Last updated on July 29th, 2024 at 04:35 pm
Baños is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador with options for activities like water rafting, bungee jumping, canyoning and more. However, its full name is Baños de Agua Santa, meaning “Baths of Holy Water ” showcasing its other side as a place to restore from a day of adventure in thermal baths or with a massage. As such you can go to Baños for heart stopping adventures, to relax and rejuvenate, or a mix of both. I headed to Baños for a weekend getaway during my stay in Quito to find my favorite things to do in Baños, and check swinging at the end of the world off of my Ecuador bucket list! In this travel guide, I share with you everything you need to know to plan your own bucket list adventure to Baños, Ecuador!
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Where is Baños, Ecuador?
Baños, Ecuador is located at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano, approximately 112 miles south of Quito. It is surrounded by lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers. Its proximity to the Amazon rainforest also makes it a great place to stay before you venture into the jungle!
While not as quite as high altitude as Quito, the small town of Baños is at approximately 5,900 feet above sea level.
How to Get to Baños from Quito
Baños by Public Bus
Take a taxi or Uber to Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe bus terminal in Quito. When you arrive at the terminal, you’ll see multiple ticket booths selling tickets to Baños. These are all different bus companies, I recommend taking whichever has the next departure time.
Once you buy your ticket, the person will tell you which platform the bus is departing from. Take your receipt to enter the area with the buses.
The ticket costs about $5.
The bus ride is approximately 4 hours.
The bus station in Baños, Terminal Terrestre Baños is in the center of town. From there you can walk to your accommodation or take a taxi.
Remember, when on buses in Ecuador, DO NOT place your belongings in the overhead compartment or underneath your seat. Keep your items on your lap. I heard too many stories about people being robbed on buses because they put their items in these locations.
Anything too large, you can store underneath.
Baños by Ecuador Hop
Ecuador Hop is a private bus company that caters to backpackers. I used a similar service, called Peru Hop, to make my Peru itinerary happen. This functions just the same.
They offer multiple pass options from Quito to places like Baños and Cuenca. There are intermediate stops along the way in places like Quilotoa, Cotopaxi, and Alausí.
The bus picks you up and drops you off at your accommodation and offers tours along the way.
The ticket for Quito to Baños costs $89, and the round trip ticket is $129. Significantly more expensive than the public bus. But if you want something that caters to travelers and helps you easily check off your bucket list, this may be a great option for you!
Baños by Private Transfer
If any sort of bus just isn’t for you, you can hire a private car transfer with Daytrip. They provide door to door service in an air conditioned vehicle and your own driver. You can choose what type of vehicle you’ll get and even add stops at various places to see in Ecuador like Mitad del Mundo to your itinerary!
A few days before your trip, you’ll receive your driver’s information.
This is a great option if you have a lot of luggage or simply want a more comfortable journey to Baños.
It is the most expensive way to get to Baños with a one way transfer costing $159.
Solo Travel Safety Tips for Baños, Ecuador
Baños is a popular tourist destination, as such it is a very safe place to visit. Like most popular tourist destinations in any country, pickpocketing is the most “common” crime. But for the most part, I found Baños to be incredibly safe, even walking alone back to my hostel after a night out at the bars!
As with anywhere you visit, keep these solo travel safety tips top of mind.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: Keep an eye on your belongings and be cautious of pickpockets. Avoid displaying expensive items like cameras or smartphones in public. Remember on buses to keep your belongings with you.
Trust Your Instincts: Listen to your intuition and trust your instincts. If a situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe, remove yourself from it immediately. Avoid isolated areas, particularly after dark.
Choose Safe Accommodation: I’ll share some great places to stay in Baños to help you plan your trip. But when you’re considering where to stay, always check the reviews (especially from other female travelers).
Learn Basic Spanish: While many locals in Baños may speak some English, knowing basic Spanish phrases can be invaluable in communication and navigating daily interactions. It shows respect for the local culture and can help you in emergencies.
Stay Healthy & Hydrated: Don’t forget to fuel your adrenaline junkie self with plenty of water and good food! Also carry essential items like a first aid kit and emergency contact information just in case!
Be Mindful when Drinking: Baños is also well known for its nightlife and I can admit that I had a good time out in Baños. However, avoid excessive drinking which can impair judgment and make you more vulnerable to poor choices.
How Many Days to Spend in Baños, Ecuador
I recommend spending at least 3 days in Baños because there truly is so much to do. In addition to all of the adventure sports you can do in town, you can add a couple of days to your itinerary by booking a guided tour to the Amazon jungle. I seriously regret not going to the Amazon when I was there!
The Best Things to Do in Baños, Ecuador
Try the Sugar Taffy
You’ll see men pulling globs of white stuff against a post – this is taffy! I normally don’t like taffy, but this was so soft, chewy, and fresh I bought a packet for 25 cents. They also offered freshly pressed sugar cane juice. Totally delicious. Give it a try!

