day passes to visit the spa (only the pools, no massages or anything). It was fun to be back there and to take the kids. As I have lived about a year there (in 4-6 week increments), I know the place pretty well.

It is the dry season there so we got lots of good views of the Volcan Antisana. During the rainy season you might get a glimpse once a week, but we saw it pretty much the whole time. It's a BIG mountain!

Immediately upon arrival we went to the Exploratorio where my friend Patricio works and then for a hike. Patricio has worked there since I first went there in 2000 and he is a good guy. He has been very helpful through the years and it was great to see him again. Here we are about 1/3 of a mile up the trail. The start is at 11,000ft so walking isn't easy!

Although the kids seemed to do fine!

Even Camilo was so entertained that he was happy to hike around.

Notice the velvety water of the stream.

We must have dozens of pics of the mountain and here is one of Amalia posing in front of it.

And even a family pic! Although the mountain is kind of washed out.

Here is a better one.

Here is the hot spring in front of our cabin. The kids thought the temperature was perfect after Camilo did the finger test.

On Saturday we went up the road to above 14,000 feet and into the Cayambe-Coca reserve. From there we had an even better view of the Antisana.

At the high elevation there are numerous lagoons in the Paramo grasslands, roughly akin to tundra.

Even in the Paramo, Camilo wants to play in the dirt.

Here is a deer we stumbled upon. White-tailed believe it or not.

Perfect day for a hike in the Paramo.

Amalia agrees.

That evening we went for a walk before dinner and heard some frogs calling. After dinner Lisa went out and found one. This is a Gastrotheca riobombae, a marsupial frog.

Amalia had some fun photographing it the next morning.

Then we went on another hike and found the llama heard. The kids had been searching for them so it was fun to find them. They aren't tame but they are domesticated.

Camilo with his flowers.

Amalia with hers.