Ecuador was such an amazing place to visit, we had to devote another post, right away! I’m sure many of you have seen the “Swing at the End of the World”, we’ll post about that later. Right now we figured we’d take it up a notch and talk about a swing that you have to get strapped into, and get literally thrown off of your feet! This swing ain’t no sweet picturesque swing. I mean yes if you’re lucky you do get a great views of the city below, and the mountain ranges ahead (and thevolcano behind!). But this swing is all about the adrenaline rush!
El Vuelo del Cóndor , is an “extreme swing” nestled in the foot “hills” of the Tungurahua volcano . Baños has become known as the “Adventure City” of Ecuador, because of the sheer amount of extreme activities to be found here. But more of Baños for another post, this swing isn’t actually located in the town anyway, but up high in a hamlet called Runtun.
The swing can be found by taking the one road up, and then following the signs, if you go with a tour guide they will definetly know the way. If you are staying at Luna Run Tun, this is right before you get to the resort. When you get there, park your car, bus, bike, donkey whatever your mode of transport was, there is ample parking. And if you are lucky to get a clear day look behind you and say high to mama Tungurahua’s snow capped peak! Then walk on over and pay your $10 , and get harnessed in.
So the chest harness straps into the swing and there are signs around saying how everything is regulated and indeed the swing was constructed under the tourism department supervision . They also give you a hard hat. So if you have a GoPro, make sure you bring it! They have that very heavy selfie pole they will attach the camera too and then start filming right before you go , or you can get the helmet that the camera attaches to,and again they will place it in and start the filming before they let you go.
Because boy do they let you go… Once you are wearing your harness they bring you up the stairs to the swing platform. You stand on the platform while they place the swing behind your butt and attach you. They start the camera. And then they drop you. Yes they Drop You. The platform beneath you falls and you go swinging!!!!!!
If you’re like me and you’re scared of heights but love roller coasters, well the best way to describe it is… You know when you’re doing the first coaster of the day and you’re quite jittery, and you hit that first peak and you finally open your eyes and vroom on down. Well that is exactly how it felt. It was frightening. As scared of heights as I am I normally don’t yell from fright, but this swing had me yelling,! After a few swings you get more comfortable and you can lay back! And I highly suggest you do it, because that is when you feel like you are flying, like a condor.
Compilation video, so you too can feel like a condor, until you go!
And if you wanna hear our screams:
First up me!
Next David:
Then Paul:
Finally the best one: Christine
Just a note, we went during the rainy season . This is why mine and David’s footage is all rainy and wet looking. I was the first one to brave the swing. By the time Christine went up, she was strapped in and the wind picked up a lot as did the rain. So she had to come down. We went to explore the town of Baños, and by the afternoon the sun had come out in full force so then she and Paul went. They actually had much better weather than David or I did so their footage is real nice!
And now for some fun pix, of us flying over the side of an Andean mountain/volcano, just like like a condor.
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