Today we are going to get to know the beautiful city of Holy Water Baths, a paradise for extreme sports lovers. By the end of the article, we'll have a broad overview of the tourist attractions and activities to do in the city's surroundings.
Due to its location and ecosystem, Baños is known as the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon, forming part of the Sangay National Park and of the Llanganates National Park, recognized as National Heritage of Ecuador.
Located at the foot of the majestic Tungurahua Volcano, Baños de Agua Santa is worth a visit of at least two or three days on our trip to Ecuador. Plus, the number of tourist attractions you can visit will make your stay anything but boring.
Table of Contents
How to get to Baños
From the city of Cuenca
Passing through Ambato (the option I took)
- By Bus – Partiendo desde Cuenca a Ambato, se pueden tomar los siguientes autobuses cada 15 minutos: Sucre, Patria,
- Dichos autobuses llegan hasta la City of Ambato in approximately 7 or 8 hours
- Una vez que llegan a Ambato, pueden tomar otro autobus con destination to Baños, de entre los siguientes (salida cada 15 minutos): Transportes Baños, Amazonas, Expreso Baños,
Passing through Riobamba
- By Bus – Leaving from Cuenca to Riobamba.
- From Riobamba to Baños se pueden tomar los siguientes autobuses: Transportes Riobamba, Trans. San Francisco
From the city of Quito
- By Bus – Leaving from Quito to Baños, you can take the following buses (departure every 15 minutes):
- Autobuses directos a Baños: Transportes Baños, Amazonas, Expreso Baños
- Autobuses que pasan por Baños: San Francisco, Flota Pelileo, Centinela del Oriente, Latinoamericana, Macas
- By Bus – Leaving from Quitumbe Terminal to Baños (last connection to leave 11:30 p.m.)
- Autobuses directos a Baños: Transportes Baños, Amazonas, Expreso Baños
- Autobuses que pasan por Baños: Transportes San Francisco (viajan al Puyo), Centinela del Oriente (viajan a Puyo), Transportes Macas (Viajan a Macas)
From the city of Guayaquil
- By Bus – Leaving from Guayaquil to Baños, you can take the following buses in the terminal de buses Guayaquil: Transportes Baños, San Francisco, Flota Pelileo, Riobamba
- By Bus – Leaving from Guayaquil to Ambato and of Ambato to Baños:
- Buses to Ambato (salida cada 30 minutos) – Tiempo de viaje de 5h30 a 6h: CITA, El Dorado, Flota Pelileo, Santa, Trasandina
- Autobuses de Ambato a Baños (salida cada 15 minutos): Amazonas, Expresso Baños, Transportes Baños, San Francisco, Latinoamericana, Flota Pelileo
What to do in Baños de Agua Santa
Among the many things that can be done in Baños, we can mention as an example the practice of extreme sports activities, admire the panoramic views from different viewpoints, visit the dozens of waterfalls that we have in the surroundings for the Waterfall Route, until we relax in the hot springs that there is in the city.
We have a wide variety of options for all tastes, but I'm going to focus on those that I was able to experience firsthand, and which I also consider essential to try.
– Visit the famous Tree House
You've probably seen those images of a person swinging over an apparent cliff. Whenever I saw them, I thought about what it would be like to be there "flying" with a view of the volcano in the background. That swing is located in none other than the Tree House in Baños.
The famous house is nothing more than a wooden cabin elevated at 2,660 meters near a cliff, where we can get front row views of the Tungurahua Volcano and swing on the famous Swing at the End of the World.
Once there, I discovered that there's actually no void beneath the swing (thank goodness :D), but rather uneven ground. But because the ropes are so long and we climb so high, the feeling we end up with is that of flying over a cliff.
I had to wait in line for a while to get a one-minute swing, and if you want to try it again, you'll have to wait in line again. While the experience was good, I was hoping for something a little more satisfying. In the end, it seems to me like it's more for the photo than the experience itself.
In addition to the End of the World Swing, this property also has other games and swings to try. Admission is $1, and the park is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
It's a lovely place where we can spend a few hours doing whatever we want. The best part, without a doubt, is the view of the volcano and the city of Baños.
How to get to the Tree House
They exist budget excursions that go to the Tree House every day. The schedules are at 10:00, 12:00, and 16:00, with a cost ranging from $$6 to $$10.
If you want to go by bus, the schedules are 05:45, 8:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00 and the cost is approximately $ 1 dollar (this information is several years old, so it would be necessary to confirm it beforehand).
