Best Things to Do in Baños, Ecuador

Often referred to as the adventure capital of Ecuador, Baños de Agua Santa is a place where you definitely won’t run out of things to do. From powerful waterfalls to crazy viewpoints and scenic swings with volcanoes in the background, you’ll be able to find an activity for every level of adventure in Baños.

In this guide you can read about some of the best things to do around Baños, a city that’s surrounded by active volcanoes and is located in a lush green valley. We’ve also included useful information such as how to get to Baños, where to stay, where to eat and the best time to visit this adventure filled city.

If you’d like to see our Baños adventures, then check out our dedicated Baños video on our YouTube Channel. For more Ecuador videos check out our Ecuador Playlist.

About Baños de Agua Santa

Officially called Baños de Agua Santa, the city is often just referred to as Baños. It’s located about 200 km to the south-east of Quito, not too far from Ambato, the capital of Tungurahua province.

Baños sits on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano, at an elevation of 1,820 m (5,971 ft). With a height of 5,016 m (16,456 ft), Tungurahua volcano is the 10th highest peak in Ecuador. The stratovolcano restarted its volcanic activity back in 1999. Since then there have been many eruptions with quite a few regarded as major ones.

Baños is considered to be Ecuador’s adventure capital due to the large number of adrenaline-fueled things to do there such as cycling, zip-lining or rafting. The city is also known as the ‘gateway to the Amazon’, because it sits on the edge of the Amazon basin.

Baños gets its name from several hot springs that were found in the area. In English ‘baños’ literally means ‘bath’. (Although, you could also use ‘baños’ to refer to the bathroom, restroom, or shower).

Best Things to Do in Baños

1. Visit the Powerful Paílón del Diablo Waterfall

Probably one of the most impressive things to do in Baños is to visit the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall.

This stunning waterfall is located in the town of Rio Verde about 17 km to the east of Baños. Located on Rio Pastaza, it’s name translates to the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’. Apparently, you can see the devil’s face shaped into the rocks there.

The waterfall is about 80 m tall and has a pool depth of 20 m. It was definitely one of the most impressive waterfalls we saw in Ecuador. What makes Pailon del Diablo unique is that it flows into the Atlantic Ocean despite the fact that it’s way closer to the Pacific Ocean.

How to get to Paílón del Diablo? You can rent a bike and follow the Ruta de las Cascadas to the waterfall. Alternatively, you can take a chiva (bus) tour that will take you to the waterfall and also stop at other attractions along the way. You can also just get a taxi there or a local bus.

Entrance Fee. It’s good to know that there are two separate entrances to the waterfall. The ‘new entrance’ will take you above the waterfall to a higher viewing platform. The ‘main entrance’ heads down to the bottom of the waterfall where you can get super close to it. Since you get a slightly different experience at both, if you have time, we recommend visiting each of them. The entrance fee is $2 USD at each entrance.

You can also visit after dark and enjoy the whole site illuminated. The entrance fee is $4 USD after dark.

2. Cycle Along Ruta de las Cascadas (Top Thing to Do in Baños)

The route between Baños and Puyo is known as the Ruta de las Cascadas, or the ‘waterfall route’ in English. This stretch of road has more than 12 waterfalls along it, with the most impressive one being El Pailón del Diablo (or the Devil’s Cauldron).

The approximately 17 km route between Baños and El Pailon del Diablo is best done on a bike. You can easily rent one in Baños and they normally cost around $10 USD per bike. From the city you’ll have to follow the main road most of the way, but there are a few dedicated cycling / tour bus side roads so you can avoid the many tunnels. The best part of Ruta de las Cascadas is that along the way you won’t just see loads of beautiful waterfalls, but you can stop for a few extra activities as well such as zip-lining, crazy swings and tarabita rides.

The Ruta de las Cascadas felt similar to the waterfall hike in Mindo, with the only difference being that you’ll be cycling along the route rather than hiking it.

3. Swing at the End of the World at La Casa del Arbol

Probably one of the most popular things to do in Baños is to visit La Casa del Arbol (The Treehouse) to swing at the ‘End of the World’.

The treehouse is built on the edge of one of the mountains next to Tungurahua volcano. It used to have one swing, but there are now two swings where you can take some pretty creative photos with the swing, treehouse and volcano in the background. Most of the time the volcano is in the clouds, but you might get lucky during your visit.

