11 Mind-Blowing Things to Do in Baños, Ecuador (on a budget)

Baños, Ecuador  – full name Baños de Agua Santa – was one of our favorite places on our entire 5-month trip to South America. It was our 2nd favorite place overall in Ecuador (nothing beats the Galapagos!) and we would go back again in a heartbeat.  The town is known for two things: naturally heated thermal baths – the namesake of Baños, Ecuador – and adventure sports! Nearby Baños, you’ll find mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and hot springs. Oh, and the famous Swing at the End of the World.

Baños is situated a couple of hours away from Quito by bus, in a stunning valley at the base of an active volcano called Tungurahua. Don’t worry: the town is far enough away from Tungurahua to be safe, though you might see some smoke or fire coming from the top of the volcano.

We spent a week in Baños, which we felt was a good length of time. We only tried a few of the MANY amazing activities, and honestly, we’re dying to go back. Here’s our guide to 11 of the best things to do in Baños, Ecuador!

Psst: Planning a trip to Ecuador? We’ve got a bunch of useful resources to help you plan your trip!

• Backpacking Ecuador: Itinerary for 1 Incredible Month
• 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in Ecuador
• How to Visit The Galapagos Islands Without a Cruise: A Complete Guide
• What to Pack for South America: 32 Backpacking Essentials
• Hiking the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador: Reverse Route Travel Guide

We’ve also created a massive 10-page eBook packed full of Ecuador travel tips. Sign up below and we’ll send you our FREE Ecuador Travel Guide, plus email you with tips to help you plan your trip!

How to Get to Baños, Ecuador

Ecuador is a small country, and getting around it is quite easy and inexpensive. The only way to get to Baños is by bus, but you can bus from multiple locations around Ecuador. The bus station in Baños is near the center of town and is walking distance to most hotels and hostels – or you can take a cheap $1 taxi from the bus station to your destination.

How to Get to Baños from Quito

If you fly into Quito, you will first need to take a $25 taxi for 45 minutes into the city. This price is standard, and unfortunately it’s the best option (you can take a combination of buses for several hours to save a few dollars, but we didn’t think it was worth the hassle).

Once in Quito, ask your taxi drive to drop you at Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe , the main bus station in the far south of the city. Once there you can walk up to a counter and ask for the next bus to Baños.

The bus takes about 3.5 hours, costs around $4, and may stop in Ambato on the way to Baños. If there is no direct bus to Baños, just buy a ticket to Ambato – there are frequent buses running between Ambato and Baños.

• Short on time? Here’s a 2-day round trip tour from Quito to Banos which includes transportation, a night of accommodation, an adventure tour, and a trip to Casa Arbol.

How to Get to Baños from Guayaquil, Latacunga, or Cuenca

The bus to Baños from Latacunga or Guayaquil will first stop in either Ambato or Riobamba, and then connect to Baños – you may need to switch buses or buy two tickets if the route is not direct.

For each location, there is no need to book in advance. Just take a taxi to the main bus station and look for signs to Baños, Riobamba, or Ambato. Ask at each ticket counter to see which one is leaving soonest.

• The bus from Guayaquil to Baños will take about 5.5 hours and cost around $7.
• The bus from Latacunga to Baños takes around 2 hours and costs under $5.
• The bus from Cuenca to Baños takes around 7.5 hours and costs about $10. There is also direct bus from Cuenca to Baños  on Amazonas which will take about 6 hours and cost around $10.

From anywhere else in Ecuador: If you don’t see a direct bus to Baños at the bus station, look instead for buses heading to Ambato, which is the nearest city. De-board there and take one of the frequent buses to Baños, only an hour away. You can also look for buses to Riobamba and connect from there to Baños.

• Ecuador Travel Tip: As a rule of thumb, Ecuador buses typically cost around $1-2 per hour. So a 2 hour bus ride will be around $3-4, and a 6-hour bus ride will be around $10.

