Chilly dips, to chilly town, to Chile wine!

Back on the bus, which by the way is very comfortable given we have 16 people on the tour who share 40 seats, we travel a short distance to Misol Ha Falls, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush, green forest. Perfect photo opportunity, particularly on the walk that leads around and behind the falls, allowing us to peer through the sheet of water. We then visit the beautiful Agua Azul Falls, a large site with crystal clear water and small falls – perfect for swimming, as long as you are careful of the strong current. As we brave the chilly water and pace slowly through the knee-length depths, we quickly summon up the courage to plunge into the water. The short swim is just enough, and we spend the rest of the morning basking in the sun on our sarongs. Mexican children, who balance large baskets of bananas on their heads, accost us to try buy bunches from them – although pleasant enough, they are rather bold, following us around from the pools through to the tour bus.

A very windy, five-hour drive up the mountain takes us to the incredibly crisp and clean-aired San Cristobal, another charming colonial town with plenty of local market action, beautiful restaurants, and a busy night life. Our hotel is lush and comfy and to my surprise, after sleeping on top of sheets with air-conditioning blasting the whole trip, we actually make use of the doona and two woolen blankets – it is that crisp! At night the group dine at a very delicious restaurant, and I indulge in a steak – a change from the rich Mexican cuisine. The steak is tender, cooked perfectly and is stacked with wild mushroom sauce. The sauvignon blanc from Chile is crisp, fruity and morish, breathing truth to the rumors that wines from Chile far beat other central/south American wines. After dinner, we don our dancing shoes and hit the salsa club, where a live salsa band is playing and the dance floor is warming up. We take in the lively atmosphere, and after a round of tequila slammers, we mimic the action of the salsa professionals. Although we may not look as good, we are having just as much fun! After a fantastic night of dancing and sampling Mexican beer, cocktails and tequila, we walk the quiet, dark streets back to the hotel for a long, long sleep.