After a night in Guayaquil we left early the next morning  for the 3 hour drive to Cuenca. This is an interesting trip because we start at sea level in Guayaquil and go through the Cajas National Park, highest point 14,100 ASL and arrive in Cuenca which is around 8370 ASL.  Along the way we stopped at a cocoa farm that was ran by a local, who had around 1 1/2 hectares, very difficult to make a living so our little visit was very helpful. (the guide pays her about $1. per visitor). The process of getting the cocoa beans to market was very interesting.

The cocoa pods grow all year long so a tree may have flowers and also mature pods all at the same time. The locals know, obviously through experience, when the pods are ripe and just harvest the ones that are ready, the general rule is when the pods are bright red as in the pictures they are ready. The cocoa bean inside the pods are put in a barrel where they ferment for a few days and then they are washed and dried. They use the highway to dry the beans because it is warm and dries them quickly so they can get them to market and earn their income.