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Things to do in Baños, Ecuador【Best activities and prices】
Baños or Baños de Santa Ana, which is its full name, It is essential for any route through Ecuador. If you like nature and adventure sports, you will enjoy yourself like a little child here.. For me, Baños is a cure against maturity and seriousness. Rafting, zip lines, swings, soaking in waterfalls, bike routes, in general it is a place to have a great time.
The city itself doesn't have much to see although it is located in a beautiful valley. It has a cool atmosphere and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape but it is not a historic city nor does it have very remarkable architecture. I recommend you try to come during the week since you will find a more backpacker and calm environment. Due to its proximity to Quito, on weekends it is a popular destination to come with family or friends and everything is much busier.
But let's get down to business, I tell you 6 activities that you cannot miss in Baños de Santa Ana especially if you like giving an adventurous touch to your vacation. But don't worry, if you're more into relaxing, there are also very good options for you. How does a nighttime bath in a hot spring sound to you? And the best All activities are super well priced!
What to do in Baños
Waterfalls bike route
If I had to choose only one thing that Baños is famous for, I would bet on the waterfalls. The Pailón del Diablo is an icon of Ecuador, one of the strongest waterfalls we have ever seen.
One of the best and most fun ways to get there is by bicycle from Baños. The route is 17km in which you will pass different waterfalls such as “the bride's mantle” and you will have views of the river, some waterfalls and the mountains that surround it throughout the entire route.
You can rent bicycles at many agencies in the city. for $5 all day and the route is accessible to anyone who knows how to ride a bicycle. Don't be scared when you read 17km because the good news is that it is only in one direction and practically always downhill.The downside is that in some sections there's a bike lane, but in others you have to use the road. carThe road is narrow. Despite that, it doesn't have much traffic and the drivers seem used to bicycles; they all passed us very cautiously.
This route, going slowly, will take you half a day, we left around 8:30 in the morning and were back to eat at the market around 2. Along the way there are several points where you can stop with zip lines and small canopy circuits, We chose not to do any since we would do a zip line activity another day.
How to return to Baños
At Pailón del Diablo, the last stop on the bike route, there are vans that will take you and your bike back to Baños for $3., it is very well set up (if they do not reach a minimum number of people they will want to charge you more but you can say that you prefer to wait)
If 17km isn't enough for you, then... carThe road continues to Puyo, about 60km, where the scenery remains just as beautiful. Once there, you'll have to take a bus.car If you're looking for a bus back to Baños that lets you take your bike, you'll surely have no problem finding one.
Waterfalls route with other transport
It also can do renting quads or buggies in Baños, hiring a tour of Chiva, a typical city transport that is sometimes focused on having a party along the way. The last alternative is to go by bus directly to Pailón del Diablo, You can take any bus that goes towards Puyo and tell the driver when you get on that you want to get off at Pailón.
But… We recommend bicycles!
Rafting on the Pastaza River
One of the best activities to release adrenaline What to do in Baños is rafting. This activity takes place in the Pastaza River, which flows into the famous Amazon River. It is a very easy activity to hire since all tourist agencies offer it. from the city and the price is around $20-25 depending on the agency.
At 8 in the morning you meet the rest of the participants at the agreed meeting point and a minivan will take you to the starting point. There, while they prepare the boats, they will give you an explanation about what the route is like, how to follow the instructions that the guide can give and some safety tips in case you fall into the water. They are level 3 rapids and some level 4 rapids, It is not necessary to have previous experience to go rafting in Baños.
The duration of the descent is approximately an hour and a half with calm sections and others of greater difficulty. But don't be afraid, During the entire tour you will be accompanied by a pair of support kayaks to help quickly rescue people who fall into the water.
Once the descent is finished, the same minivan picks you up to return to Baños. Along the way we stop for lunch. in a local restaurant where you can regain energy and share a quieter time with your rafting companions.
Canopy route: Zip lines and hanging bridges
Another popular activity in Baños to enjoy as a toddler is a Canopy Tour. Is about an adventure circuit located in the heart of nature in which different activities alternate to advance on your route.
During the tour you will go down two fairly long zip lines, you will do some small sections of via ferrata, you will have to cross several hanging bridges and some other surprises.
The price of this activity varies depending on the duration and the amount of things done. We spent around 2 hours + transportation and preparation time and it cost us $20.
Other longer routes can cost between $25 and $45, also a super good price compared to other countries where canopy is a famous activity, for example Costa Rica.
Canyoning in Baños de Agua Santa
Another adventure sport you can practicecar In Baños, the main activity is canyoning. Being surrounded by lush mountains, there are plenty of streams and waterfalls where this activity takes place.
If you don't know this sport it consists of descend a mountain following the water course of a river. This involves going down the river down natural slides, jumping into some waterfalls, descending slopes by rappelling and even jumping into the void tied to a rope in vertical waterfalls.
We paid $20 for the activity that lasted all morning. The long, full-day route cost $60 and just this last jump into the void in the photo cost $10.
We stay with him contact of our guide and his son, they told us that if you booked with them they could give you a better priceIf you are interested, leave us a comment and we will share it with you by email.
Visit the best viewpoints in the city
Another reason why Baños de Agua Santa is famous is for its viewpoints spread across the surrounding mountains. The way they decorate these viewpoints is not my favorite and reminds me a lot of the Asian style, but I must admit that the views are beautiful and some of the activities they have set up are quite fun.
