Baños, Ecuador
4 AMAZING THINGS TO DO ON A BUDGET
The small town of Baños in Ecuador is perfect for travellers looking for unforgettable experiences like the Swin at the end of the world, cycling to the Amazon, waterfall hopping and more importantly enjoying affordable adventure sports.
Baños de Agua Santa – more commonly called Baños – is situated about 4 hours south of Quito, at the entrance of the Amazon. It is a little town at the feet of the Ecuadorian highlands where volcanic activity and waters meet for the joy of thermal baths lovers, extreme sports enthusiasts and let’s put it this way, once in a lifetime experiences.
Baños is surrounded by fertile valleys flush with torrents, waterfalls and hot water springs. No wonder the name Baños de Santa Agua means “Holy water bath” in English. Here are our 4 favourite activities to do in Baños on a budget.
BAÑOS, ECUADOR
4 AMAZING EXPERIENCES ON A BUDGET
Where to stay in Baños in Ecuador?
There are many places to stay in Baños whether you are looking for a budget backpacker, a bed-and-breakfast or a luxury stay in a resort. Here is our selection:
The Papachos hostel – $
This is where we stayed. It is a quiet hostel with a good atmosphere a nice terrace with a view over the town and relatively close to the main square. We found the price honest ($7) for comfy beds in a 4-bed dorm with lights and plugs, a big enough kitchen and the breakfast included.
Selina – $
This is a hostel chain that you can mainly find in Central America. They usually offer high standards with good dorms but also private rooms for a group of friends and couples. This hostel just opened and we definitely wish it had been there when we visited Baños. Check availability and reviews.
Hostal Timara – $$
This is probably the best value for couples looking for a double bedroom in a quiet and cosy auberge. Hostal Timara is clean, close to the centre and the staff very helpful. Check availability and reviews.
Finca Chamanapamba – $$$
Situated 4km from the centre of Baños, you will find yourself surrounded by nature and peace. The Finca was built in a lush forest and was perfectly integrated with bungalows that look like treehouses made of Bamboo. Check availability and reviews.
How to get to Baños de Agua Santa
Note: In Ecuador, for long distance buses, count $1 to $2 per hour of travel.
From Quito
Buses to Baños from Quito’s bus terminal Quitumbe are frequent throughout the day. A direct journey will take about 4 hours and will cost $4.
From Cuenca/Guayaquil
You can take a direct bus from either the main terminal bus in Cuenca or Guayaquil. It should take around 5 hours for the first one and up to 7 hours for the second and cost about $10.
From Latacunga
If you come from Quilotoa, you won’t find a direct way to Baños from the main terminal of Latacunga. To get to Baños you can take a bus to Ambato and change to Baños. This change will require taking a taxi between two different terminals though.
You can also make your way to “La Lateral”, the highway linking Quito to Ambato and passing near Latacunga. From there, you can flag a bus heading to Baños. A taxi may be required to get to La Lateral bus stop.
If you are coming from Cotopaxi National Park, go to the main highway and flag a bus heading south to Baños.
Planning a trip to Ecuador? Read our dedicated backpacking guides to prepare your itinerary.
- Isla de la Plata Ecuador – bird and whale watching tour
- 5 budget-friendly day trips from Quito
- Cotopaxi National Park: hiking to the volcano refuge without a tour
- Quilotoa Loop: 3-day hike vs day trip to the crater lake
- Ecuador beaches: 5 amazing towns along the coast
1. Swing at the end of the world: La Casa del Arbol
Most of you may have already seen the picture where it seems that people are swinging super high in the sky with the volcano Tungurahua throwing ashes in the background… Well, this picture was taken at the Casa del Arbol, 30 mins from Baños by bus. We went there for Jenny’s birthday and it was an excellent way to have a little bit of a thrill and a lot of fun to celebrate the day.
At the Casa del Arbol, there are 3 swings and a small
The swings were self-guided when we visited and there weren’t a lot of people. However, depending on the season, the day of the week and the time you get there, you might need to queue and won’t be able to swing as much as you want. We would recommend visiting in the morning and in the middle of the week. In the afternoon or during the weekend, locals kids and local tourists rush to the swings.
