Tourist attractions in Ecuador
Enterprising Women of San Gerardo
Enterprising Women of San Gerardo
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Parroquia San GerardoNearby attractions
Places to visit within 30 km.
El Chorro (Waterfall) of Giron
The "Chorro" is a colorful waterfall that is located in the canton Giron, province of Azuay. The attraction is formed by three waterfalls, which in total add up to 70 meters high. The most accessible area has a wall through which the water falls in the form of a curtain and a natural pool of a few meters deep. Behind this first segment of the Chorro there is a cave. The most daring venture into it. Only a few years ago, the Chorro was a pristine place, with some difficulty of access. But on the initiative of the Giron municipality and also of private organizations, certain infrastructures and services have been developed that make the visit to the place more comfortable. Now it has paths, footbridges, signs, night lighting, and a tourist inn with family cabins. Guided excursions are also possible, depending on the level of difficulty to be reached. Other alternatives are horseback riding, photography, mountaineering, canopy. Located 5 km northwest of Giron, it is accessible by private car, public transport and on foot (after a 30 minute walk). The climate is cold. There is a dense vegetation composed of a variety of mosses, ferns and orchids. The waters of El Chorro originate in the sector of Sombrereras which is 3,600 meters high. They give sustenance and are part of an ecosystem that has 64 species of hummingbirds, deer, pumas and condors. It is also considered a place of legend. Enchanted waterfall with waters that have the property of healing body and soul. Others believe that there is a hidden treasure or that at the bottom of its pool there is a gold pan.
4.41 Km.
Busa Lagoon
Interest: Nature Type: Lagoon Friendly to: children, seniors, handicapped, peets Relevant categories: Cajas Massif Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO - Within San Fernando´s Cultural National Heritage by the Ecuadorian Government Hours: Open every day Laguna de Busa is a tourist complex in the canton of San Fernando. The main attractions of Busa are its scenic beauty and the many recreational activities that can be done: water and extreme sports, sport fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping and nature photography. San Pablo Hill dominates the view. It is an imposing granite mass of 800 meters high to which it is possible to climb to observe the lagoon and the surroundings of San Fernando. The infrastructure of the Parador allows the visitor to enjoy the local gastronomy, with typical dishes at reasonable prices. There are boats to sail the lagoon and children's games. Another option is the purchase of handicrafts. It also has a footbridge, a path to go around the lagoon, piers and signposting. Access to the lagoon is easy. It is a five-minute drive from the centre of the canton of San Fernando along a well-maintained dirt track. An image of the Heart of Jesus was placed in the centre of Busa, based on the belief that it will prevent the waters from flooding the surrounding area in winter. The preferred site for national visitors and foreign tourists to camp is the pine forest, located on the left side of Busa, which is accessed by a trail. It is ideal for a day in the countryside or hiking to study nature. It is recommended to take the necessary equipment for camping. Like every point in the Andean geography, Busa also has its myth of origin. An old man was a victim of selfishness and mistreatment of people. The consequence of the evil was a catastrophic flood from which the lagoon was formed. Only one maiden who was good to the old man was saved. San Fernando is a charming city, Cultural Heritage of Ecuador. Its nature is bountiful. It generates an important cattle, milk and agricultural production, especially avocados. The main architectural asset of its Historical Center is the Mother Church, with paintings dating from 1830. Cantonization: May 6, 1986. The variety of its gastronomy attracts the tourist: the canelazo, the waters of mount and aromatic, black coffee, fried trout with different preparations, fried chop, guinea pig with potatoes, baked, cheese, sweet of fig and of peach.
6.88 Km.
Ferbola's Organic Farm
Ferbola Organic Farm is located in the middle of a great natural landscape: the canyon of the Oña River. It is in the parish of Susudel, in the Oña canton, in the south of the Azuay province in Ecuador. It is a pioneer farm in the production of pesticide-free food. Visitors can learn about organic vegetable, fruit and cereal crops. But this is also an ideal site for the visitor who likes outdoor activity and nature. The farm offers accommodation and food service for 15 people in its old farmhouse. Camping for 150 people. Guided tours of up to 1 day to Susudel or Saraguro can include hiking, horseback riding, 4x4 activities, bird watching (including Andean condor sighting), exploration of colonial houses, archaeological remains or visits to waterfalls and lagoons. The farm prepares dried beef or pork, dried chili, dried chili in olive oil, dried fruits (mini banana, fig, apple, fruit tea, pineapple, apple, uvilla, orange, strawberry), stevia, milk sweets, coconut milk, apple, strawberry, zambo, blackberry and pomarrosa. Meat, chili and dehydrated fruits are obtained through the "charque", an Andean method of food preservation known since pre-Columbian times. Another line of work is the pickling of peppers, onions, pickles and cheeses. The cultivation of agricultural species is achieved through permaculture. An extension of the farm is the Ferbola Caballo and Café for country side food, with visits to orchards, horseback riding and walks. Km 16.5 Via Cuenca - Giron. Over the years and the consolidation of an image, the goods produced by this organization can be found in shops, supermarkets, craft and agricultural fairs in Cuenca and Ecuador. This family enterprise strengthens food sovereignty and the production of agro-ecological goods. Ferbola was born as an initiative of Fernando Moscoso's family in 2007. He was the heir of an old farm in Susudel, which belonged to his grandfather. The land was in the hands of his ancestors from generation to generation, since the time of the Colony. Ferbola is also a model of sustainable and environmentally friendly community tourism as the geography and culture of Susudel are ideal for it. In this parish stands one of the oldest churches in Ecuador.
