Giron Ecuador | How to Hike the Beautiful El Chorro Waterfall

One of the best day trips from Cuenca is the stunning El Chorro Waterfall in the adorable hamlet of Giron Ecuador in the Azuay Province. The El Chorro Waterfall is technically located in a cloud forest, so the picturesque waterfall cuts through the rocky mountain side that is covered with lush, green plants.

While most visitors traveling to Giron Ecuador will visit and appreciate the lower section of the El Chorro Waterfall, there’s another uphill hike to the second tier of the falls. This steep and rugged climb reaches a towering 10,200 ft and offers some breathtaking (literally) views along the way of Girón village and the fertile, and warmer, Yunguilla Valley.

This definitive guide covers how to navigate this worthwhile hike independently, what to see at the El Chorro del Giron Waterfalls, and a detailed map and guide to the second tier of the falls. This day trip from Cuenca can easily be a self-guided tour of El Chorro Waterfall.

Ready? Let’s explore the natural beauty of Giron Ecuador.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• Where is Giron Ecuador | How to Day Trip from Cuenca
• El Chorro Waterfall | Giron Ecuador
• Map & Overview | El Chorro Waterfall Hike to the Second Falls
• Second El Chorro Waterfall Hike Highlights
• Return to Cuenca from Girón
• Cost of Cuenca Day Trip to Giron Ecuador
• More Cuenca Day Trip Inspiration
• Final Thoughts | Hiking the Second El Chorro Waterfall in Giron Ecuador

Where is Giron Ecuador | How to Day Trip from Cuenca

Giron Ecuador is located in the stunning Yunguilla Valley and can easily be visited as an independent day trip from Cuenca. Seriously, this Valley is enchanting, so even the bus or car ride there is quite enjoyable.

Those with a car can drive to Giron Ecuador and park directly across from the main entrance gate of El Chorro Waterfall. There are a few restaurants and a bathroom around the parking gate.

🚗 Driving to Giron Ecuador | There is a small tollbooth a couple miles before the El Chorro Waterfall. Small cars must pay 30¢ to access the waterfall road. Drive time from Cuenca to Giron Euador is about an hour.

Giron is connected via multiple bus companies that depart from the main bus terminal in Cuenca (Terminal Terrestre). While multiple companies depart from the station, the most frequent departures with the cheapest price tag is the company: Cooperativa de Transportes Giron.

🚌 Cuenca to Giron by Cooperative Giron Buses | Find them near terminal 4 in the Terminal Terrestre Cuenca, Booth #05 | Buses run: 6:00 – 19:00 | Last bus TO Cuenca from Giron is 17:40 | One way bus ticket cost: $1.25 USD | Don’t forget the 10¢ fee to exit the Cuenca Bus Terminal | Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes | Up to date info here

Arrival into Giron Ecuador

The buses stop in the center of Giron, and there’s a brown signboard for the El Chorro Waterfall that states 6 KM to the falls. From here, it’s possible to walk to the main El Chorro Waterfall entrance gate. The walk is a gradual incline and takes close to an hour and 15 minutes one-way. Once you past the car toll booth, the road sees little traffic.

Remember, if you want to hike the second waterfall, which I highly suggest, this adds on an additional 6.5 miles in total to the El Chorro Waterfall hike. It’s steep and scenic, but to save energy and time, I recommend flagging down a taxi or collectivo.

📝 Personal Note | I walked both directions and to the second tier of the waterfall. In total, I logged over 10 miles. My legs felt like jello by the end of the day, so use your judgement accordingly.

Public Transportation to El Chorro Waterfall

It’s best to take some form of public transportation, at least on the way up to avoid the uphill. Taxis cost around $5 and circle through town and the main the road frequently. It’s also possible to flag down a white truck, known more commonly as a mixto. If the white truck is full, simply hop in the back and pay around 50¢ – $1 for a ride. If the Mixto is empty, it costs similar in price to a taxi, around $5 per person.

El Chorro Waterfall | Giron Ecuador

Eventually, by two feet or four wheels, you will make it to the main entrance gate of the El Chorro Waterfall. Before you enter the main entrance, you will notice a rainbow colored II Cascada signboard. This is the access and pathway to the second El Chorro Waterfall hike.

