Guatin
$65,000
HOURS: 08:00 – 14:00
ITEMS: Trekking clothing, water, sunglasses, sunscreen.
ELEVATION: 3,250 meters above sea level
We head 20 km north and stop at the Puritama River, where we descend into a canyon filled with centuries-old cacti and waterfalls—features formed by a fissure in the volcanic lava. Further on, we encounter the Purifica River; as it joins the Puritama, the combined flow forms the Vilama River. Here, we can admire crystalline waterfalls that cascade like veils over the rocks, their sound echoing off the canyon walls. The landscape is further adorned by a variety of *cardón* cacti. We then begin a two-hour trek downstream, passing through a forest of cacti—some over 400 years old and reaching heights of up to 6 meters—and encountering a small but stunning waterfall. We continue our descent until we reach "El Abuelo" ("The Grandfather"), the oldest cactus in the area. Finally, we make our way back uphill until we arrive at the Puritama hot springs.
