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El Placer Trek (5 days)
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 We leave Riobamba by car and drive for about 2 hours on a small road to a place called Boca Toma. Here we start hiking on the páramo highlands of Sangay National Park. In this area you still have chance to observe the Andean Condor.After 6 - 7 hours of hiking we arrive at the first camp.
Day 2 Today we continue hiking on the páramo. After 5 - 6 hours we reach the Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon), at about 4500 m. altitude the highest point of the trek. With good weather you will have excellent views of the Andes and the Amazon. Now we start a long descent. At about 4000 m. altitude we pitch our tents.
Day 3 We continue the descent, and while we loose altitude, we can see the landscape changing: the vegetation is getting more dense, with many trees, ferns, beautiful flowers, and small streams. After about 4 - 5 hours of hiking we reach the enchanting hot springs of El Placer (2300 m. altitude), which is like a small paradise in this remote area. We can relax in the hot springs and camp close to this site.
Day 4 From El Placer we hike in a mountainous forest to the Palora river, where we can fish. In the afternoon we return to the El Placer camp. Total hiking time 6 hours.
Day 5 Early in the morning we leave El Placer and walk back to Laguna Negra, this is a long hike going up all the time. From there we continue for a couple of hours to Cusmi Pacha (total hiking time 8 hours), where the car is waiting to bring us back to Riobamba.
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