We hope you enjoy our Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador Hiking and Waterfalls as much as we did! This is a SUPER relaxing video from our very enjoyable hike with Edwin.

NOTE: In the beginning of the video, Amelia said we went to visit Girón and asked if I enjoyed the natural beauty. However, we didn’t conjugate the verb “to enjoy” correctly. The past tense conjugation of “enjoy” in Spanish is “disfrutó” not “disfrutió”. Lo siento 🙁

We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip from Cuenca with Edwin driving through the picturesque Ecuadorian countryside, hiking around Laguna de Busa, doing a little scary rock climbing and hiking up to a waterfall outside of Girón, Ecuador.

If you’re near Cuenca Ecuador and need a reliable, safe driver who speaks fluent English, please let us know. We’d be happy to connect you with Edwin!

Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador

It takes about 1 hour to get to from Cuenca to Girón, and another 3o minutes to drive up to San Fernando and Laguna de Busa.

Normally, the entrance fee to the Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador park is $5 each, but it was a slow day and the attendant let us in for $1 each since we had our cedulas. She would have charged us $2 if we were foreigners (extranjeros).

The hike around the lake is idyllic with the boardwalk hovering above the marshes and views of the lake dotted with several different species of waterfowl. We even had a complimentary companion dog to escort us on our walk/hike. He was so adorable!

Ecuador is known for its beautiful flowers, which you can see on full display around Laguna de Busa Girón Ecuador.

At the far back corner of the lake, the trail divides and goes in two different directions. One direction heads back around the lake and the other heads up to the top of the mountain behind the lake.

The hike through the jungle behind the lake was beautiful, but very difficult. It was simply too steep for us, with too many rocks to climb. My hiking boots wouldn’t grip anything and I slipped and nearly fell several times. Edwin said it was pretty much like that on the entire hike, so we decided to turn around rather than risk injury. If you’re not very fit or lack hiking experience, stick to the boardwalk around the lake.

Girón Ecuador Waterfall

After we hiked around Laguna de Busa, we drove back down the mountain toward Girón to visit one of the many waterfalls in the area.

You’ll notice in the picture below, there are cows in the foreground with clouds in the background…both above and BELOW the cows! Ecuadorian clouds seem to defy the laws of nature, often appearing below and above us a the same time.

The waterfall outside Girón that we visited was in El Chorro. It was a short hike from the parking lot up well-maintained stairs. The entry fee was $1 each ($2 if you don’t have an Ecuadorian cedula).

Amelia really enjoyed this part of our tour. She found the waterfall and the 5 meter deep pool at the bottom of it very fascinating.

This rope bridge crossed the river, which was about 3 meters below. Amelia joked with me about walking across it “for the amazing video opportunity,” but thankfully the tiny gate had a lock on it. I could have easily stepped over the gate, but let’s not tell her that!

If you’re an orchid connoisseur, you’ll appreciate the abundance of orchids in Ecuador, and on this hike. They really do seem like alien plants, and they grow in the weirdest places.

You might also enjoy our hikes in Cajas National Park:

• Hiking in Lower Cajas National Park – Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 72)
• Hiking in Upper Cajas National Park – Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 79)

Hopefully you enjoyed our video, and if you did, please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE it, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel. ¡Muchas Gracias!

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Video Transcript

>> Amelia: Hola veggie lovers.

Fuimos a visitar Girón y

JP, ¿disfruta la belleza natural?

[Laughter]
>> JP: Sí.

>> JP: I don’t think that’s right.
>> A: I don’t think that’s right.

>> A: Cuz I don’t know how to say,
“did you enjoy.”

>> JP: Disfrutio.

>> A: Disfrutio.

>> JP: Yeah. Disfrutio.

>> A: Well, we went to Girón,
and we enjoyed the natural beauty.

>> JP: Yeah. We’re going to show you
all the beautiful scenery in this video,

including a waterfall and a really cool..

..scary, scrambling hike that we had to
turn around because I couldn’t..

I kept falling. [Laughing]
>> A: Yes.

It was more like bouldering.

Is that what they would call bouldering?
>> JP: Yeah, bouldering.

>> JP: Yeah.
>> A: Yeah.

We weren’t quite prepared for that.

>> JP: Nope.

And please remember to subscribe to our
YouTube Channel.

We have a lot of really exciting
adventures coming up

that are in the works,
in the planning phase.

And we’re not ready to talk about em yet

but they’re really cool!

>> A: Yes they are!
>> JP: Once in a lifetime..

>> A: I know I’m so excited.
>> JP: We have a once in a lifetime

opportunity and we’re
really excited about it.

>> A: Yes. Right Licia?
>> JP: Yeah, and Licia is too.

[Laughter]

>> JP: Alright, please remember to
subscribe to our YouTube Channel

and ring that little bell so you get
notified when we upload our newest videos.

And we’ll see you after we show you the
footage from our hike today.

>> A: Yep. See you in a few.