To return, you can wait for the same buses that go up to get off, or if you're feeling up the road, you can walk down. It's a good stretch for walking, but you might get lucky and someone in their car or truck can take you to the city.
– Observe the Tungurahua Volcano
Already when I was traveling from the city of Ambato to Baños, kilometers away, I could see this colossal beast rising above the terrain.
He Tungurahua Volcano (also called “Mama Tungurahua”), is part of the Sangay National ParkIt has a height of 5,016 meters, a diameter of 14 km, and a crater 183 meters wide.
Ecuador has a number of very striking volcanoes to observe. From the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes we can enjoy views not only of the Tungurahua, but also of the Chimborazo and the Cotopaxi.
If you are interested, I also wrote an article about How to visit the Cotopaxi Volcano
The town of Baños de Agua Santa is literally at the foot of the Tungurahua Volcano, and if you want to enjoy breathtaking views, you can visit some of the nearby viewpoints. I visited these two, which I'm going to tell you about, but there may be more.
– Runtún Viewpoint
One of them is the Runtún Lookout, which is located on the grounds of the Casa del Arbol. From there, we'll get firsthand views, as we're right on the slopes of the volcano.
I already told you about the Tree House in the previous section, so I'll focus on the next one.
– Antenna Viewpoint
The other viewpoint I recommend you reach somehow is the one facing the volcano, where there is an antenna at the top.
The path to the antenna begins just across the bridge near the bus terminal (to the opposite side of the volcano). Unfortunately, there's no public transportation to the summit, and it's not easy to get there on your own.
Without knowing exactly how far it was, I started walking up. It's a paved road that zigzags up quite steeply. When I asked a passerby if there was much further to go, he told me it was about 8 km from the bridge…and I was only 1 km away.
It was around 4:00 p.m., and I was already very tired from walking all day. I was sure I wouldn't make it to the light... if I ever made it.
I was already thinking about going back, until luckily a minivan passed by with a group of Dutch tourists inside. They were on a tour of the antenna's viewing platform.
They stopped, and the guide asked if they had any problem with me being taken up. Without hesitation, and joking about my terrible condition, they invited me up.
And thank goodness they did. It's a really long journey to make on foot. I was never going to get there if I did it on my own.
Reaching the Top
I was very grateful to them throughout the trip, and even more so when we reached the summit. As we descend, you can feel the temperature drop due to the altitude, but that cold will pass (or not :D) as soon as we see the fantastic views ahead.
We have a clear view of Tungurahua. In my opinion, it's the best view I've had of the volcano in all of Baños, even better than the Tree House lookout.
There's no one there, just the field, the antenna, and a few passing clouds coming and going. I've never seen the visual field of the volcano anywhere else. The images speak for themselves.
After spending some time there taking photos and admiring the volcano, we returned to the city. I offered the guide something in compensation for his help, but he flatly refused. They were kind enough to do so, and to this day, years later, I remain deeply grateful to them.
How to climb the Tungurahua Volcano
According to the official Baños Tourism website, it is easy to climb and has a permanent glacier at its summit. It reactivates every 80 years. It is very popular to observe how the Smoke and ash emitted by Tungurahua form figures and at times present incandescent spectacles on the horizon.
At the moment ascents are carried out but a specialized guide must be hired.
How to get to the Tungurahua Volcano
There are two access routes to enter the site. The first is located in the Pondóa sector, a community located 2,480 meters above sea level. From this point, and after approximately four hours of hiking with the help of a local guide, you can ascend the volcano, as long as it is not active.
The second access route starts from Puela on the Baños highway – Riobamba, can be accessed by car up to Palitahua sector where a trail begins that is divided into two sections: the first leads to the Palitahua hot springs that are located at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano and the second to the southwestern flanks of the volcano where we will find the Minsas lagoons.
– Route of the Waterfalls
Another of the main attractions in Baños de Agua Santa is the Waterfalls Route.
Most of the waterfalls They arise from the unevenness of the Pastaza River along its course, causing falls of different heights and magnitudes.
At many waterfalls, you may find that various adventure activities await you upon arrival, such as rafting, canyoning, hiking, biking, and many more.
How to explore the Baños Waterfalls Route
To see the most important waterfalls along the route, we can choose from the following options:
Visit the Waterfalls Route on a hike
In the city of Baños there are many agencies promoting different excursions to visit the most important waterfalls.
I booked the tour offered by the Chivay (those open-top tourist buses) from the main square. The entire excursion was supposed to last three hours and I would visit the Pailon del Diablo waterfall (the most impressive) and the Machay waterfalls.