El Chorro Waterfall Giron | Main Entrance Fee: $ 3 for foreigners, $2 for citizens | Official ticket booth: close to here | Hours: 8:30 – 17:00  | Facilities: Restaurants, tiendas, benches, observatory decks, add-ons like bridge walk and other adventure activities

Both sections of the waterfall, the primary and the second tier are included on the entrance ticket to the Giron Waterfall. During my visit, no one was patrolling the second Cascada hiking path. First, purchase the ticket and wander around the main El Chorro Waterfall.

El Chorro Waterfall Giron

This waterfall is nice and lots of families stop by on the weekend to leisurely explore the main trails together. There is a well-marked path that loops around the main waterfall. There’s also a scenic mirador that overlooks the falls and offers views of the valley. While this section is pleasant, the trails are short and usually pretty full of people.

There are add-ons to explore at the park, like a high wooden bridge that cuts across the river, and small wooden chairs that look like they bungee towards the falls. These slingshot chairs looked pretty intense, and no one seemed to be signing up to experience the thrill of the bungee chairs!

After following around the small circuit at the primary El Chorro falls, exit the ticketed area. Head back out towards the II Cascada signboard and start up the steep, oftentimes muddy path to the second tier of El Chorro Waterfall.

Map & Overview | El Chorro Waterfall Hike to the Second Falls

This is a map of the El Chorro Waterfall Hike to the second falls from the II Cascada signboard.

⁉️ If downloading the map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes, there are daily updates to the site, map platforms, and other external issues that may cause a bug in downloading. Be mindful that this map is solely for entertainment purposes. Always hike responsibly and respect the mountains by following a no-trace philosophy, avoid hiking alone, be conscious of the weather and personal limitations, and do not stray from the visible trail.

El Chorro Waterfall Hike in Giron Ecuador Logistics

• Out & Back Trail
• Round-Trip Mileage: 2.5 miles
• One-Way Mileage: 1.25 miles
• Entrance Fee: $3 this ticket covers both the El Chorro Waterfall Giron and the hike to the second waterfall
• Difficulty: Moderate, the trail is steep and some sections require scaling some rocks
• Ascent: 3,000+ feet, with highest altitude point being close to 10,200 feet!
• Trail Markers: The trail mostly follows along a dirt path. During rainy season, this can be pretty muddy. There are green and white signboards along the trail
• Excursion Duration: +/- 2 hours for this trail and 3-5 hours in total for the day trip
• Day Hike Essentials:
  • Plenty of Water, or a water-filter system
  • Good Hiking Shoes with Ankle Support
  • Rain Jacket
  • Layers
  • Snacks
  • First Aid Kit

➯ Hey… don’t forget your Travel Insurance! I love SafetyWing

Second El Chorro Waterfall Hike Highlights

In total, this portion of the El Chorro Waterfall hike will take close to 2 hours in total to complete. Add more time if you hike at a more than lax pace, take a lot of breaks due to the ascent, or picnic and take a ton of photos at the top.

Be mindful that El Chorro Waterfall is in a cloud forest. That means it’s usually best to hike in the early morning because it’s more than likely the clouds will roll in by mid-day. It can go from clear skies to total fog out in a matter of minutes. What’s nice about this path is that few people hike it. Oftentimes, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the hiking path without the crowds.

Start on the trail behind the rainbow II Cascada signboard. Remember, this is before the main ticket gate. The dirt trail is well defined, but it can be pretty muddy, depending on the season. Keep your eyes peeled for the green and white signboards along the route reading “II Cascada.”

Those first ascents are immediate. Don’t forget to savor the views along the way and of course, breathe!

Lovely Viewpoint of Giron Ecuador

One of the best viewpoints of Giron village is only a quarter of a mile from the start of the trailhead. There is a water source here, but there are more accessible ones farther up along the trail.

The views shift from the Yunguilla Valley and cute lil’ Giron Ecuador to epic views of the second towering falls. Continue onwards and appreciate the views.

The Trail Splits

After another steep quarter of a mile, the trail will fork. For now, there is a signboard directing you to the left, which is the access point to the second El Chorro Waterfall.

📝 A Note about the trail to the right…..The steeper trail on the right offers another viewpoint angle, and the trail is fun to hike up. However, after a grueling ascent, the trail is closed off with a cattle gate. This viewpoint was nice, but not worth it since it’s ultimately locked-off. This steep trail can be skipped so as to enjoy more time at the falls.

Follow the left trail until you reach a stream. Cross the stream via the rocks. Eventually the trail opens up to a green meadow. The trail here isn’t as defined, but head to the right. Look towards the waterfall and there will be rocks. This is the trail.