Other than swinging at the “end of the world”, a good reason to get to the Casa del Arbol is for the views. If you are lucky enough and visit on a sunny day, you may be able to see the Volcano Tungurahua which, if active, will throw smoke in the sky. Freaky but amazing…
The other Casa del Arbol
There are a couple of places claiming to be the “original” Casa del Arbol. The one with the view of the volcano Tungurahua is the one to your right (after exiting from the bus) and is accessible after walking up a 3 to 4 min shadded trail.
How to get to the Casa del Arbol in Baños
| By Bus
You can take a local bus from the company “Luna Sanchez” at the corner of “Pastaza” and “Luis A. Martinez”. The bus runs every day of the week but sometimes could be delayed if the driver struggles to start the bus. – Cost one way: $1/pp
Departure times: 5:45 am – 11:00 am – 01:00 pm – 02:45 pm – 04:00 pm
Return times: 08:00 am – 01:00 pm – 03:00 pm – 04:00 pm – 06:00 pm
| Join a tour
When you arrive in Baños, you will find a few adventure stores on the main road and can ask about their tours to the Casa del Arbol – However, it is so simple to go there on your own that we don’t think it is necessary.
| Hike from Baños
If you are up for a steep walk up the mountain, you can hike to the Casa del Arbol. It takes about 3 hours if you don’t get lost and have good shoes. If you visit during the rainy season, think about it twice as the trail may be very muddy. There are a few trails around Baños, so it is best to ask your way at your hostel.
| Hitch-hike
If the timetable of the bus isn’t working for you and if you don’t want to walk, try to hitch-hike. There aren’t many cars driving up the road but you may be lucky and get a ride. Remember that tipping a couple of $ for a ride is a common thing in Ecuador.
Cost: the Swing at the end of the world: $3 per person
2. Cycle the road of the 7 waterfalls
La Ruta de las Cascadas is a paved road along the Rio Pastaza and brings you past a few waterfalls that burst out of the surrounding mountains. Most cycle the first 20 kilometres to go waterfall hopping, hence the name of the road! Some prefer taking the bus to the main waterfall, the Pailón del Diablo, or joining a tour to go ziplining and bungee jumping above the river.
Cycling is a fun way to visit the area, and the good thing is that it is accessible to anyone. No need to be super fit as the road mainly goes down and you will have no need to cycle all the way back up. In fact, after arriving at Pailon del Diablo, you can get a shuttle back to town for $2. These are local trucks that wait for you and have enough space for 6 bikes/persons at the time.
To cycle, you can rent the bike from any adventure shop in town for $5 to $10, depending on the quality of the bike.
A few waterfalls can be seen directly from the road, others require you to enter a park or private property and pay a small fee. Pailon Del Diablo entrance is $1.50 and is really worth your time. The waterfall is really big and there are steps leading you right behind it. (You will need to crawl at one point and will more than likely be soaked, but it’s good fun).
NOTE ON THE SECURITY
The road is mostly shared with the traffic – and some dogs who love chasing cyclists (!). There are a few tunnels prohibited to cyclists. In these cases, side-roads have been specifically made for bikes. They are the best parts of the cycle because you can stop without any danger and admire the gorgeous views of the valley peacefully.
Cycling to puyo
Eventually, the Ruta de las Cascadas, heads to Puyo, a slightly bigger town than Baños, right at the entrance of the Ecuadorian Amazon. If you plan on doing this cycle, leave early in the morning as you will have to travel 60 km on downhill roads, from the altitude of 1820 m to 950 m. Once is Puyo, you should be able to get back on the bus with your bike from the main terminal. Talk with your bike rental company to let them know about your plan. You can also join a full-day tour of the Amazon Rainforest in Puyo.
Note: the road is shared with buses and cars which can be a little bit dangerous when you know how crazy people drive in this part of the world.
