Located in Southern Ecuador, Giron is a beautiful little place to visit for 1-3 days. I visited for the afternoon on a day trip while staying in the nearby city, Cuenca. It’s a great place where you can easily spend several days camping and enjoying the mountains. The main reason to visit Giron is the famous waterfall, El Chorro.
El Chorro is a 3 level waterfall. The first level is a popular spot for people of all ages to enjoy the naturaleza and swim in the water on a hot day. The 2nd level takes 1.5-2 hours to reach. The trek takes you on a journey through the mountains, countryside, farmland, and forest. The 3rd level takes around 5 hours to reach (according to locals).
There is a restaurant (not vegetarian friendly) at the entrance to the falls. But if you plan to do a trek to the 2nd and/or 3rd levels, I recommend bringing an adequate water supply and food to keep you energized. And of course, a good pair of walking shoes.
If you only plan to visit the first level, you won’t need to plan too much in advance. But remember your bathing suit!
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM CUENCA
If you are staying in Cuenca, you can reach Giron by taxi for $25-30 USD. It takes around an hour. For $50, the cab driver will wait 3 hours at the entrance to the falls, and then drive you back. Or for just $2-3 you can take a bus. This option takes longer, and is also a semi-long (40 mins-ish) walk from El Chorro to the bus terminal.
I did a combination and took a taxi to arrive, and the bus to get home. I didn’t want to pay $50, feel rushed on my trek, and not have time to stop and enjoy the waterfall. So to save money and stress, and to give myself the full afternoon I opted for a bus back to Cuenca in the evening.
!!!WATERFALL!!!
A GLIMPSE OF GIRON