Our favorite viewpoint is the Tree House, It is an enclosure with impressive views of the valley that has a cafeteria, a tree house, a couple of zip lines and what are known as end of the world swings since they are on a cliff. It's a pretty nice place to spend a couple of hours. The entrance to this place costs $1 and you can get to the viewpoint by public bus for $1. There are also chiva tours for about $5 from the center.
Another famous viewpoint is that of the Hand of the Pachamama, consists of an area full of paintings through which you will have to walk barefoot to avoid damaging them and in which the star attraction is a viewpoint in the shape of a giant hand. The entrance price is $8, we didn't go to this one.
Relax in hot springs
Due to the proximity of the Tungurahua volcano In this city there is a lot of geothermal energy that translates into a large number of hot springs. This resource has been used to create several spas spread throughout the city.
The best-known hot springs are the Piscinas de la Virgen which are located inside the town just below the Cabellera de la Virgen waterfall. The thermal water of this place has a large number of minerals to which healing properties are associated with them.
Thanks to these properties, being in the interior of the city and having spacious facilities These hot springs receive many visitors daily, both locals and tourists. The hot springs are open from Monday to Sunday from 4:00 AM to 5:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Admission costs $3 during the day and $4 at night. Although it is not very pretty a priori, it is great and is the perfect finish for a day of adventure.
Another spa that worth trying is the one in El Salado located a little more towards the outskirts. Admission to this spa costs $4 and has pools at different temperatures. They say that the water from this place has healing properties for circulation and muscle problems.
If what you are looking for is a more "premium" experience in more intimate and less crowded hot springs you can go to El Refugio Spa which has views of the Pastaza River. Admission to the pools costs $13 and they also offer a long list of treatments.
Try typical food
With what we like to eat, we couldn't close an article about what to do in Baños without talking a little about food. Being a place with a lot of foreign and national tourism, in Baños you will find food for all tastes.
We can recommend the market stalls, its central market eIt's big and with a lot of variety of positions with posters of all the dishes they sell for both breakfast and lunch.
Don't forget to try the green bolón with a glass of chocolate for breakfast and llampinganchos and fried suckling pig to eat accompanied by a good juice.
Throughout the main street you will also find local restaurants at very good prices (about $3 for the menu) and at night nightlife. In the center, very close to the market, a group of acquaintances who were there decided to try a very traditional dish from Peru, which is also traditional in the Andean area of Ecuador, the roasted cuy. A guinea pig cooked “lechón” style that leaves it with a very crispy skin. It cost us $6 per serving accompanied by potatoes and soup as a starter.
Speaking of food, I can't not mention Aromi Café & Chocolate Gourmet, we ended up there looking for a good wifi and we had the best hot chocolate we have ever tastedThey also sell chocolate tablets.carAnd chocolate desserts. But without a doubt, the best thing is their flavored hot chocolates, although they're a bit out of a backpacker's budget... we went back another afternoon, that says it all!
How to book activities in Baños
Baños de Santa Ana lives off the people who go there to do these activities, so booking them is very simple and fast. In general, you can reserve everything the day before or even that day.
My recommendation is that once there ask at different agencies (although they all offer more or less the same) and once you decide, whether based on the best price you get or the one that gives you the best feeling, book everything with them so you don't have to worry, you can also ask for a discount for taking a « pack».
If you are not sure about something, you can always confirm it later or the next day via WhatsApp.
How to get to Baños de Agua Santa
Baños de Agua Santa is a very famous tourist destination in Ecuador so It is very well connected by public transport with the main cities of the country.
How to go to Baños de Agua Santa from Quito
From Quitumbe Land Terminal, south of Quito, you can find several companies that have routes to Baños, several buses leave every hour. The tour is approximately 3 and a half hours and the price is around $5I recommend asking for companies that have direct buses so that there are not so many stops and the duration of the trip does not increase. If you prefer to have the ticket in advance you can also buy it online.
Go to Baños de Agua Santa from Cuenca
There is no bus company that has a route from Cuenca to Baños, but there is to the nearby city of Ambato. From the land terminal (north) of Ambato several companies leave for Baños and the ticket price is approximately $1.
The total duration of the journey will depend on the stops the bus makes and if you manage to change companies in Ambato quickly, but it takes about 8 hours.
Getting to Baños de Agua Santa from Guayaquil
There are several companies that cover the direct route from Guayaquil to Baños such as the Baños transport cooperative. If the schedule doesn't work for you Another good option is to travel to Ambato and from there take another bus to Baños. The price of the direct ticket is about $12 and the duration is around 9 hours, which can be extended if you have to stop in Ambato.
Where to stay in Baños de Agua Santa
backpacking trip: The Transylvania Hostel It is a simple but clean accommodation located in the heart of the city. It has rooms with private bathrooms and has a common area with a billiards.
Good quality price: The White Mill House It is a centrally located hotel that offers spacious rooms and breakfast included. It also stands out for its cleanliness and the friendliness of the staff.
Special trip: The Hostel & Spa Casa Real It has beautiful views of the waterfall, includes a very good breakfast, the suite has a hydromassage and the staff stands out for being very attentive.
I hope this article about what to do in Baños has been useful to you. If you have any additional questions about this place, leave us a comment and we will try to help you. If you want to know what our days in Baños were like, you can see our featured stories on instagram