[Upbeat Music]

>> JP: Bye Bye sweetheart. Bye Bye.

We are on our way with Edwin our driver.

He’s also going to be our
tour guide today.

We’re gonna go to Girón and hike and
>> A: Busa Lake.

>> JP: What’s it called?
>> A: It’s called Busa Lake.

>> JP: Busa Lake in Girón

and hopefully see some waterfalls, too.

And we’re hoping that the weather
is conducive

because right now it’s a little rainy
here in Cuenca.

But Girón is quite a ways away from here.

Should be different weather.

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

[Welcome to Girón]

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> A: We’re getting ready to go explore
Laguna de Busa or Busa Lake.

It was about an hour and a half to
get here from Cuenca

so not bad at all and the drive was
really beautiful.

[Bird Singing]

>> JP: Hey puppy.

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> JP: It’s like the jungle.
>> A: I know.

>> JP: Welcome to the jungle, baby!
>> A: It’s cool.

So I was reading.. they normally
charge $5.

I think a person.

>> JP: Where?

>> A: If you’re a tourist.
If you’re an extranjero.

We got the Ecuador rate, a dollar.

>> JP: We have a complimentary hiking dog.

He’s showing us the way around the lake.

>> A: I’m standing on the bridge

that takes us either around, back all
the way around to the cars.

There’s a nice easy walking trail
around the lake.

Or there’s a hike to my left here,
to your right,

that takes us up to the top so we’re
gonna go head in that direction.

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> JP: You made it. Yay!
>> A: [Laughing]

>> A: I’m not sure how to get
through here.

Ahh! Ahh! [Laughing]

>> JP: Don’t fall over!
>> A: I’m a little top heavy.

>> JP: [Laughing]

>> A: [Laughing]

>> A: I did it.
[Laughter]

>> A: That is a big rock.
>> JP: Give us the Rockie..

>> A: Oh.
>> JP: Rockie.

[Laughter]

>> JP: Well mountain climbing is not
in the deck of cards for today.

My boots are very very slippery on
these rocks for some reason.

I’ve got really nice hikers but they’re
not good on these rocks.

I just keep slipping every time
I take a step.

So we’re gonna head back and
go find a waterfall.

>> Edwin: Like this.
>> A: Ok.

>> JP: You got that Amelia?
>> A: No, but I’ll do my best.

>> E: Just put your hand here.

But, turn around. Ok. That’s it.

Put one hand there. Your left.

That’s it.

Yeah. You got it. You’re there.

You’re there.
>> A: Oh yeah.

>> E: You’re there. Yeah.
>> A: [Laughing]

>> E: You’re there. That’s it.

>> A: So you basically do slide down.

>> A: [Laughing]

>> A: Alright JP.

>> JP: You made it.

>> A: But now you gotta do it.

It’s definitely a lot slipperier
than we expected,

however, this is a rainforest so I
don’t know what we were thinking.

I did see JP fall down twice..

..slide down those rocks so that’s
kinda scary.

So I think we made the right decision to
turn around.

And I guess we need to get some different
shoes for next time.

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> A: It is so picturesque up here.

It is.. muy tranquilo.

Actually this is, “laguna?”

>> JP: Lagunda Busa.
>> A: Busa.

So, it’s muy tranquila. [Laughing]

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> JP: We’re gonna head back down

the road that we drove up

and go hike up to a waterfall that’s..

it’s down closer to Girón.

We’re actually in San Fernando here
in this park, Laguna de Busa.

[Calm Latin Guitar Music]

>> A: Look behind you JP.

There’s a big waterfall!

>> JP: Where?!
>> A: Acá!

[Waterfall Sounds]

>> A: The waterfall is amazing and

this little bridge over here
is terrifying.

I told JP he should walk across it

cuz it would make really good video
but he said no. [Laughing]

[Waterfall Sounds]

>> A: The waterfall is beautiful.

This whole area is beautiful.

There’s a.. I guess, I guess you’d call
it a lagoon.

I’m not sure what you would call that
right underneath..

>> JP: [Inaudible]
>> A: A what?

>> JP: A pool.
>> A: A pool.

Ok. A pool underneath the waterfall
that’s 5 meters deep.

It’s very deceiving cuz it looks like it
would be really shallow.

Now I’m enjoying some delicious Canelazo

that came with our entry into
the Girón falls

which cost us a dollar. It’s a dollar if
you have your cedula

it’s 2 dollars if you do not.

>> JP: We had a really nice time today
with Edwin our driver and..

coming to Girón and San Fernando.

And now we’re gonna head back to Cuenca.

It’s about 1:30 in the afternoon.

We’ve had our Canelazo and I’m
super relaxed now. [Chuckling]

Alright, we’ll see you when we get home.

>> JP: We’re home!

We’re home!

Are you glad we’re home?

Wow! Someone’s all excited!

>> A: Que bonito, ¿verdad?

>> JP: ¡Sí! ¡Muy bonito!
>> A: Sí.