Where to Stay in Baños, Ecuador

Budget: Ballin’ (Over $100)

• Samari Spa Resort: Ballin’ in Baños is surprisingly affordable considering the level of luxury that you’ll enjoy at Samari Spa Resort. From the stunning, decadently furnished rooms to beautiful hotel grounds to the pool to the spa and wellness center, everything about Samari Spa Resort will leave you feeling like royalty. Oh, also: there are sometimes peacocks. Just like, hanging out. How freaking awesome is THAT?! Compare prices & check availability on HotelsCombined

Budget: Mid-Range ($50-100)

• Destiny Hotel: 2 words – INFINITY POOL. The pool at Destiny Hotel is absolutely stunning, and its prime location on a terrace overlooking the town will deliver some of the most stunning views of Baños that you’ll find anywhere. Unwind after a long day of activities in the cocktail lounge or the jacuzzi next to the infinity pool on the terrace.Compare prices & check availability on HotelsCombined

Budget: As Cheap As Possible (Under $50)

• We stayed at the super-affordable Hostel Chiminea. For about $24 a night, we enjoyed a roomy private with an ensuite bathroom and a deck covered in flowers and hummingbirds. The hostel also has dorms with beds under $10 a night. As is standard for any decent hostel, there are laundry services, towel rentals, free Wi-Fi, and a kitchen that you can use for cooking after breakfast service is finished. But there’s ALSO a free pool, heated personal jacuzzis and massages (for a fee), and a stunning rooftop cafe with a view of the waterfall, mountains, and the town of Baños. We loved the location of Hostel Chiminea: it’s right next to the waterfall and thermal baths, directly across from an abundance of street vendors selling souvenirs and snacks, and close to the center of town with plenty of spas, adventure shops, restaurants, and scenic plazas. We think it’s one of the best hostels in Baños! Check prices & availability on Hostelworld

Things to Do in Baños, Ecuador

There are a TON of amazing things to do in Baños, from adventure sports to relaxation to stuffing your face. We’ve covered all of those, of course! 

Baños offers a ton of adventure sports and activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, 4×4 rentals, multi-day jungle treks, and bungee jumping.  You can take a day trip to the Amazon jungle with a tour like this one!

Honestly, during our week in Baños we only tried a small selection of what the town has to offer.  Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Baños!

1. Swing on the Tree at the End of the World at Casa de Arbol

Casa de Arbol is one of the top reasons people visit Baños, Ecuador: everyone’s seen that iconic picture, flying high above the mountains, leaving all your cares behind. Well, it’s a great picture, but don’t get your hopes up too high: you’re not actually that high off the ground, and getting that picture takes a bit of finagling.

But don’t let that dissuade you. You should visit Casa de Arbol because giant swings are super fun and there’s also a cable that you can swing on like a low-flying zipline, all for the $2 entrance fee. For the less-adventurous types, this is the perfect level of low-risk fun! There are 3 giant swings – one with employees that push you and a very long line, and 2 self-guided swings with much shorter lines. We tried all 3. Once you get the hang of swinging and stopping on your own, the self-guided swings are a blast.

Travel Tips for visiting the Casa de Arbol in Baños, Ecuador:

1. Tour companies will offer you a shuttle to and from the Casa de Arbol for as low as $5 each. They leave multiple times a day and are great if you prefer the ease of shuttles and you don’t mind long lines, limited time, and huge groups of people. We opted for the self-guided option, which is just a bus that leaves from the center of town and goes straight to the Casa de Arbol. It cost half as much, we had as much time as we wanted to spend swinging to our hearts content, and we were able to avoid the long lines that developed every time one of the shuttle buses pulled up.
2. When you pull up to the Casa de Arbol, you will immediately see a tree house with a swing at the top of a steep hill. This is not the Casa de Arbol – the Casa de Arbol is actually up a little trail and on the other side of the hill. But, this is a giant swing over a huge hill, and it’s cheaper than the Casa de Arbol (by $1) and has less lines. So by all means give it a try if you like. But the actual Casa de Arbol is to the right and up a short trail.

