Is Baños, Ecuador, Worth Visiting? YES, and Here’s Why!
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IS BAÑOS, ECUADOR, WORTH VISITING?
If you’re considering a trip to Baños, Ecuador, but are unsure if it’s worth visiting, I’ll make it easy. GO! Baños was one of my favorite destinations in Ecuador for more reasons than one. No matter what type of traveler you are, there are plenty of activities to indulge in while you’re there. Let’s get into it now.
Why Baños, Ecuador, Is Worth Visiting: An Overview
Baños, Ecuador, also known as the Adventure Capital of the world, is a magical place. It’s a quaint town tucked away between the Ecuadorian mountains with great food, activities, culture, and people. It’s also centrally located, making it an easy destination to travel to from any part of the country. Here’s an overview of why it’s worth visiting:
Why Baños, Ecuador, Is Worth Visiting
I think anybody could enjoy visiting Baños because there are things to do for every type of traveler. If you like adventure sports, beautiful nature, or relaxing on vacation, this destination should be on your Ecuador itinerary. In this blog post, I’ll go over why it’s worth visiting and some of the activities you can enjoy there.
Are You Prepared For Your Trip?
Activities For Every Type of Traveler
Even though Baños is known as the Adventure Capital of the world, those who aren’t into adventure sports can still have an enjoyable experience in Baños. There truly are activities for every type of traveler, whether paragliding, relaxing in a natural hot spring, enjoying the town, or hiking one of the trails. Continue reading to learn why you should add this stop to your Ecuador trip!
Activities for Adventure Lovers
Baños, Ecuador is known for its adventure sports, and being an adrenaline junkie myself, it definitely lived up to the hype. Not only can you find a plethora of adventure sports, but they’re all decently priced, too! Here are some of the popular adventure sports in Baños that we did on our 2024 trip:
San Francisco Bridge Jump
If you’re interested in bungee jumping, Baños has a bridge jump, which is somewhat similar but also very different. Instead of jumping down into a canyon where a bungee cord will thrust you back up, the bridge jump consists of jumping outwards with a rope to complete a semi-circle and essentially swing underneath the San Francisco bridge.
This experience was pretty intense because you had to stand on a sketchy platform before jumping outwards, but it was the adrenaline rush of a lifetime! The bridge is almost 115 feet high, so jumping out into the canyon was scary, but it was a rush I won’t forget! We booked our jump through Imagine Ecuador, but if you’d rather book it in advance, you can book through Explorjungle Tours on Viator.
White Water Rafting the Pastaza River
Another fun and adventurous activity in Baños is rafting the Pastaza River. It was my first rafting experience, and I’m honestly glad I waited until Baños. It was magical rafting through the canyons, and the experience was truly immersive. When we hopped off at a beach, what felt like hundreds of butterflies surrounded us, making the experience even more magical.
We took a tour that included transportation, lunch, and a guide who taught us the ropes before we went. In addition, the company we went with included photos and videos for free – they had someone on a kayak following and taking pictures/videos the entire time! You can book a similar tour on GetYourGuide here!
Canopying Through Canyons
If you enjoy things like ziplining and via Ferratas, canopying is the experience for you. You’ll first zipline through a canyon, walk across a hanging bridge, and then climb the mountain on metal steps using carabiners before ziplining back across the canyon. I’m an adrenaline junkie, but my heart was pounding on the via Ferrata! We booked through Wonderful Ecuador, but you can get a better price by booking through GetYourGuide.
Canyoning on Waterfalls
While Dylan and I didn’t canyoneer during our time in Baños, we know many people who did and had a great time! You’ll begin your journey at the top of a waterfall and rappel your way down. Book your half-day tour of Viator here!
Paragliding Through the Mountains
Dylan and I wanted to paraglide through the Ecuadorian mountains, but we had to pick and choose our adventure sports since we were budget-traveling. However, two of our close friends went and had an absolute blast. You can book your tour in town, but Viator also offers booking options.
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A Perfect Place for Relaxation
If you’re not the adventure sports type, don’t worry. There’s more to do in Baños than jump off a bridge or scale a waterfall. If you’d rather relax, Baños has a few different options. Let’s go over them now!
Visit Natural Thermal Springs
Baños has many natural thermal springs with relaxing, medicinal, and healing benefits. We visited three public hot springs: Termas de la Virgen, Balneario El Salado, and Termas Santa Ana. All of them cost $4 per person to enter.
I’d skip Termas Santa Ana (the hours are limited anyway) and head to either Termas de la Virgen or Balneario El Salado. Termas de la Virgen is right in town and has a TON of different temperature pools, including the hottest natural hot spring I’ve ever been in. Balneario El Salado is a little out of town, but it’s nice if you want more of a lowkey vibe with fewer tourists.
Get a Massage
When Dylan and I were wandering through town, we were surprised by how many massage parlors there were! People were constantly handing out discount cards, so if you want to relax, this is a great place to get a massage. We booked a fifteen-minute neck and back massage at Termas de La Virgen (for only $5!), and I can confidently say it’s the best I’ve ever gotten. Be aware because they’ll ask if you want to keep going, and it’s difficult to say no!
A Nature Lover’s Paradise
Hands down, if you love nature, you should visit Baños. The locals there told us that they loved living there because the town had all four elements – fire (volcano), water (rivers), earth (mountains), and air. There are a ton of hiking trails to do nearby and many waterfalls to explore. Here are a few great options:
Visit the area’s Waterfalls
Baños de Santa Ana has so many waterfalls around, and there are plenty of ways that you can experience them. If you’re looking to hike, head towards Ulba where you’ll find the Cascadas Sendero to see Chaman, Ulbilla, and El Silencio Waterfalls! We stayed at Mama Tungu hostel, and the hiking trail was almost right outside the gate!