Cost: cycle the Ruta de las Cascada: $8 to $10 per person
3. Visit a Monkey Refuge in the Amazon
As mentioned above, Puyo is the entrance to the Ecuadorian Amazon. From here, you can take tours and visit remote villages in the jungle. Not having much time, and since we had already spent a few days near Rurrenabaque in Bolivia, we decided to check out Puyo only for an afternoon, and visit a monkey rescue centre.
The Paseo de Los
Our time there was unfortunately short as a huge storm came in, with lashing rain and loud thunder scaring both us and the monkeys!
Getting to the Paseo de Los Monos
Getting to the rescue centre isn’t a problem. You will need to take a bus to Puyo and then hop in a taxi to the rescue centre. The return is a bit more complicated as you will be in the middle of nowhere with no traffic. We were lucky and hitched a ride from a local passing by. If you can’t find a car to drop you off at the bus terminal, you may need to call for a taxi.
Bus from Baños to Puyo – one-way: $2.50 pp
Taxi from Puyo to Rescue Centre: $4
Entrance fee: $3 per person
Website: http://www.losmonos.org – They also organise tours in the jungle, offer volunteering opportunities and take donations.
Cost: the Paseo de Los Monos: $12-$15 per person
4. Relax in a local thermal bath by day or night
While visiting Baños, you cannot miss the thermal swimming pools. There are a few public baths around the town where you get to chill in different pools and temperatures with locals.
Which Baths Are The Best?
El Salado: this thermal pool is situated outside of town but can be reached by a short walk, bike ride or taxi. It is a quiet place with a few basins and with very hot and very cold water. Our favourite part was the possibility to sit down in the nearby river and let the flowing pressure offer a free back massage (the river water is naturally warm). We recommend visiting El Salado thermal pools before 4 pm as it quickly turns into an after school meeting spot for the local kids.
Termas de Santa Ana: is the most famous thermals in Baños as it is located right in the middle of town at the bottom of the stunning waterfall “Cascada de la Virgen”. Here, the baths are a bit more crowded but the location is ideal to visit in the evening as the sun sets and the stars show up while you chill in hot water.
WILDLIFE IN ECUADOR: Isla de la Plata, blue-footed boobies & whales
Luna Volcan: Thermal activity also means spa and luxury. One of the best places to experience such a treat is the Luna Volcan Adventure Spa in the hilltops of Baños where the view of the town is absolutely gorgeous. If you are on a budget and can’t afford a night stay, you can still visit during the day as the pools, jacuzzi and spa are open to the public until 9:30 pm. Prices start at $17.
Things to know before going to the Thermal baths
The entrance fees for the public pools El Salando & Santa Ana are $3 per person. Wearing a swimming hat is compulsory. You can rent one for $0.50 or buy one for $1.
A few pools are really really hot, so make sure to check the water before jumping in! Also, it is advised to not stay more than 15 minutes straight in the hot water pools and that you should alternate with cold showers.
Cost: a relaxing time at the thermal baths: $4 per person
5. The other things to do in Baños
There are plenty more experiences in Baños. Most are related to adventure sports and an adrenaline rush. If you can spare around $30 per activity, go ahead, Baños has got what you are looking for: River-rafting, Kayaking, Canyoning, Bungee Jumping, Zip-lining, Rock-Climbing, Paragliding, Quad tours, etc.
Most activities take half a day and can be combined with extreme sports packages offered by the many tour agencies in town. We would recommend booking directly in town, but you can still have a look at some tours for more info and just in case you prefer organising your trip in advance.
NEXT: Hiking Cotopaxi Volcano without a tour
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen – Owner, writer & photographer – has lived for the past 10 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling long-term in Latin America, North America and Europe. She has visited more than 60 countries and set foot on every continent in the world!
>> Favourite countries: New Zealand, Bolivia, Iceland.
>> Wishlist: Svalbard, Japan, Botswana, Alaska.
>> Philosophy: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Jen is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife and outdoor activities. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. For more info, check out the About page.
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