2. Shop for handicrafts and artisan-made souvenirs

In the center of Baños is a little street filled with stalls handicrafts and artisan-made souvenirs. I’m not going to lie to you: it’s not the cheapest place to buy these types of souvenirs, nor is there any guarantee that they are actually made locally or by Ecuadorian artists. But if you’re looking for a small souvenir to remember your stay, or a gift for loved ones, this is the spot.

Travel tips for buying souvenirs in Baños, Ecuador:

1. The handicrafts are heavily marked up, and the shop owners are expecting you to haggle.
2. If you spend too long looking at something, they’ll probably start lowering their prices for you.
3. You’ll get a better deal and have a better chance of haggling if you buy multiple things in one shop. Since most of the shops offer similar items, do a lap before you decide what you want, and then try to get it all in place and haggle for a deal.

Yes, Baños is an adventure town. But it’s also a spa town, and offers tons of opportunities to relax and wind down. Here are our favorite ways to relax in Baños, Ecuador.

3. See a waterfall … or two… or seven

In addition to a giant waterfall next to the thermal baths, Baños is also home to the famous Ruta de las Cascadas! The route through the valley passes 7 jaw dropping waterfalls, plus countless other beautiful views.

You can complete the downhill route with a $6 mountain bike rental, or on a chiva/open air bus. Either can be booked at one of the many adventure shops in town.

One of the highlights on the route is the Pailón del Diablo, a waterfall park complete with an enormous suspension bridge. You can also zip-line or take a cable car over the gorge!

4. Relax in The Thermal Baths

The namesake of Baños, Ecuador is well worth a visit. Despite its location right on the edge of town, next to a huge and awe-inspiring waterfall, the baths do not seem to be a popular tourist destination. We were in the vast minority of gringos enjoying the baths on a Friday night! But trust us, the thermal baths are not to be missed.

On the night we visited, we walked over from our nearby hostel with our swimsuits and a towel, not knowing what to expect. We paid $3.50 to enter and rent the required bathing cap, and were promptly herded through the entrance, given a basket for our belongings and a very brief tour of the 2 story baths. There are 3 giant tubs with varying depths and water temperatures, showers – required before you enter the baths – and changing rooms.

After changing and dropping off our stuff – $1 to store our basket behind the upstairs counter – we were left shivering in our swimsuits, looking like confused, freezing cold gringos. Unsure of the correct protocol, we chose the downstairs tub at random because it was less crowded. This was the wrong choice: the downstairs tub is the hottest tub, and it’s less crowded because you can’t spend more than a few minutes in it at a time. After making a spectacle of ourselves shrieking at the boiling water against our ice-cold skin, we hurried upstairs to sit in one of the shallower, more crowded tubs.

Like Goldilocks and the 3 bears, this tub was just right. We finally felt our bodies relax into the warm water, gazing peacefully at the stars and the enormous waterfall right next to us. After a while in this tub, we felt brave enough to try the super hot tub again. This time, it felt incredible. We alternated between the upstairs and the downstairs tub a couple of times, feeling more and more relaxed and at-peace with the world with each rotation. By the time the baths were closing (around 9pm), it had begun to rain, which we welcomed with relaxed and pleasantly warm arms. We happily strolled back to our hotel in the pouring rain wearing only our swimsuits and feeling at peace with the universe. It was the best thermal bath experience we have ever had!

Travel Tips for visiting the Thermal Baths in Baños, Ecuador:

1. Visit the baths at night. During the day, the sun makes the heat of the tubs unpleasant. At night, the cold air will feel absolutely incredible once you’re done with the tubs (it only sucks a little at first).
2. Don’t be nervous if you don’t see many gringos, nobody seemed bothered by our presence (although they were amused when we tried to get into the super hot tub first).
3. Complete a rotation of the tubs starting with the coolest and working up to the hottest for the most relaxing experience!

5. Go White Water Rafting on Rio Pastaza

One of the major attractions in Banos is rafting Rio Pastaza. This river takes rafters through class 3 & 4 rapids. What does this mean exactly? It means that rest is a rare luxury. If you like adrenaline pumping white water rapids, this is a must-do activity in Baños!

