Through The Sugar Cane Fields to Chachimbiro Hot Springs

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Recently a group of expats living here in Cotacachi got together, hired a van and took an excursion to the Chachimbiro Hot Springs, which is alittle over an hours drive north. As the road descended through more arid terrain we passed through large fields of sugar cane where we came upon a small "cottage" sugar cane processing plant. Having grown up in Hawaii, Grey was fascinated by the primitive yet effective process of harvesting and processing the cane. It was like being transported back to another century. The cane is cut by hand, loaded on the burro, taken to the crusher, cooked to extract the cane juice, boiled to evaporate into a very thick syrup and then poured into molds. After cooling it becomes a solid sugar cake, called panela, is boxed and shipped off to stores where it is found on the shelf just like regular refined sugar.

After a few more miles of winding through hilly countryside, we arrived at Chachimbiro Hot Springs which is situated above a cold mountain stream running through the narrow canyon. The entrance fee of $4 allowed use of all the facilities for the day, including hot showers, steam room, several geothermal pools of varying temperatures and a "agua frio" pool to cool off occasionally. A good & relaxing time was had by all! On the way home we stopped in Ibarra and restored our energy with a carnivorous feast at a Argentinean Parrilladas, where the portions were huge and a glass of wine was full to the brim. And of course, we couldn't pass through Ibarra without a stop at SuperMaxi to gather some of our favorite gringo food.