Jima is a small charming town an hour and a half southeast of Cuenca. Seated at the foot of a steep green mountain ridge, this is the place to go if you are tired of tourist traps. With the help of a Peace Corps volunteer and the  
Fundación Turistica Jima, the town has developed its own community-based tourism, so you know that the money you spend here will go directly back to the community members, not to a big company. From Jima, there are a number of trails and hikes with varying lengths and difficulty. Many of these go to the peaks of the mountains surrounding the town, where you will be rewarded with beautiful views. To cool off after a hike, try taking a dip in the clean Rio Moya.