But the reality is that wasn't the case. It starts off well with the guide describing the natural surroundings. He makes a quick stop to see a small waterfall along the route and tells us other facts about the falls and other attractions.
But what ended up being a disappointment for me was that one of the stops was for zip-lining over the Pastaza River. Sounds good on paper, but it turns out the group had to wait nearly 40 minutes until everyone who wanted to could do the activity.
This meant we lost valuable time to visit the most important waterfalls along the route, which, after all, was why I had booked this excursion.
When we finally arrived at the Devil's Pailon, the guide told us that since we were running late, we only had a few minutes to explore the waterfall on the upper side. Meaning, I had to rush through them and return a little later.
To top it all off, since we didn't have any more time, we didn't even get to see the waterfalls further along the route... in short, rubbish.
My conclusion is that it might be useful if you're short on time or don't feel like using any other means to visit the waterfalls, but I honestly didn't like it at all.
Bicycle along the Waterfalls Route (best option)
Since I wanted to do the waterfall route my way, the next day I rented a bike for $$ $5 a day in one of the many houses that rent them.
The outward journey is generally flat and hilly, so it doesn't require much effort. The route is safe, as cars, being accustomed to it, aren't a problem. Furthermore, they can't go very fast due to the constant curves.
The good thing about cycling is that if you are too tired to return, in the towns or even on the road, there are buses that will take you back to the city for $$$2 (and you avoid the climbs on the way back).
This time, with my time, I was able to visit the Devil's Pail more relaxed. I walked along the upper side much more calmly.
I visited the lower side of the waterfall, the path with stairs that can be seen from the upper viewing platforms (to access it, you have to enter from another side).
I also had time to get to the Waterfalls MachayThey're not as impressive as the previous one, but they have the unique feature that you can get up close and personal with them. It's very nice. The path to get there is also very pretty, with vegetation and not so many people.
By private car or taxi
The most comfortable, fastest, and most expensive alternative is by taxi or minivan.
Extreme Sports
The city of Baños de Agua Santa is known as the capital of adventureHere you have the opportunity to do all kinds of adventure sports such as canopy, canyoning, climbing, trekking, cycling, paragliding, rafting, horseback riding, among others.
Canopy jumping is one of the most popular, involving crossing from one shore to the other from a considerable height via a cable. Jumping into the void and bridge jumping are also common.
You can hire one from these links Rafting excursion on the Pastaza River or other Canyoning excursion along the Río Blanco.
Below you can see a list of the following activities with average prices:
- Paragliding. Cost: $ 60. Tandem Flight Minimum 1 Pax
- Canyoning Río Blanco. Cost: $ 30 – Basic Level Minimum 2 Pax
- Canyoning Chacama Bajo. Cost: $ 30 – Basic Level Minimum 2 Pax
- Canyoning San Jorge. Cost: $ 35. Minimum Basic Level 2 Pax
- Canyoning Cashaurco. Cost: $ 60. Advanced Aquatic Level Minimum 3 Pax
- Chamanapamba Canyoning. Cost: $ 80. Minimum Vertical Advanced Level: 2 Pax
- Pastaza Bajo Rafting. Cost: $ 30. Basic Level 3 / Half Day
- Pastaza Alto Rafting. Cost: $ 80. Advanced Level 4 / Full day
- Rock Climbing. Cost: $ 30. Basic/Advanced. Minimum 2 Pax / Half Day
- Rock Climbing. Cost: $ 60. Basic/Advanced. Minimum 2 Pax / Full day.
- Bungee jumping. Cost: $ 20. San Francisco Pendulum Jump
- Bungee jumping. Cost: $ 15. Río Blanco Pendulum Jump
- Bike Rental. Cost: $ 10. Full Day
- Biking Tour. Cost: $ 35. Waterfalls Route. Minimum 2 Pax.
- Bike Tour. Cost: $ 60. Pondoa Minimum 2 Pax / Full Day
- Secondary Rainforest. Cost: $ 80. Minimum tour: 3 people / Full day
- Trekking. Cost: $ 90. Minimum Tour 3 Pax / Full Day
- Horseback riding. Cost: $ 15 per hour
– Natural Hot Springs
Another of the benefits we can find in Baños are its natural hot springs, ideal for relaxing after a day of activity.
The city has four thermal complexes, which use underground waters heated by the Tungurahua volcano and waters that come from the mountains surrounding the city, which have healing properties.
The closest hot springs, a few blocks from the main square, are those of the VirginThere are eight pools with different temperatures. The cost is $1/4T for adults and $3/4T for children. They are open Wednesday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM.
