Banos: Beauty, Adventure and Food

Nestled in the stunning Andes Mountains is a small town by the name of Banos. Within ten minutes this small town became my favourite place in the world.

The five hour bus ride from my previous destination had us winding through the sometimes precarious mountainous roads, passing waterfalls and rivers and fields which contained more shades of green than I imagined possible. I reached my destination, and was greeted by warm thermal pools, narrow streets that challenged my sense of direction and some of the friendliest people whose company I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.

Banos is full of exciting things to do. You can get in the back of a truck and head up to the top of a mountain to La Casa Del Arbol - The Treehouse. The Treehouse is home to the Swing at the End of the Earth. I jumped on and swung out over the picturesque valleys, right at the foot of the Volcano that towers over the town. It felt liberating to have the wind in my hair as I looked out at the tiny little people going about their lives in the town below.

Not for the faint of heart, 'Puenting' is another exciting attraction in the town, in which I had the pleasure of jumping off a bridge. Similar to bungee jumping, but there's no slack in the rope, giving it that extra exhilarating rush as I leaped out and plummeted towards the river hundreds of feet below. It's safe to say I lost my voice from screaming, but it's an experience I would relive in a heartbeat.

Once my stomach had settled from the puenting, I ventured into the town to try some of the local delicacy. I was on a mission to find guinea pig, and I discovered a number of stalls had some guinea pigs roasting away on a stick. It turned out to be a lot tastier than I had imagined, and I even managed to convert my initially disgusted friend into a fan. To finish the meal, we found a small canteen that specialised in Empanadas - pastry stuffed with a savoury mix of meat and vegetables. This little shop offered an unusual variant though, in the form of chocolate and banana. The deliciously sweet pastry made me forget all my fears from the earlier bridge jumping experience, as it washed away all my sorrows and filled me with warmth and happiness.

Banos is without a doubt the most stunning and enchanting place I have ever visited. It holds a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to get back there one day.