Our next stop was a cacao farm— because after lemon ants and grubs, we needed some sweet balance. We walked through rows of cacao trees, cracked open pods to see the gooey white beans inside, and followed the process from fermentation to drying to roasting. Finally, we tasted the finished product: dark, rich, and slightly bitter chocolate that melted slowly on the tongue. Chocolate has never tasted better, especially after you’ ve sweated through a jungle to get to it.
On our way back toward civilization, we made a stop at the Devil’ s Cauldron waterfall near Baños. The name alone was dramatic enough to pique our interest. We hiked a winding path to reach the thunderous cascade, which sent up clouds of mist as it roared into the canyon below. Standing at the base, soaked and exhilarated, it felt like the perfect metaphor for our entire Ecuador trip— wild, beautiful, a little overwhelming, and completely worth it.
As we sat in a quiet café on our last night in Quito, sipping on thick Ecuadorian hot chocolate, we looked back at everything we’ d done: hiked through rainforest mud, floated down jungle rivers, sampled bugs, made friends, and even learned where our favorite dessert begins its life. This trip wasn’ t just a vacation— it was an awakening. A sweaty, mosquito-bitten, soul-stirring journey into the heart of something deeper.
Ecuador gave us adventure, connection, and perspective. And, okay— Carol still swears she won’ t eat another grub again, but I know she secretly didn’ t hate it.
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