Explore Baños Cafes
There are plenty of options for hot chocolate in Baños. Sipping a mug of hot chocolate is a great way to chill out in between adventures.
Honey Coffee & Tea: The first cafe I stumbled upon was Honey Coffee & Tea located in the town’s center square. Their hot chocolate is so creamy and they have really good sandwiches and WiFi. I stopped by Honey Coffee & Tea at least once per day during my visit.

Aromi Cafe & Chocolate: Another great option is Aromi Cafe and Chocolate shop. I tried the slightly adventurous hot chocolate with cheese, which I’d read too much about before visiting. It was good, a novelty for sure, but I prefer a normal hot chocolate.
Cafe Good Books and Food: In one of my wanderings, I also passed by a cafe called Cafe Good Books and Food, which looked really inviting. But I’d just eaten some Arepas so I didn’t go in. If you’re hungry, check it out!
Go Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping is not on my bucket list. But, it is a very popular activity in Baños and if it is on yours, then head over to the famous San Francisco Bridge a block away from the bus stop. You’ll jump 80 meters over the rapids of the Pastaza River.
Bungee jumping is not on my bucket list, no matter where I am in the world, but if it’s on yours go for it! Or you can do what I did and grab a beer from town, find a spot below the bridge, and watch the fearless people jump!
After each person jumped they actually had to pass by me and it turned out it was a group of four Chilean guys who seemed to really enjoy the adrenaline rush!

Get Your Thrill White Water Rafting
My first adventure activity in Baños was white water rafting! The fellow yoga teacher at Community Hostel in Quito had visited Baños a few weeks before me and helped me set up rafting with her guide. The trip was with Team Adventure and it cost me $20, which could’ve been due to my connection.
There were about 15 of us which was enough for two boats. The Chilean guys were there as were two girls who’d stayed at Community Hostel the week prior. That was one of the great things about traveling in South America; people were generally moving in the same direction and you could catch up again later down the road.
You’ll receive a very thorough safety briefing. Be sure to use mosquito repellent from your Ecuador packing list as my new friends got bitten to pieces by mosquitos (I came away unscathed, so grateful they don’t like me).
Then, you’re off down the Pastaza River maneuvering a series of large and small rapids. You’ll have the option to sit on the front of the boat as you go over some rapids! It makes for a very thrilling morning and they’ll feed you lunch on your way back to Baños.
You’ll arrive around 2:00 back in Baños which is enough time for another activity!
Book your white water rafting adventure here!

Visit La Casa de Arbol to Swing at the End of the World
I’d seen this famous swing on Instagram which is incidentally how I found out about Baños. I also have no shame in saying that Instagram made me do it. It is possible to hike up to Casa de Arbol, but there is also a bus. And after my action-packed morning, a bus was exactly what I wanted.
The bus departed just a few blocks away from my hostel, but Baños is small, so it’s likely a few blocks away from most hostels. It departs at various times each day, I took the 4:00 pm departure. Ask your front desk where and what time to catch the bus to Casa de Arbol. You could also take a chiva, which you will see driving around. It includes multiple stops at various Baños attractions, but they’re more expensive.

The bus stopped directly at the base of a hill which was a 10 minute walk up. I really had no idea what to expect here. Casa de Arbol is a tree house (perfect translation) on the edge of the mountain. You can climb up to the top of the tree house as well. There are two swings, one on either side, each swing has its own line and guy giving a few good pushes. It costs $1 for a swing.
I started off in the shorter line, but as I waited and watched I realized the other swing’s guy was a bit more into it. So I switched lines. I was gonna get my dollars worth! It was right around sunset when it was my turn to swing! I asked the lady behind me to snap a few photos for me. I thought I’d be all brave and let my hands go, but I chickened out and screamed the entire time. It was good fun!
Bike the Ruta de las Cascadas to Pailón del Diablo
The next morning, after a free hostel breakfast of eggs and toast, I headed into town to rent a bike. There are numerous bike shops offering bike rentals for $10 per day. I picked a shop at random. They gave me a bike, lock, helmet, and a map of the route in exchange for my money and ID. I made sure to double check the breaks before heading out.
There are at least seven waterfalls along the Ruta de las Cascadas (route of the waterfalls), but the crown jewel at the end is Pailón del Diablo. The bike ride there took about two to three hours because I stopped a few times for photos (I’ve since lost) along the way. The majority of the path is directly on the road, which adds to the adventure, but wasn’t that fun as trucks will honk as they pass by. The views along the way are incredible.

If you want to zip line, there are plenty of places offering a fun ride across the canyon. Alternatively, there are cable car rides across to see the waterfalls up close and personal.
I opted not to do either of these, but looking back on it, I wish I had!