Another complex are the Hot Springs of El SaladoHere you'll find pools of yellowish hot springs, colored by their mineral properties, which relieve pain. Located on El Salado Avenue, the spa costs $$3 for adults and $$1 for children.
The other 2 complexes, which I didn't even see where they were, are the Santa Ana Hot Springs and the Santa Clara Spa.
Private tours in Baños de Agua Santa
The activities I recommend in this post contain affiliate links. This means that if you book through them, I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's a way to support my work and help me keep this space alive, filled with stories and travel tips. Thanks for joining me along the way ;)!
Where to stay in Baños
Being a small city whose main activity is tourism, we will find affordable accommodations throughout the city.
I stayed at the Great Backpackers Hostels in a 12-bed shared room and I can't complain.
What is the best time to visit Baños de Agua Santa?
He Baños climate is one more reason why you should visit this charming place. Although Ecuador's climate It is always very varied, it can go from an incandescent sun to a rainy afternoon, in general the average temperature of the place ranges between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Be careful not to trust the weather pages, as in the months of June and July, temperatures are reported as 0° to 5°, and this is because the nearest weather station is near a volcano.
Final thoughts
Baños de Agua Santa was one of my favorite places in all of Ecuador.
I loved the combination of the natural setting with the jungle, waterfalls, and the Tungurahua volcano all in one place. And even if you're not a fan of extreme sports, like me, it's still enjoyable.
As highlights, in my opinion, I have to highlight the Pailón del Diablo waterfalls, the Machay waterfalls and the views of the volcano.
On the downside, I only have to mention the excursion to Chivay, which was the only thing that left a bitter taste in my mouth, but the rest of the tours and activities were absolutely worthwhile.
After spending three incredible days in Baños, it was time to head off to my new destination, the city of Latacunga. The city has nothing to do with Baños, but it's a good starting point for visiting two other natural wonders of Ecuador: the Quilotoa Lagoon and the Cotopaxi National Park.
And that's all for this guide on all the things to see in Baños de Agua Santa.
If you like photographs, I have a gallery with the best ones. Photos of Ecuador And remember that you can leave any comments you have below.
If you made it this far, thank you for your time.
See you next time!
Appendix: Brief description of the waterfalls on the Waterfalls Route
- Agoyán WaterfallLocated 7 km from the city of Baños, on the Baños – Puyo road, this waterfall has a 40-meter drop and flows into the Pastaza River.
- Bride's Mantle: Located 11 kilometers from Baños, on the way to Baños Puyo, this waterfall is approximately 40 meters high and is formed by the fall of the Chinchi River.
- Devil's Pail: Located 17 km from the Baños – Puyo road, this waterfall is approximately 80 meters high, its formal name is Rio Verde Waterfall.
- Bascún: Located northwest of Baños, half a kilometer, this waterfall has an approximate height of 35 meters, it is formed by the waters of the Bascún River.
- ShamanLocated 2 km via Baños – Puyo crossing the Ulba bridge, this waterfall has a drop of 42 meters and is part of the group of 7 Chamana waterfalls.
- CashaurcoLocated in the hamlet of Cashaurco, 4 km from the parish of Río Negro, it is a complex formed by 4 waterfalls
- Charm of El RocíoLocated 25 minutes via Baños – Puyo until reaching Río Verde, they are part of a set of waterfalls that range from 10 to 40 m high
- Machay WaterfallsLocated 20 km from Baños, it is formed by a group of waterfalls with heights between 10 and 40 meters.
- San Pedro del Inca WaterfallsLocated approximately 13 km via Baños – Puyo, it has waterfalls with approximate heights of 15 and 8 meters
- San Francisco Waterfall: This waterfall originates in the San Francisco River, located 28 km from the Baños – Puyo road
- UlbaLocated in the Ulba parish, 4 km from Baños, this waterfall has an approximate height of 40 meters.
- Virgin WaterfallLocated 30 minutes from Baños, in the Community of La Primavera, it has an altitude of 2,997 meters.
- The Ghost WaterfallIf you enjoy hiking, this is the option for you, as you'll enjoy an average of three-hour walk. It's formed by the Chinchín Grande River; the first waterfall is called "El Fantasma" (The Ghost) and the second, "El Placer" (The Placer).
- El Placer WaterfallThis waterfall originates from the waters of the Chinchín Grande River, delighting us with its crystal-clear waters and fabulous scenery. This site is ideal for adventure activities or simply enjoying the local ecosystem. It is named after the area itself, El Placer.