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Water Route: Yacuambi and Santa Cleotilde Waterfall

A full day of páramo lakes and waterfalls in Yacuambi canton, Zamora Chinchipe.

  • 1 day (approx. 05:30–20:00 from Zamora)
  • Hard: long hikes on unmarked mountain trails, with mud and water.
  • Town of Zamora (transfer from Loja, a little over an hour, on request)
Ask for availability and price

From the town of Zamora, the Water Route climbs into Yacuambi canton, where the páramo is protected and water comes down in lakes and waterfalls. There are three full-day options, all leaving very early and returning in the evening.

The hike to Laguna Grande is long and demanding; the Santa Cleotilde Waterfall route, in Tutupali, passes several drops down to the last one, about 150 metres high, which falls into a pool; the third visits the Condorcillo and El Pato lakes and reaches the waterfall on horseback, with an afternoon by the Zabala river.

Itinerary

  1. 05:30 · Departure from Zamora

    Drive to Yacuambi canton; breakfast at 07:30 in the parish of 28 de Mayo.

  2. Option 1 · Laguna Grande

    Transfer and a hike of about two and a half hours to Laguna Grande; rest by the lake, return and visit to the mountain refuge.

  3. Option 2 · Santa Cleotilde Waterfall

    A walk past the drops of Santa Cleotilde Waterfall from the top (10:00–13:00), lunch of tilapia or trout, a visit to Tutupali and an afternoon on the Zabala river.

  4. Option 3 · Condorcillo and El Pato lakes

    Visit to the lakes, lunch, horseback ride to the waterfall, a begonia tasting in Tutupali and a visit to the Zabala river.

  5. 19:00 · Dinner and return

    Dinner in 28 de Mayo and return to Zamora.

Includes

  • Transport from the town of Zamora
  • Breakfast, lunch (tilapia or trout) and dinner
  • Local guide
  • Horse ride (Condorcillo and El Pato lakes option)

Not included

  • Accommodation in Zamora
  • Loja–Zamora transfer (quoted separately)
  • Drinks
  • Anything not listed in the programme

What to bring

  • Rubber boots
  • Rain poncho
  • Balaclava and warm clothing for the páramo
  • Swimwear and two changes of clothes
  • Sweets or energy snacks
  • Camera
  • Personal first-aid kit

Water Route: Yacuambi and Santa Cleotilde Waterfall

Ask for availability and price

We quote it according to the date and the size of the group. Tell us when and how many are travelling and we will reply with availability and price.

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