Planetary Stories Project

"To Act Globally, Think Locally – Through Stories"

Black Earth Institute

Place: El Chorro, Girón, Ecuador

The Beauty of El Chorro’s Waterfalls
By Deysi Illescas

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I remember standing alongside a majestic waterfall and being mesmerized by its beauty as I listen to the wind blow and watch the crystalline water fall, hitting the biggest rocks on its way down. The fresh water slowly falls from the waterfall at the top of the mountains and forms a lagoon endless in its depth, which many people know as “the enchanted lagoon.” But the water does not stop upon reaching this lagoon; it continues down to a second and then a third waterfall and, forms similar lagoons at the base of each one. The water continues moving smoothly and washes the faces of the rocks and nourishes the trees in the valley below, before the flowing water ends at a town where people use it for many household activities. Many even believe that if you drink the water, you will live to be at least one hundred years old.

These waterfalls are one of the most precious things created by nature, but they are hard to get to. The first waterfall is far from the town and there is only one dead end road that reaches it. Upon reaching the road’s end, there is a path that leads to the waterfall which is surrounded by tremendous rocks, and trees. The cold, fresh water of the waterfall sprinkles every living creature and nonliving thing that is near it. But the waterfall itself is not the only gorgeous element in this setting; it is joined by the mountains, trees and birds to make a scene of God’s amazing creations. 

The enchanted lagoon is dark and deep; water falls into and out of it as if it were a bowl, and when the bowl is full, it overflows, spilling the precious liquid over its edge. Despite their beauty, the lagoons are dangerous, due to their depth.  It is said that anyone who falls into the lagoons will never come out. 

The first waterfall can be reached by car.  Getting to the second waterfall is more of a challenge.  To reach the second lagoon, one must mountain climb for about three hours. There is no paved trail; the unofficial path is full of wild animals like snakes; if you’re lucky (or unlucky) you might even find yourself faced with a panther. The path is covered in vegetation, and is not flat, and in fact, it becomes almost vertical in most areas. Because the path is located many kilometers above the road and surrounded by jungle, the area becomes darker earlier than normal. Once you reach the waterfall, the only noises you hear are those of nature: water falling, tree branches swaying from side to side and the whistling of the wind.  The challenge of getting to the second lagoon is one of the many qualities that make this place unique, since not many people actually reach the destination. Many even quit after having walked for two hours.

Although it is a peaceful place to be, it is important to leave the lagoon early before it becomes dark, especially if you are scared of hearing animal noises, not to mention seeing a dangerous animal. 

The third waterfall is pristine; no one has gotten to it yet that I know of. It is uncertain if there is even a path to reach it. All the trees and animals living on the mountains prevent anyone from walking through the area unarmed. The town at the end of the water’s journey has a policy which prevents anyone from killing the nearby animals. Because the animals one would encounter could be very dangerous, it leaves no choice: to not try to walk to the third waterfall. Further, if it takes about three hours to walk to the second waterfall, then it might take as long as an entire day to walk to the third waterfall.  And, the fact that darkness comes earlier around the waterfalls than in the town makes it almost impossible to commit yourself to walking to the third waterfall. It still remains a mystery where the water comes from, but everyone knows where the water goes. Whether someone will reach the last waterfall is uncertain, but if it ever happens it will be a great accomplishment.