Ecuador is often one of the most overlooked South America countries for travelers. During our 15-month Pan-American Highway road trip, we thought we would zoom through Ecuador but during our time in
Baños is the perfect little town to visit for budget-friendly outdoor activities like hiking, zip-lining,
With most activities costing very little, it’s well worth spending a few days in Baños enjoying all it has to offer.
Here’s my travel guide covering the 12 best things to do in Baños, Ecuador on your visit!
Table Of Contents:
- Best Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador:
- 1. Hike To Pailon Del Diablo Waterfall
- 2. Go On a Swing At La Casa del Arbol
- 3. Go Canyoning
- 4. Experience White Water Rafting
- 5. Relax At Luna Volcán Adventure Spa
- 6. Rent a Bike
- 7. Soak At a Thermal Hot Springs
- 8. Zip Line Over Agoyán Waterfalls
- 9. Take a Cable Car To a Waterfall
- 10. Visit The Main Plaza
- 11. Try a Local Meal
- 12. Try Locally Made Taffy
Best Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador:
1. Hike To Pailon Del Diablo Waterfall
Cascada El Pailón del Diablo is hands down one of the most remarkable waterfalls I have ever visited.
For only a $2 entrance fee visitors can hike to a few overlooks of the soaring Pailon Del Diablo waterfall rushing down a black basalt cliff in a lush jungle setting – quite the view!
The park has two entrances, operated by different companies and leading to different vantage points.
Both entrance points are located near each other so you can try to visit both on the same trip. Our favorite was the Isla Del Pailon entrance as it provides a viewpoint of the narrow stairs from the other side of the waterfall.
From this entrance, you can walk to a close overlook of the waterfall. On a sunny day, you might even spot the most perfect rainbow shining through the waterfall mist!
To get to the viewpoint you will need to walk across a suspension bridge over the river Pastaza below. The entire walk to the viewpoint takes around 20 minutes with incredible views along the way.
During the weekends Baños town gets packed with local visitors getting their fix for the outdoors. As a tip, try to go to Pailon Del Diablo waterfall before 11 am before it’s too crowded.
Don’t have a car to get there? To visit the waterfall I recommend booking this Pailon of Diablo and Tree House Tour that provides transportation and an experienced guide!
2. Go On a Swing At La Casa del Arbol
Baños is home to some of the biggest swings in the world. Although it might sound like child’s play, there is nothing more entertaining than hearing adults scream and laugh like kids while swinging into the
Even if getting on the swing itself doesn’t sound like a thing you’d want to try, I highly recommend stopping by one. These swings are strategically located in areas with some of the best viewpoints overlooking Baños City below.
La Casa Del Arbol (also called The Swing At The End Of The World), is the original location in Baños that started the ‘swing trend’ in this city. It remains one of the most popular (and cheapest) swings with a $1 entrance fee.
Although a few new additions have been made to this swing over the years to make it more modern, it remains the most scenic of the swings in this area. On a clear day, you might have a full view of the Tungurahua volcano in the background!
La Casa Del Arbol is a lovely place to visit but if you come in the afternoon, you’ll be battling the endless tourist crowds getting bussed up from Baños.
We thought that by showing up at 9 am we were getting there early but we arrived at the same time as the first tour bus and had to wait in a long line for the swing. I highly recommend getting there around 8 am (or before) to enjoy it all to yourself in a more peaceful setting.
Read Next: Visiting The Swing At The End Of The World In Baños
A few other popular swings to visit in Baños include:
Torre Al Cielo
Located right behind La Casa Del Arbo, Torre Al Cielo – Columpio 360 was the craziest and the most adventurous swing that we visited in Baños.
Set up like a theme park ride that rotates up and down in 360 degrees this type of thrilling swing costs $3. If that looks too scary, a more simple swing is also available for $1 at this location.
Columpio Fantasias De Volar
If you’re looking for an adventurous swing that is built for speed and distance, Columpio Fantasias De Volar is one of the best choices around Baños.
This thrilling swing goes far out over a steep hill overlooking Baños with a couple of thousand feet of air below. But not to worry – the swings come with helmets and straps to ensure safety while swinging into the open
Because Columpio Fantasi De Volar swings are a bit more technical, they cost $10 per person and offer a choice of two seats or a single seat.
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3. Go Canyoning
If you’re looking for something more thrilling to do, Baños de Agua Santa is one of the top places in Ecuador to go canyoning.
On this Extreme Banos Canyoning Tour, you’ll get to experience a fun day full of exciting adventures in a small group setting.
A guided canyoning tour lets you take in the stunning scenery of Baños while enjoying thrilling activities such as swimming, jumping, diving, and zip lining.
Book Baños Canyoning Tour Here!
4. Experience White Water Rafting
White water rafting is another amazing outdoor activity that you can do in Baños, Ecuador.
During this White Water Rafting Tour In Baños, you’ll be taking on Class III and IV rapids for a memorable day on the river.
This whole experience is a great activity for the entire family! The guides are very friendly and are there to ensure everyone has a safe and fun time. This tour also includes transportation, lunch, and photos for memories.
Book Baños White Water Rafting Tour Here!
5. Relax At Luna Volcán Adventure Spa
If you’re feeling like treating yourself, head over to Luna Volcán Adventure Spa. Here you can spend the day enjoying brunch at a hilltop restaurant overlooking Baños followed by a relaxing swim in their infinity pool and hot tubs.
