La Casa del Arbol, also known as The Swing At The End Of The World is one of the most iconic attractions to visit in Baños, Ecuador.
It’s cheap, it’s fun and it offers some of the best views around.
Located on a mountain next to an active volcano, this beautiful swing is a MUST for anyone traveling to Baños.
Here is our guide covering all you need to know for visiting The Swing At The End Of The World in Baños, Ecuador:
- What Is The Swing At The End Of The World
- How To Get To The Swing At The End Of The World
- How Much Is The Entrance
- Best Time To Go
- Time Needed
- What To Do Nearby
What Is The Swing At The End Of The World
The Swing At The End Of The World (or La Casa del Arbol) is a charming swing located on top of a mountain alongside the Tungurahua volcano.
This swing was originally set up by a local in charge of monitoring the seismic activity of the Tungurahua volcano for potential eruptions. He set up this swing for himself to enjoy but soon it became extremely popular for its picturesque location.
This swing is very famous and recognizable because it hangs down a lush tree with a beautiful wooden treehouse next to it.
La Casa Del Arbol earned its nickname as The Swing At The End Of The World because from the right angle it looks like you’re swinging into nowhere with a giant drop off beneath you.
In reality, the swing is not that extreme and only has a slightly steep hill beneath it. Even if you are a person who is terrified of heights (like me), you really have nothing to worry about.
While originally this swing was just a couple of ropes connected with a wooden seat hanging from a tree, over the years many safety additions have been added to make this swing super safe.
The swing now has safety cables and a lock-in seat so you can’t fall out no matter how high you swing. A cement platform has also been added underneath to help you get a running head start if you wish to swing higher up.
Although The Swing At The End Of The World is super safe now, these new additions make it look more modern and take away from its original rustic look.
After The Swing At The End Of The World became popular, many other swings were built in this area like Columpio Fantasias De Volar and The Flight of the Condor that are more thrilling with scarier drop-offs but are not as picturesque.
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How To Get To The Swing At The End Of The World
The closest town to La Casa del Arbol is Baños. This swing is located about a 30-45 minute drive from Baños on top of a mountain.
There are a few ways how to get to The Swing At The End Of The World from Baños which we’ll cover next.
Drive There
We had our own personal car while traveling through Ecuador so we drove to La Casa del Arbol ourselves.
To get there from Baños you can take E30/Via a Baños and make a right on Via a Runtún. It’s about a 30-minute drive from downtown Baños.
There are a couple of designated parking lots where you can park your car for $1 USD and walk up to the swing from there. The swing is located just a 5 minute walk uphill from the parking lot but this walk is a bit steep and slippery so make sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Take A Public Bus
Since the Swing At The End Of The World is one of the biggest attractions in the area, there are public buses going up there throughout the day.
The public buses depart at 5:45 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:15 pm and 4:00 pm from the Bus Hacia la Casa del Arbol bus station in downtown Baños.
This bus station is located on the Pastaza Street across from Panaderia La Delicia Don Gato bakery. It costs $1 USD to take the bus up to the swing and $1 to take the bus down.
The return buses coming back from the swing down to Baños depart at 8:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
Take A Private Tour Or A Cab
If you want to avoid the crowds that come with public transportation, you can always arrange a cab or a private tour with one of the local tour companies in Baños.
You can find a ton of local tour companies and shop for cheapest prices by walking around downtown Baños especially around Ambato street.
One of the most popular tour companies in Baños is IVAGATOURS but a tour to The Swing At The End Of The World with this company costs $25 compared to the couple bucks that the public bus costs.
Hike There
If you’re up for a challenge, you can also hike to the Swing At The End Of The World from Baños.
Although we personally didn’t do this, there is a trail leading up to La Casa Del Arbol from Baños that takes about 3 hours to hike (one way).
For the detailed trail map, I recommend downloading Maps.me app that you can use during your hike so you don’t get lost.