[Laughter]

>> A: Y muy relajado.
>> JP: Muy relajado.

Yeah. The countryside.. on..

driving between Cuenca and Girón was

just a beautiful drive.

>> A: It is very peaceful.

>> JP: And it’s really cool to come over

the top of the mountain over.. on the..

south side of Cuenca and..

with the view of Girón below and clouds

like below.. in between..
>> A: I know. It’s so cool.

>> JP: It’s so cool to see that.

>> A: Yeah. That never gets old.

>> JP: It doesn’t get old.

The clouds are in the weirdest spots here.

>> A: Yeah. [Laughing]
>> JP: They’re often below you.

>> A: Yeah, it’s quite fascinating.
>> JP: It is.

>> A: It is really interesting.
>> JP: It is really cool.

>> JP: So we uh.. the hike was pretty
treacherous.

>> A: JP developed a new
sliding technique.

>> JP: Yeah! [Laughing]

>> A: Which he actually intending to develop.
>> JP: [Laughing]

>> JP: Yep. It wasn’t fun for me.
>> A: No. So we turned back.

>> JP: Yeah. It was the best thing to do,

unfortunately, it was a really
cool looking hike

and it was the first time I’ve ever been
in a rainforest before

and it really felt like a jungle.

And I was disappointed that we had to
turn around, but..

>> A: It was very wet.

>> JP: It was wet and my boots were..

they have these hard rubber soles and

they were just slipping on those rocks.

Like a slippery bathroom floor.

>> A: Yes. [Laughing]

>> JP: And it was.. yeah.. I was not..

not feeling it.. feelin it today.

>> A: That’s ok because..

there’s another hike so we are going to
go back and do that one..

maybe in a couple weeks.

There’s a hike to a bigger waterfall

that’s still part of Girón.

And Edwin said that that’s about a 2 hour
hike and he said it’s moderate.

So in between the really super crazy steep
bouldering hike that we attempted to do,

and the walk up to the first waterfalls..
>> JP: The waterfalls.

>> A: which was basically
just a staircase.

>> JP: Yep. So he said it’s a little bit
harder than that

but not as hard as the other one.
>> A: Yeah.

>> A: Not those big rocks.
>> JP: So we’ll do that

in some future video. We’ll go back and

and hike up that trail.
>> A: Yeah. I’m pretty excited about it.

>> JP: Yeah. But we’ll probably
go to Cajas first.

The Cajas hike
has been on our list forever.

>> A: It has.

There’s so much to do here.
>> JP: I know.

>> JP: Or the Orchid Farm.
>> A: Yes.

>> JP: We want to go back to the
Orchid Farm, too.

>> A: I know and well we wanna
go out to Quito.

But we gotta go and stay there for weeks

to get everything checked off our list.
>> JP: I know.

>> A: This tiny country
has SO much to offer.

>> JP: It does.
>> A: It’s incredible.

>> JP: It’s so diverse within just a

few miles you could be between a jungle

and a desert.
>> A: Yes. I know.

>> JP: Or mountains and ocean.

It’s got everything. Volcanoes.

You can go skiing, I guess,
or hiking in the snow.

>> A: I don’t know about skiing.

>> JP: Our driver was telling us that
they hiked up the volcano

the highest volcano and they were almost
to 19,000 feet and it was a blizzard

came in.. and there was a team Russia

and a team from France and they were all

really mad cuz everybody
had to turn around.

>> A: Yeah. Well that would be
disappointing.

>> JP: I guess they were.. he said it was
white-out conditions.

You couldn’t see anything.

Which is weird to think
that’s on the equator.

>> A: I know. It is weird.

>> A: But 19,000 feet.
>> JP: Yeah. 19,000 feet is really high.

Alright, well we hope you enjoyed our
tranquilo video

of Girón and the waterfalls and

Laguna de Busa.
>> A: de Busa.

>> JP: Laguna de Busa.

I cannot get that right. I keep wanting
to say Basu.

>> A: I don’t know what that is.

>> JP: BUSA. Laguna de Busa.
>> A: Busa.

>> A: Sí.

>> JP: Anyway it was really beautiful,
>> A: It was.

we really enjoyed it.

We’re, we’re tired now.

>> A: We’re nice and chillaxed.
>> JP: Yep.

>> A: But, we do have to walk Daisy.
>> JP: Yep.

>> A: She did not get her
walk this morning.

She was not very pleased.
>> JP: No.

Alright. That’s it.

[Laughter]

>> A: That’s it!
>> JP: That’s it!

>> JP: That’s all folks. Beedee beedee..
>> A: ¡Hasta la vista!

Is that the saying?
>> JP: Hasta la vista baby.

>> A: Hasta la.. [Laughing]

>> JP: Alright we’ll see you next time

and please remember to subscribe and
ring that bell.

>> A: Ring that bell.

>> JP: See you soon.
>> A: Thanks veggie lovers.