You can also take a day trip to Pailón del Diablo, a 262-foot powerful waterfall only thirty minutes from town. There are two entrances, but we recommend seeing both to get an overview of the waterfall and to walk underneath it.
Lastly, a popular activity is to rent bikes in town and bike the Ruta de las Cascadas (Waterfall Route). We recommend booking through Wonderful Ecuador, as they have the cheapest prices we could find. Go early to beat the hot weather!
Check Out The Miradors!
There are plenty of overlooks (miradors) in Baños to marvel at since the city is surrounded by mountains. For one, you can hike a short distance to a shaded seated area (Cruz de Bellavista) from the hiking trail next to Bosque Encantado. Additionally, you can take a trip to the Swing at the end of the World (Casa del Arbol) and check out the view from there!
One day, we rented bikes, hired a truck to bring us to the top of Casa del Arbol with our bikes, and biked down, stopping at the overlooks on the way down. It’s a fun way to explore the mountainous area of the city. We booked our rentals with Wonderful Ecuador.
Cultural Immersion Galore!
If none of the activities above interest you, the town can still be a cool place to visit, even if you solely want to check out the town and try some local food. Every city in Ecuador is different and has something to offer. Here are some things you can do in town to experience what Baños has to offer:
Try Food at the Local Market
One of my favorite things to do in South America is to visit the local market. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and try some traditional food for a decent price. Some of the more local food we tried in Baños included hornado (a whole roasted pig), bolones (fried plantain dumplings), and fruit juice! You can pick your vendor of choice and enjoy a delicious meal.
Explore The City
In addition to everything else, Baños is an enjoyable city to wander around. One of the most awe-inspiring attractions is the Basilica Reina del Rosario de Agua Santa and the park next to it. You can also walk the streets looking for some local street art. Surprisingly enough, the cemetery is beautiful, as well.
It’s Easily Accessible!
Another reason Baños de Santa Ana is worth visiting is because it’s extremely accessible from the major hubs in Ecuador! You can easily visit Baños from Quito, Cuenca, Guayaquil, or other cities since it sits smack dab in the middle of the country. Let’s go over some of the travel times below:
From Quito
Baños is fairly close to Quito, about 3 hours by car, or 4 hours by public bus. To take a public bus, it costs around $5 per person, and you can simply go to the Terminal Terrestre and book a ticket from there. Otherwise, you can book ahead on Busbud. For more information on getting around Ecuador without a car, check out my next blog post here!
From Cuenca
Traveling from Cuenca will take a bit longer. On average, it takes around 6 hours to arrive on the bus. You’ll most likely need to take two buses to arrive, and you can decide between two routes: transferring in Riobamba or Puyo. If you want to go directly to Baños, I’d recommend the Riobamba route, but if you want a few days in the rainforest, you could always spend a few days in Puyo beforehand!
From Guayaquil
You can take a direct bus from Guayaquil, and the price will depend on which company you go with, though it should fall in the $10-$15 range. It’ll take around 6 hours, and some bus companies going that route include Expreso Baños, Flota Pelileo, and Baños Cooperativo de Transportes and Turismo.
Accommodations For Every Budget
Whether you’re a budget travel, mid-range budget traveler, or luxury traveler, there are great accommodation options in Baños. There’s no need to spend hours looking for accommodations because here are my top picks for each budget range:
Budget Travelers
Dylan and I consider ourselves budget travelers, and we stayed in two different hostels during our time in Baños: Mama Tungu and Erupción Hostel (I got my debit card stolen here). I’d pick Mama Tungu time and time again. It’s a bit farther from town, but the price is very affordable, and they have a restaurant, pool, sauna, hammocks, hiking trails nearby, and other fun entertainment!
Book your Stay at Mama Tungu Here
Mid-Range Budget Travelers
If I were to spend slightly more money on accommodations in Baños, I’d stay at the Hosteria Llanovientos. It rates extremely high on Booking.com and has a beautiful view, a continental breakfast, and fantastic wifi! Travelers also rate it highly for the staff, comfort, and cleanliness.
Book your Stay at Hosteria Llanovientos Here
Luxury Travelers
If you want a luxurious experience, I’d book a room at Luna Volcán, an adventure spa. The site has an infinity pool, spa and wellness center, sauna, hot tub, pool bar, coffee shop, and picnic area. There’s even an on-site restaurant, but in some cases, breakfast AND dinner are included! I wish we could’ve stayed here!
Book your Stay at Luna Volcán Here
FAQs: Is Baños, Ecuador, Worth Visiting?
Now that I’ve gone over why I think Baños is worth visiting, we can discuss some frequently asked questions on the topic!
How many days do you need in Baños, Ecuador?
In my opinion, you should spend at least three days in Baños, especially if you want to do an adventure sport, enjoy the hot springs, and get to know the city. Dylan and I spent two weeks in Baños (we did work, though) and didn’t run out of things to do!
What is Baños, Ecuador, known for?
Baños, Ecuador, is known as the Adventure Capital of the world, although there are plenty of other things to do in the city!
Is it safe to travel to Baños, Ecuador?
Baños, Ecuador, is generally considered a safe place to visit in Ecuador, though you should still be careful and keep your belongings accounted for. I had a debit card stolen from my purse, but as long as you are aware, you should be okay.
Wrapping Up: Is Baños, Ecuador, Worth Visiting?
There you have it – all the reasons I think Baños, Ecuador, is worth visiting. Any traveler could enjoy what Baños has to offer, whether they’re a nature lover, adventure enthusiast, or looking to relax. Baños is also worth visiting because of its prime central location, and there are accommodation options for all. The only question now is, when are you going!?
Happy travels!