Climb up the rocks, but keep in mind, the rocks can be extremely slippery when wet. After the first initial rocks, the trail becomes more clear. There is a small square water pump in the middle of the path to use as a visual marker point. After the pump, the trail is a straight shot to the waterfalls.

The next section of the trail is super fun. The path narrows and is surrounded by beautiful trees. Finally, you will see the second El Chorro Waterfall!

Second Tier of El Chorro Waterfall

You made it! Whew what a climb! Enjoy the second waterfall of El Chorro that sits close to 10,200 feet! Be mindful, many of the rocks can be slick and covered in moss. There are a few misty viewpoints. When ready, return on the same path down. Downhill is so much faster and a breeze! You will more than likely get wet from the misty falls. Pack a dry warm layer for the hike down to Giron.

Return to Cuenca from Girón Ecuador

To return to Cuenca from El Chorro Waterfall, flag a taxi or moto heading back to the village of Giron. Otherwise, the 3.3 mile walk downhill is a lot easier (and faster). Cross the main road. There are usually a few women here selling delicious street food. After that hike, you deserve some deep-fried french fries!

Buses pass by frequently back to Cuenca, like every 10 minutes. There are three or four bus companies that run this route. I flagged down the same bus I rode in on, Cooperativa de Transportes Giron.

☛ Gentle Reminder | Cooperativa de Transportes Giron’s last bus to Cuenca is at 17:40!

The buses from Giron Ecuador return to Cuenca’s main bus station.

➯ Detailed Cuenca Travel Guides | All the Awesome Things to Do in Cuenca Ecuador | 35+ of the Best Restaurants in Cuenca | Visit Traditional Cuenca Markets

Cost of Cuenca Day Trip to Giron Ecuador

So how much did this adventure day trip to Giron Ecuador cost me?

Expense	USD ($)
Round Trip Bus Fare from Cuenca (and exit tax)	$2.70
El Chorro Waterfall Entrance Ticket	$3
Street Food	$1
Total	$6.70

This Cuenca day trip to Giron Ecuador cost under $7 USD. Of course, the price can be more expensive if you choose to take a taxi or mixto up and down, or enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants near the admission gate of El Chorro Waterfall.

More Cuenca Day Trip Inspiration

The bustling UNESCO Heritage City of Cuenca offers a lot of fabulous things to do, but why not add on another day trip!

➜ Find The Perfect Place to Sleep | Where to Stay in Cuenca Ecuador

Spend the day hiking Cajas National Park, only an hour away from Cuenca. The alpine lakes seem otherworldly and the park has epic trails for every level of hiker. Laguna Llaviucu is the lowest alpine lake in the Cajas. It’s the closest Visitor’s Center to Cuenca, but it’s a super scenic loop trail. Head farther up the mountains to Laguna Toreadora to experience the unique paramo landscape.

To get a better understanding of the ancient civilizations that called Ecuador home, visit Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, which explains a look into both the Inca and Cañari cultures. Ingapirca is home to the Temple of the Sun, which is the largest Inca ruin in Ecuador.

After all these hikes, why not soak in Cuenca’s very own hot springs? These curative waters are a short bus ride away in Baños de Cuenca.

Spend a full day appreciating the nearby artisanal and cultural villages that boast traditional methods from everything to typical food, Macanas (like a shawl), “Panama hats,” and jewelry.

Another incredible Ecuador village to the south is Saraguro. This magical village is so special to visit on Sunday when their local market is in full swing. To the north, Alausi Ecuador is worthwhile village to visit. Both are long day trips from Cuenca.

➯ Detailed Travel Guide | The Most Detailed Guide to the Best Day Trips from Cuenca Ecuador

Final Thoughts | Hiking the Second El Chorro Waterfall in Giron Ecuador

In short, the El Chorro Waterfall in Giron Ecuador is a lovely natural day trip from Cuenca. This cute village is easy to reach via car or frequent public buses from Cuenca.

While most travelers only visit the main El Chorro Waterfall, the hike up to the second tier of the falls is spectacular and worth the climb! This self-guided tour to Giron Ecuador can be done as an independent day trip from Cuenca for under $7!

Of course, while Girón is wonderful, the bustling city of Cuenca has many treasures to discover itself!

Have you been to Giron Ecuador? Did you visit the El Chorro Waterfall? Did you take the climb up to the second tier waterfall? Let me know in the comments below!

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