Jima Overview

V!VA User‘s Description

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 Fundacion 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.

Hikes Around Jima

Jima serves as a good base for longer hikes in the area. An hour from the town is the primary cloud forest, Bosque de Tambillo, which has hundreds of different animal species and more than 200 types of orchids. There is also a three- to four-day hike that takes you from the Sierra to the Oriente. The hike begins 22 km to the east of Jima in the Cordillera Moriré and drops 1,800 meters by the time you reach the Oriente. It is also possible to rent horses and camping gear in Jima.

Places to Stay

There are two options for places to spend the night. One is the Hostal Chacapamba (072-418-035 or –046), a new two story house with balcony. The other option is to spend the night in a building owned by the local high school (072-418-398): rooms with shared bathroom cost $4.50. All of the proceeds go towards improving the schools in town. You can also make reservations for rooms at the information center (072-418-270).

Contact Information

For reservations and information about hikes, place to stay, and other activities, contact the information center at 072-418-270. Cultural activities such as traditional dances and music can be arranged for large groups.

Email: jimaecuador@yahoo.com

www.projectsforpeace.org/jima

Submitted by Allison Korn