19.06 Km.
The Soldados Route with the Local Community
Soldados, a valley of glacial origin, southwest of Cuenca. The name identifies a hill at 3,954 meters above sea level on the southern border of Cajas National Park, a river, a community, a moorland, and an hacienda. All with exceptional attractions. Especially the landscape. The toponym Soldados has its origin in some stones in a vertical position that seem to be soldiers in formation and in uniform, which are found in the mountain of the same name, according to the inhabitants of the sector. Soldados borders the Nudo de El Cajas mountain range. Its landscape is dominated by high and steep mountains. The vegetation is of herbaceous moor, Andean forest and chaparro forest. In the community of Soldados live 40 families organized around a church and central square. They are farmers and cattle ranchers by tradition. They have found in community tourism and the sale of handicrafts a new source of income. For tourism there are several options. Hiking or horseback riding with native guides to the 7 lakes of Estrella Cocha. You can also ride or walk to the lagoons that give rise to the Yanuncay River, in the Gal-Gal sector. There you can visit a cave and the polylepis forest. Landscape photography is another option. It is 2 days of camping. Dozens of cyclists pedal on the weekends to visit the town of Soldados and the parish tourist circuit "San Joaquín-Río Yanuncay Route". During the tour, 20 restaurants and typical food stores serve the visitor. An obligatory stop is the Ecomuseum of the Yanuncay, with six rooms that exhibit 5,000 wooden sculptures and stone collections. You can also visit a chocolate factory, the basket workshop or the orchards of the Agricultural Producers Association. There are places to buy farm eggs, raw milk and cheese. There is a lookout point at Verde Llano, which can be reached after a three-hour walk through forests that are home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Included in the route are the thermal pools of San Vicente, where sport fishing is practiced, and the thermal waters of Pumamaqui.
21.24 Km.
Pumamaqui Thermal Springs
The thermal waters have been used for millennia for the benefit of human beings. Different cultures have found in them a method to recover the health of the body and the mind. The Andean peoples were no exception. The Ecuadorian mountains have an exceptional richness in geothermal waters, which were already known and very popular since the Incas. A few kilometers southwest of Cuenca, on the road to Soldados, are the Pumamaqui Hot Springs. This is a recent undertaking, considering other more developed and older sites in the country. In Pumamaqui, the waters spring up naturally from the ground. They are health bubbles. It has pools of different temperatures, healing therapies of cold/hot contrast, Turkish bath and clay. It is a primordial space to free the mind from the stress of daily life and routine. To leave all the problems aside. The landscape around the Yanuncay River contributes to this goal. Located in the valley of Soldados. The name Pumamaqui comes from the fact that a kind of tree grows in the surroundings, whose leaves have the shape of a lion's paw. Pumamaqui then is translated like paw of the puma. To get to the spa, you must take the San Joaquín-Soldados-Chaucha road. At km 23 there is an entrance sign. Then a hundred meters of walk. It is five minutes away before reaching the community of Soldados. Pumamaqui is a source of medicinal treatments. The beneficial characteristics of its waters are due to their alkalinity and their composition based on sodium, potassium, and calcium ions. They give a relaxing effect. Recommended to combat a huge list of ailments: high blood pressure, rheumatism, gout, joint, muscle and bone injuries, bone decalcifications and malformations, bronchitis, surgical sequelae, arthritis and arteriosclerosis; respiratory and ear disorders, insomnia, nervous diseases, skin diseases, paraplegia and other ailments. Its infrastructure is simple. Enough for those who are looking for a different experience. At the hot springs, the water is channeled into pools built with stone and cement. It has dressing rooms and bathrooms. The service is complemented with typical dishes. Visitors can request vegetarian food, pizza and drinks.
22.61 Km.
Volcanic Springs & Spas at Baños of Cuenca
The rural parish of Baños, southwest of the city of Cuenca, is considered one of the most attractive places to rest and recover. Almost eight decades have passed since the use of the thermal waters in this area for recreational and healing purposes began. Baños preserves its image of a typical Andean rural town, dominated by its imposing celestial temple consecrated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The church was built by miners or community workers in the 1950s. It is an imitation of the New Cathedral, in the center of Cuenca. The upper part of the parish is a viewpoint of Cuenca. The 8th of September is the feast in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe. However, everything changed in the town with the modernization of its spas with thermal volcanic waters, inns and restaurants of typical food. There are different offers to enjoy services such as hydromassages, professional massages, surface and underground pools, contrasting hot springs, mud caves, Turkish baths, among others. In the gastronomy, the famous “empanadas de viento” (wind pie) stand out. The gastronomic tradition that also makes Baños famous, was started by Rosa Nasipucha. Nowadays there is a varied offer of food in dozens of businesses. The thermal waters of Baños are attributed with curative properties. These waters have their origin in "La Loma de los Hervideros" (the Hill of Boilers). The water comes to the surface at a temperature of 75°C. After cooling them, they are used at about 36 to 42°C. José Barros Alemán, an elderly man from the parish, remembers that the spa service was started by the family of Ricardo Durán Brito and Matilde Alemán, who founded Balnearios Durán in the 1940s. Mr. José remembers that people used to walk from Cuenca, because there was no transport. They were groups of young people from schools and universities, who went to the only place in Cuenca with a 25-meter swimming pool to practice swimming. Then the pools were increased. And more recently, more and more spa services specialized in the area of well-being and beauty have been opened, such as Piedra de Agua or Novaqua Spa.
28.62 Km.