Thanks to the scenic setting, it’s no surprise that the swing has gotten very popular on social media. This of course means that you can expect quite a few visitors, especially on a weekend. To avoid the crowds as much as possible we decided to head up to the swing first thing in the morning. Luckily, we got to have the place almost all to ourselves and successfully avoided the tour groups.

How to get to La Casa del Arbol? There are four ways you can visit La Casa del Arbol from Baños. You can hike up or take a taxi, a local bus or a tour. A taxi is probably the most convenient way to get there but can cost at least $10 USD one way, whereas the bus can cost as little as $1 USD per person. Of course hiking will cost you nothing, but it’s a long way up.

Entry fee to La Casa del Arbol is $1 USD per person.

4. Do Something More Adventurous

If you enjoy more adrenaline pumping activities, then Baños is the place to be. You’ll find a wide variety of options in the city depending on your interests. Luckily, there are plenty of tour operators offering something adventurous. Below are some of the most popular activities:

• White-water rafting along Pastaza River, which has Class III and IV rapids.
• Canyoning and rappelling is another popular water activity that gets you really close to some amazing waterfalls.
• Zip-lining is perfect for getting some incredible views of the surrounding valleys.
• You’ll also find plenty of extreme swings across Baños, if the Swing at the End of the World wasn’t thrilling enough for you.
• Paragliding is another perfect way to get a bird’s eye view over the city and the volcanoes surrounding it.

5. Enjoy the Views from Las Manos de la Pachamama

Only about 3 km to the east of La Casa del Arbol, you can visit a pretty unique viewpoint called Las Manos de la Pachamama. Literally translating to ‘the hands of Pachamama (Mother Earth)’, you’ll find two massive constructions in the shape of hands and a heart here which are used as viewing platforms.

The palms have a diameter of about 64 m and were built about 700 m above the Ulba River. From the hands you can admire the views of the volcanoes of Sangay and Llanganates National Parks.

Entry fee is $7 USD per person. You can also enjoy some more adrenaline pumping activities at an additional cost here, such as extreme swings and a suspension bridge.

6. Soak Your Muscles at the Hot Springs

As mentioned at the start, Baños got its name after several hot springs were found in the vicinity of the city. Therefore, we highly recommend trying to fit a visit to one of them into your itinerary.

There are quite a few to choose from, from simple ones to those that are much more luxurious. You can visit the popular Termas de la Virgen where you can enjoy different water temperatures right next to the beautiful Cascada de la Virgen waterfall. The entrance fee is $4 USD per person.

Another affordable and less popular option is Balneario El Salado. It also offers a few different pools with different water temperatures for an entry fee of $4 USD per person.

For a more modern and luxurious experience you can visit Luna Volcan Adventure Spa located high up on the mountain with breathtaking views over Baños.

Spending a few hours in one of the hot springs is definitely a great way to relax your muscles after the countless crazy activities you’ll probably get up to in Baños.

With all the other activities, we couldn’t squeeze in a visit to the hot springs, but at least we managed to have a spa experience during our time in Cuenca.

7. Take a Day Trip to Quilotoa Lake

If you haven’t taken a day trip to Quilotoa Lake from Quito yet, then Baños is another great place to do it from. Quilotoa is the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. It has a beautiful 3 km wide caldera lake which attracts visitors from all over the world.

Of course, the best way to visit Quilotoa Lake would be to spend at least a night in the nearby town, or hike the Quilotoa Loop. However, if you’re short on time then a day trip is a great option as well.

From Baños, it’s going to be a long drive to reach the crater lake. However, Baños is a much less popular place to take the day trip from compared to Quito. Therefore, you might even end up having a private tour like we did.

Since we had to skip a trip to the beautiful Laguna de Cuicocha in Otavalo, we didn’t want to leave Ecuador without seeing the stunning Quilotoa Lake. Therefore, we didn’t mind the long day trip, although we definitely would’ve preferred to hike the full Quilatoa Loop. Well, there’s always next time!

How to Get to Baños

There are two main modes of transport you can take to reach Baños: local bus or private car/transport. Luckily, you can reach Baños from multiple places in Ecuador whether you’re touring the country from north to south or vice versa.

