A lot of the countries I have been to have their own liquor or moonshine. Most of the time you buy them in unlabeled water bottles as though someone made them in their basement. And to be honest, I'm quite certain the truth isn't too far off from that. Bali has arak, Greece has ouzo, Albania has raki, and Ecuador has punta.

But in Vilcabamba, Ecuador you can find a very different kind of punta.

At a restaurant, a little outside the tiny town center, is a pizzeria called Shanta's. The owner, for lack of a better word, is really cool. His restaurant was decorated almost exclusively with pictures from the movie Tombstone, he had a mustache that rivaled Sam Elliott's, and he hunted venomous snakes in cutoff jean shorts to make the special drink that you see pictured.

Venomous snakes have been used throughout history in the liquor making process. It's said that it gives whiskey a distinct flavor but also has some health benefits such as aiding in pain relief and used as a strong aphrodisiac.

Maybe this is why Shanta has a stern rule of only one shot per person and no more.

After drinking the snake punta I can't say I felt any pain relief, although I was in no pain from before or that I noticed feeling anymore... sensual than usual 😆 What I can verify is that it definitely had a unique flavor. One that I have not tasted since and when I find myself back in Vilcabamba, I'll be sure to try it again.

Happy Travels 🐍