Things to do in Baños
Quick answer: The best things to do in Baños, Ecuador include soaking in the volcanic hot springs, riding the Swing at the End of the World at Casa de Árbol, biking the Ruta de las Cascadas to Pailón del Diablo, hiking to the town’s viewpoints, swing jumping over the Pastaza River and tasting fresh melcocha.
Baños de Agua Santa, commonly known as Baños, sits on the side of Tungurahua Volcano. Nicknamed the “Jump off point to the Amazon”, it is the last big town before the jungle and the other towns of the Amazon River basin.
1. Take a Dip in the Hot Springs
Baños is named for its public hot baths, and you can’t visit without spending time in one of its many thermal pools. They are fed by hot springs from Tungurahua, the adjacent active volcano.
You must wear a bathing cap – buy one on site for USD 4 or rent one for USD 0.50. There is free staffed storage for your belongings, a snack bar and multiple pools at different temperatures.
| Hot spring | Address | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Termas La Virgen | Calle Montalvo y Luis A Martinez | Daily 05:00–16:00 and 18:00–21:00 |
| Termas El Salado | Avenida el Salado | Daily 05:00–22:00 |
| Piscina Santa Clara | Calle Velasco Ibarra, between 12 de Noviembre and Rafael Vieira | Mon–Fri 14:00–21:30; Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–21:30 |
Getting there: Termas La Virgen and Santa Clara are within walking distance of the main square. Termas El Salado is 2 kilometres from the centre – walk, or take a bus from the stop next to the Mercado Central for USD 0.30.
2. Ride the Swing at the End of the World
Casa de Árbol (Tree House) is one of the many names for the Swing at the End of the World, which sits high on every traveller’s bucket list. It is in the hamlet of Runtún, 2,600 metres above sea level, and on clear days it is the best place to see Tungurahua Volcano.
Getting there: Buses leave from the corner of Rocafuerte and Pastaza streets in Baños at 05:45, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. They cost USD 1 each way per person, and entry to the tree house is an additional USD 1 per person.
3. Bike Down the Ruta de las Cascadas
Biking the Ruta de las Cascadas (Waterfall Route) is a legend on the gringo trail. There are many places to stop and see a dozen or so waterfalls on the way to Pailón del Diablo (Cauldron of the Devil), a renowned 80-metre waterfall.
- Cascada de Agoyán – a beautiful double waterfall
- Manto de la Novia (Bride’s Veil) – one of the most impressive falls on the route
- Several spots where you can walk down to the base of the falls to appreciate how magnificent they really are
How to do the waterfall route
- By bike: rent a bike for the whole day from one of the many travel agencies in Baños for USD 5. The route to Pailón del Diablo is downhill, which makes it easy. To return, hire a camioneta (pickup truck) parked in front of Restaurante Hortensias, which drops you at the Terminal Terrestre for USD 2.
- By bus: go straight to Pailón del Diablo on a bus from the stop near the Mercado Central. Buses are frequent and cost USD 0.50.
- By Chiva: this open-air tourist bus serves all the major attractions around town and runs to the waterfall trail daily at 10:30 and 14:30. The tour takes about 4 hours and costs USD 7; book through travel agencies in town.
4. See Baños from the Mirador de la Virgen
If you hike down from Casa de Árbol, you will most likely pass the Mirador de la Virgen del Agua Santa on your way back. The walk up involves around 650 steps. There is no entrance fee, and it is worth visiting at dusk to watch the sunset.
Getting there: walk along Calle Mera to the end of the road, where the trail begins.
5. Visit the San Martin Eco Zoo
San Martin Eco Zoo houses species found across the diverse terrain of Ecuador’s Oriente and Sierra regions, including pumas, jaguars, capybaras, giant turtles, spectacled bears, tapirs, several monkey species, toucans, parrots and condors. It is two kilometres from the town centre.
- Getting there: an easy walk along Avenida de las Amazonas, or a bus every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 17:30 (USD 0.30 each way). A taxi costs USD 1.50.
- Opening hours: every day from 08:00 to 17:00
- Entry: USD 2.50
6. Hike to Mirador La Cruz de Bellavista
La Cruz de Bellavista is a white cross perched on the hill overlooking Baños. The viewpoint offers a magnificent panorama of the mountain ranges and the town. The hike up the dirt road can be tricky, so it is best to get there before dark.
Getting there: the trail begins at the end of Maldonado Street.
7. Try a Swing Jump over the Pastaza River
Swing jumping is a popular activity in Baños: for USD 20 you get 80 metres of pure adrenaline above the majestic Pastaza River from the San Francisco bridge. There is no need to book in advance – just turn up and the operator will help you.
Getting there: San Francisco bridge is right across from the Terminal Terrestre (bus terminal).
8. Visit the Basilica
The most popular building in town is the Basilica, on the central plaza. Visitors come to see its beautiful collection of murals, and this semi-gothic church is an important pilgrimage site for local Catholics, who come to worship Our Lady of the Holy Water.
Getting there: the basilica is right in front of the town’s main square.
9. Taste the Melcocha
Melcocha is a sweet toffee made from sugar cane. In many shops in Baños you can watch artisans wrap the toffee around a wooden peg on a door frame, then beat and stretch it to perfection. Try it fresh off the peg – but beware, some melcochas are very tough and not for the weak-toothed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a bathing cap at the Baños hot springs?
Yes. You can buy one on site for USD 4 or rent one for USD 0.50.
How do you get to the Swing at the End of the World from Baños?
Take a bus from Rocafuerte and Pastaza streets at 05:45, 11:00, 14:00 or 16:00. It costs USD 1 each way, plus USD 1 entry.
How much does it cost to bike the Ruta de las Cascadas?
Bike rental is USD 5 for the day, and a camioneta back to Baños from Restaurante Hortensias costs USD 2.
Do you need to book swing jumping in Baños?
No. Just go to the San Francisco bridge opposite the bus terminal; it costs USD 20.
Conclusion
From volcanic hot springs and waterfalls to adrenaline-packed swings and sweet melcocha, there are plenty of things to do in Baños for every kind of traveller. Give yourself a few days to enjoy this gateway to the Amazon.
There are so many varied kind of things to do and places to see in Banos. I didn’t know. Although I had heard about the swing at the end of the world 🙂 But The Rutas De las Cascadas seems to be equally interesting and so does rest of the attractions. Worth a visit!!
Banos looks really awesome. The swing is really something that most travelers have in their bucket list. I have read a lot about it and am intrigued by it. But what really leaves me awestruck is Pailon Del Diablo, it looks really stunning.
I didn’t realize how much Banos had to offer. It is on my bucket list for the swing at the end of the world. But now I know I will need to plan for at least a couple of days to see the other sites.
What country is this in? Did I miss that somewhere? It definitely looks like a place I’d like to visit. Especially the Cascade Route! I love biking when i don’t have to worry about going back uphill!
Not Zoo fans, but the rest of the recommendations were very helpful and thorough. Thanks for sharing.
I think our favourite things were the Pailon Del Diablo an the taffy!
Of course if your very tight with your money, but have a sweet tooth, it’s very possible to simply roam from vendor to vendor having a small sample of their wares!