As it were I didn’t, so I biked on with Pailón del Diablo on my mind. I arrived in Rio Verde and locked my bike up at a restaurant, for free. Then I headed down to Pailón del Diablo. It’s about a 15 minute walk down the hill and when you get to the bottom, there is a $2 entrance fee. From here, you are right underneath the torrent of the massive waterfall. You can crawl up under the rocks and get closer to it, but prepare to get soaked!
I went on a Saturday, which is not something I recommend. Locals and tourists alike crowded the pathways to feel the power of the falls. Crowds like this just aren’t my thing. Afterward, legs too tired to bike any further, I ate a delicious empanada and found a truck to take me and my bike back to Baños.


Relax and Recover in the Thermal Baths
One of the main reasons I came to Baños was for the thermal pools. I chose to visit the natural hot springs of Termas de La Virgen located just on the edge of town beneath the mountains and a waterfall.
I went at night which was a great way to beat the heat of the day. It costs $2 to enter and $2 to purchase a swim cap, which you must wear. Bring your own flip-flops and towel and wear your swimsuit. There are changing rooms and lockers to store your belongings.

There are different pools of varying temperatures. On the second level you’ll find three larger tubs which range from cool to hot. On the first level, there are three smaller tubs. One was FREEZING cold and I could only last a few seconds. There is also an extremely hot one in this area.
It was a relaxing way to end my second day in Baños and let my muscles recover from rafting and biking! But, my muscles weren’t done yet. They had some dancing left in them.
Dance the Night Away
Baños is a good place to have a good time. There are plenty of bars and clubs in the area and a few good breweries. I stumbled upon a German brewery (Cherusker Cervecería Artseanal Alemana) where I had dinner and a beer.
I knew I wanted to go dancing but wasn’t sure where and how weird it would be to dance alone. So, after another beer, I headed a few doors down to a place playing decent music and basically said “screw it”. I ended up having a great night dancing away. The bar was huge. It had a reggaeton type area in the front, in the back there was a patio to chat, and off of that, there was a room for salsa. After a few more drinks, I made some friends and had a great last night in Baños.
Relax with a Massage
You will have no problem finding massage places in Baños. What you might have a problem with is choosing which one because there are so many. From upscale to cheap there are lots of options for a massage here. I didn’t really want my massage to be an adventure so I popped into a few places to check their rates and set up. I was having difficulty choosing until finally, it was my last morning and I couldn’t really see the difference so just picked the first one I stumbled upon.

The prices were pretty reasonable so I requested a hot stone massage which I’d never had before. The masseuse took me to a room downstairs lined with tables separated by thin curtains. No one else was in there. There was a small bathroom to change and I placed my clothes in a bin underneath my table.
The massage was quite nice and I was glad I could experience a hot stone massage at a much more wallet friendly price than back in the states.
Have a Food Adventure
One last thing to mention is the food in Baños. There are so many places to eat in Baños! Everything from local to international, you can find it here.
I tried my first Arepas at Alto Caribe, ate Pizza Kono which is a slice of pizza wrapped up like an ice cream cone, ate various street food, and treated myself to a nice veggie meal at Cafe Hood.
There are also a few breweries to check out like Stray Dog and Cherusker Cerveceria Artesenal Alemana.

Where to Stay in Baños
There are a number of hostels and hotels located in downtown Baños, surrounding the main square. Here are a couple of options for where to stay in Baños, starting off with where I stayed!
Budget-Friendly Accommodation: Papachos Hostel
I stayed at Papachos which is on the outskirts of Baños, near a hospital, and a bit quieter. Plus they offered a free hot breakfast and had privacy curtains around the beds.
Check rates and availability here.
Budget-Friendly Accommodation: Selina Hostel
If I were to go back to Baños, I would stay in one of the private rooms at Selina Hostel. The rooms look gorgeous, clean, and comfortable. They also offer co-working spaces, a beautiful rooftop terrace, and they can help you book your adventure activities!
Check rates and availability here.
Mid-Range Accommodation: Sangay Spa
Located right next to the Termas de La Virgen is the beautiful Sangay Spa. In addition to its excellent location in town, there is a heated outdoor pool, onsite spa, and restaurant. There’s also a buffet breakfast every morning!
Check rates and availability here.
Luxury Accommodation: Luna Volcán Adventure Spa
Perched above Baños on the slopes of the Tungurahua Volcano is the stunning boutique hotel: Luna Volcán. The rooms offer unparalleled views of the mountain range and the canyon below. There is also a rooftop pool and hot tub with views of Baños, an onsite restaurant and spa. This luxury hotel will help you indulge your adventurous spirit and be a relaxing retreat when you’re done!
Check rates and availability here.
Whether your jumping off bridges, rafting down rapids, or trying new food, Baños is a great place for an adventure. And when you’re all tuckered out from your activities, you can relax in thermal baths and follow it up with a massage. Which makes Baños a perfect place to add to your Ecuador itinerary!
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