Luna Volcán Adventure Spa is a luxurious 4-star hotel and one of the nicest places to stay in Banos.
If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can visit the hotel and relax in the outdoor pool with a fee of $20 for daytime access. For guests staying at the hotel, access to the pools and spa is complimentary.
Check Luna Volcán, Adventure SPA rates here!
6. Rent a Bike
For those who enjoy biking, you can rent a bike in Baños de Agua Santa for around $10 a day.
When the weather is perfect, many people use bike rentals to navigate around Baños town.
For a scenic route head down Highway E30 in the East direction where you’ll pass lots of waterfalls along the way.
There is no shortage of waterfalls in Baños. It’s said to have around 60 in the area!
Book your Baños bike rental here!
Guided tours offering more challenging biking routes are also available from Baños. Bike tours cost around $25 for a normal bike and up to $50 for a full-suspension bike.
The guided tour will take you on a longer excursion up to a few viewpoints before heading downhill on a thrilling ride.
7. Soak At a Thermal Hot Springs
While visiting Baños, stopping by one of the hot pools in the downtown area is a must. After all the town of Banos is named after the thermal waters found in the area!
The mineral springs in Baños
Termas De La Virgen
Termas de la Virgen Spa offers daytime and nighttime access. We chose to visit during night time at 6 pm after the daytime pools are cleaned and the water is replaced. The cost for the nighttime access is $3 versus the $2 for a daytime pass.
8. Zip Line Over Agoyán Waterfalls
The outskirts of Baños is the best place to go for adventure parks and cheap thrills. At $15 per
For the best experience, head over to Canopi Banos Adventure Park which offers zip lines and cable cars passing over Agoyán waterfall. If you love something adventurous mixed with incredible views, this is the place to go!
This adventure park is located around 4 miles out of Banos town along Highway E30. Keep an eye out for a big sign that says Discovery Baños and the zip-lining park will be across the road on the right-hand side.
9. Take a Cable Car To a Waterfall
After zip-lining over Agoyán waterfall, we kept driving down Highway E30 to check out a few other waterfalls along this road.
There are a lot of fun cable cars operating along this route. We stopped and hopped on a small cable car heading towards Cascada Manto De La Novia waterfall.
It was a bit of a jerky ride with the cable car coming to sudden stops but the vista of the waterfall from the ride was incredible! The cable car stops just past the waterfall with an option to get out and eat at a local restaurant on the other side.
10. Visit The Main Plaza
In most South American countries, the city plaza is the main place of gathering and trade. If you happen to be in Baños on a weekend, the Baños plaza hosts a local market selling souvenirs and cheap local foods.
The center attraction of the Baños Plaza is the majestic Nuestra Senora Del Rosario De Agua Santa Church. With a backdrop made of scenic green mountains, this towering church can be spotted from just about anywhere in town.
For Ecuador locals, the town of Baños is believed to be a place of holy water and healing powers. The inside of this church has large murals depicting miraculous events from Baños town’s past. It’s a beautiful place to stop for a bit and learn more about Baño’s origins and history.
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11. Try a Local Meal
One of the best things about Baños is how cheap everything is, including the food.
The typical Ecuadorian meal consists of a choice of meat (usually chicken, pork, or steak) accompanied by soup, rice, lentils, salad, and a drink. At one of the local restaurants, you can get an entire meal like this for around $3.
For the best meal spots, head down Ambato Street and look for places advertising ‘Menu Tipico’ – an Ecuador specialty meal.
You can also try ‘Volquetero’ where the main ingredients consist of plantain chips, beans, corn, and tuna with a side of sauce. So yummy!
12. Try Locally Made Taffy
As you make your way around Baños downtown, you’ll notice many candy shops located along the main street. At these candy shops, you can often spot locals making taffy in the open doorways.
As it turns out, Baños is known for its homemade taffy made of cane sugar. This candy is often enhanced with colors and delicious flavors like
Local taffy is a great souvenir to bring home (or if you are like me), enjoy all of it on the spot!
If you are planning a trip to Ecuador, Baños is a town you should have on top of your list! It’s cheap, it’s fun and it’s just plain beautiful.
I loved this little adventure town so much and I hope you do too. If you have any questions about Baños, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below!
Looking for a place to stay in Baños? I highly recommend these accommodations:
- Selina Baños – a modern upscale hostel with a rooftop bar and restaurant in the center of the town. Hands down the nicest hostel in Banos with a beautifully decorated lobby, rooms, and hang-out spaces.
- La Floresta Hotel – a relaxing hotel & hostel in a quiet neighborhood of Banos with charming rooms and a beautiful garden. Make sure to book it early – it’s known to sell out quickly!
- Hostal Balcon Del Cielo – one of the best hotels & hostels in Banos with incredible views overlooking volcanoes and rivers running through the valley below.
Traveling to Colombia after Ecuador? Check out these posts next on incredible places to visit in Colombia:
- 15 Top Things To See And Do In Colombia
- Hiking El Cocuy National Park In Colombia
- 10 Amazing Things To Do In Salento And Valle De Cocora
- 15 Best Things To Do In Cartagena, Colombia
- Visiting Los Estoraques Unique Natural Area In Colombia
- Visiting Termales Santa Rosa De Cabal In Colombia
This post is written by Laura Sausina. Hi, I’m the founder of the Fun Life Crisis travel blog and I’ve been traveling the world for the past 7 years. Here I share my experiences and tips to help 100,000 people a month turn their travel dreams into reality! Read more about me here.
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