But note that you will be going straight uphill the whole time gaining quite a bit of elevation so this hike is no joke. If you plan to hike there make sure to bring along plenty of water, snacks, jacket if it starts raining, headlamp in case it gets dark and wear slip-resistant hiking shoes.
If you run out of time to hike back down, you can always try to catch the public bus from the swing back to Baños.
How Much Is The Entrance
Baños is one of the cheapest cities in all of South America, especially for outdoor attractions.
Entrance to La Casa del Arbol costs only $1 per person and this swing is open every day.
With this entrance fee, you get access to the beautiful Swing At The End Of The World, enjoy the beautiful gardens and panoramic views surrounding this swing and hop on a mini zip line.
La Casa del Arbol also has a few newer swings that are equally fun but not as “attractive” as the original swing hanging from the tree.
Although we didn’t eat there, a lot of people also rave about the food and drinks at the restaurant by the La Casa Del Arbol swing.
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Best Time To Go
If you plan to visit The Swing At The End Of The World, the best time to go is on a clear sunny day. This swing is located high up on a mountain so if you go on an overcast or cloudy day, you might not be able to see the Tungurahua volcano in the background.
If you plan to take any photos or just don’t want to deal with the crowds, try to go as early as possible before tour buses start arriving. Unfortunately, unless you have a personal car, this might be a bit challenging.
We came here at around 9 am and it was already starting to get crowded. We waited around hoping the crowds would clear up to take some pictures but it just kept getting worse and worse.
After waiting in line for a while to hop on the Swing At The End Of The World, I finally got my turn but I was able to swing only a couple of times before my turn was over.
Depending on the weather, it can also get pretty chilly on top of this mountain. Baños is located in a region with tropical weather which can be a bit unpredictable. We got really lucky with the weather on our visit, but make sure to bring a jacket in case it gets windy or starts raining.
Time Needed
To visit The Swing At The End Of The World you should set aside at least a couple of hours.
It takes about 30-45 minutes to drive up to La Casa del Arbol plus time to wait in line for your turn, to take photos, get some drinks or snacks and 30-45 minutes to bet back to Baños.
What To Do Nearby
If you have extra time and you enjoy thrilling adventures, after visiting The Swing At The End Of The World make sure to check out the Torre Al Cielo swing that’s right next door to it.
The Torre Al Cielo swing is quite extreme and here a guide will push you out into a steep drop off on a swing that turns upside down in 360 degrees. It costs $3 to use this swing but if that sounds too crazy, Torre Al Cielo also has a smaller swing that visitors can use for $1 per person.
For more Baños travel inspiration check out our guide that covers 10 Fun Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador.
Looking for other exciting things to see and do in South America? Here are a few of our other blog posts covering awesome places to visit in South America:
- 15 Of The Best Cities To Visit In South America
- 15 Incredible Things To See And Do In Colombia
- 10 Best Things To See And Do In Cuenca, Ecuador
- 10 Incredible Things To Do In Peru That You Shouldn’t Miss
- The Complete Travel Guide To Visiting Machu Picchu
Interested in how I capture photos on my trips? Here is my suggested camera gear that I use to create my images:
- Main camera: Sony a7II Camera With 28-70 mm Standard Lens
- Polarizer Filter for the standard lens (helps eliminate reflection and enhance color especially on super bright days): Amazon Basics 55 mm
- Wide Lens (great for nature shots): Sony 16-35 mm F4
- Polarizer Filter for the wide lens: Amazon Basics 72 mm
- Small Tripod (to stabilize photos and eliminate blur): JOBY Gorrilapod
- Memory Cards: SanDisk 32 GB
- Batteries: Wasabi Power battery charger and extra battery pack
- Camera Bag: Lowepro weather-resistant bag
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This looks beautiful and it would be an amazing experience! I would probably have to hype myself up to actually do it but it would be a great experience ♡
It’s such a beautiful and special place! It’s really not as scary as it seems – plus the swings are super safe now : )
Laura