Day 320 - Cayambe

March 15th – Fishing Adventures & a Mountain Camp

We spent hours driving through the countryside between Ibarra and Otavalo, searching for the perfect fishing spot. Streams, rivers, lakes, and lagoons—one after another—but either the locals didn’t know if there were fish or simply didn’t want to share their secrets.

Frustrated but not defeated, we decided to take a bumpy backroad to Cayambe, and finally, we spotted a promising creek. The men sprang into action, eager to test their luck. Before long, they returned victorious, holding six beautiful trout! That was it—they were hooked on fishing!

Gregor, convinced there had to be even better trout waters nearby, insisted we push further into the mountains to a remote laguna. The path leading there was not meant for cars, but that didn’t stop us. We climbed up a steep, slippery road, the ground getting wetter and muddier by the minute. At one particularly sharp hairpin turn, both of our vehicles got stuck.

Thankfully, after some careful maneuvering, we managed to back up to a small level clearing, which became our campsite for the night.

Under the stars, Ellen wrapped the trout in aluminum foil and grilled them to perfection, while I made a fresh mixed salad and a pot of spaghetti. Sitting around in the cool mountain air, savoring our delicious meal, we all agreed—it had been an adventure well worth the effort.

Stats: Miles 62, Expenses $0.00Read more