The most popular place to get to Baños from is Quito. From the city centre you would first need to get to Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe, Quito’s south bus station. Once at the station, you can either ask for a direct bus to Baños or Ambato, the biggest city close to Baños. From there, there are regular buses to Baños.

If you’re coming from the south of Ecuador, such as Cuenca or Guayaquil, then you can either take a direct service between the two places or travel to Ambato first and then to Baños. Direct services are quite limited, with only one or two per day.

In addition to local buses, you can also splurge on some private transport. For example, we were staying at the Secret Garden Hostel in Cotopaxi National Park and decided to pay $20 each to get a private transport from there. You can do the same from most places in Ecuador if you’re not on a super tight budget. Check out some private transport options here.

Best Time to Visit Baños

You can visit Baños all year round. The rainiest months are between January and March. The driest months are between June and August.

Weekends and public holidays are always very busy in the city, so if you only have a few days, try to time your visit outside of those.

We visited at the end of May / beginning of June and we had very mixed weather conditions. It was pouring rain during our bike trip along La Ruta de las Cascadas, however we had some beautiful sunny days after that. Even Tungurahua volcano cleared at one point, which our guide told us was quite a rare occasion.

How Many Days Do You Need in Baños

If you’re just planning out your Ecuador itinerary, we recommend reserving around 3 days in Baños. The more the merrier, especially if you want to do a few more activities that we didn’t such as zip-lining or rafting.

To break it down a little more, you’d need most of one day if you want to cycle along Ruta de las Cascadas and visit Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Then, if you want to beat the crowds and swing at La Casa del Arbol, you’d want to do that early in the morning the next day. From there, you can combine your visit with the Las Manos de la Pachamama viewpoint. Since many places are open until later in the day, you can always head to the hot springs in the late afternoon, or even visit the viewpoints or the waterfall as an evening activity.

If you want to add a day trip to Quilotoa Lake from Baños to your itinerary, then you’ll have to save a full day just for that.

Where to Stay in Baños

Since Baños is a popular place to visit, there are plenty of hotels and hostels you can book depending on your budget. Staying in the centre is a good idea if you want to be close to eateries and tour offices. The centre is also close to the main bus station. Below are a few places to consider if you want to stay in this area:

• Hostal Balcon del Cielo
• Selina Baños
• La Floresta Hotel
• Hotel y Spa Isla de Baños

There are also some lovely guest houses and other hotels located slightly further from the centre:

• La Casa Verde Eco Guest House
• Finca Chamanapamba Guest House

In case you’re looking for a more luxurious stay with incredible views, make sure to check out Luna Volcan Adventure Spa or Sangay Spa Hotel

Where to Eat in Baños

In a place like Baños you’ll find plenty of cool eateries serving both traditional Ecuadorian food and international dishes.

If you’re after some veggie or vegan food, then we recommend Sativa Studio Cafe. They serve delicious food with great portion sizes. The interior of this place is worth a visit on its own. Aromi cafe also has a nice selection of food and drinks, perfect as a quick lunch spot.

Mestizart Ecuadorian Restaurant, as the name suggests, serves some good lunch menus and you can also try some other Ecuadorian foods. Plus, if you sit at the balcony, you can get a great view of the main plaza.

You’re in Ecuador, so we recommend drinking as much hot chocolate as possible during your time. Aromé had some very delicious hot chocolate and you can also buy some to take home with you in their shop.

In case you’re craving something Italian, we cannot recommend La Bella Italia En Casa enough. It’s out of the city centre area, but worth the trip in our opinion. The owners were so lovely and the pizza was also delicious.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Baños

Although we wouldn’t call ourselves the most adventurous couple, we had an absolute blast in Baños. So, even if you’re not into crazy swings, zip-lining or rafting, there are still plenty of other things to do in Baños that make it worth stopping here. Of course, our favourite activity had to be cycling along Ruta de las Cascadas and visiting Pailon del Diablo waterfall at the end. However, we also enjoyed the swing at La Casa del Arbol and the viewpoint at Las Manos de la Pachamama.

Have you ever visited Baños in Ecuador? If so, what activities did you do during your visit? If not, what would you add to your itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.