Jeremy’s group consisted of 16 people split in two boats. On each boat has a guide, and a rescue medic nearby in a kayak. Rio Pastaza is fast and bumpy but not dangerous, so the medics double as paparazzi. The highlight of the ride was when our guide flipped the boat (on purpose). It was scary, but we had a great laugh after the panic attacks subsided!

For 5 hours of white water rafting, you’ll pay around $30, including lunch, safety gear, transportation, and a wetsuit. Here is a white water rafting tour that you can book online in advance.

Travel Tips for White Water Rafting in Baños, Ecuador:

1. If you don’t book online, you’ll want to head to an agency in town book a day or two in advance because tours leave early in the morning.
2. Be sure to follow the guide’s safety instructions. He is trained and experienced and as long as you listen and follow along as he calls out directions, you’ll be fine. The guide will also give instructions on what to do if you’re ejected from the boat: basically, just float on your back and let the current carry you until you’re rescued by the kayak.
3. If you wear glasses, get a glasses strap! They may look dorky, but they’re hella useful. You don’t want to lose your glasses in the water.

6. Get a Massage or Spa Treatment

Baños, Ecuador is as much a spa town as it is an adventure town. When you’re exhausted from your harrowing near-death experiences, a massage or a spa treatment will feel like absolute heaven. (It also makes a great way to spend a day while your more-adventurous partner is out doing completely insane things, if you’re me.) Walking down the streets of Baños, Ecuador you will be offered multiple spa treatments and prices from the many shops offering a variety of the same experiences. From chocolate face and body masks to facials to those little fish eating the dead skin off your feet (whatever floats your boat, I guess), Baños offers a full range of budget-friendly spa activities. If you’d rather have an immersive experience rather than stepping into a tiny shop right off the street, check out the more expensive hotels, complete with their own thermal baths.

Travel Tips for Massages and Spa Treatments in Baños, Ecuador:

1. Most of the small shops have the same set prices for their services, and there isn’t enough information online to compare reviews. Massages will all cost $25-$35 for an hour.
2. I picked my shop completely based on price and went with the cheapest option for a mani/pedi. It was OK for $12, but my cuticles were cut a bit too deep. I’d recommend not going with the absolute cheapest option.

 

8. Zipline Through Trees & Between Mountains

In Baños, the term Canopying is interchangeable for ziplining, because when you go zip-lining in Banos, you fly through a canopy of trees … and over a giant canyon. Ahhh!

The trip we booked took us on six different lines, totaling two kilometers (1.25 miles). One of the great things about this tour is you have the option of taking the lines in different styles: regular (seated), Superman, or even upside-down. Of course Jeremy did the upside-down Spiderman looking one without a second thought.

All in all, this is a fun half day tour, but be advised, there are some intense uphill climbs through the rainforest between lines. Also, if you’re afraid of heights … you’ll probably want to skip this one.

Tips for Ziplining or Canopying in Baños, Ecuador:

1. You’ll pay about $20 for 2 hours of zip-lining.

2. Do bring water for staying hydrated on the short hikes between lines.

3. Bring your camera! You can hold it in one hand while you fly across the valley.

7. Take a Canyoning Tour

Canyoning was hands down the activity Jeremy looked forward to most in South America. Canyoning means you alternate between adventure activities to work your way down a waterfall canyon. “Adventure activities” can include: waterfall rappelling, cliff jumping, zip-lining, or awkwardly sliding on your butt …. adventurously. Yes, all in one tour! Crazy, right?

Jeremy did the Chamana Canyon tour. The tour starts with two waterfall repels. Next the guide clips a rope to your back, tells you to lie down in the middle of the river, and the current gently takes you … right off the edge of a waterfall! Finally you’re tied into a harness at the top of a cliff and free fall backwards off the cliff until the guide slows you down at the last possible second! If you’re looking for a variety of adventure and a big dose of adrenaline all in one tour, you should definitely try canyoning. For 4 hours of canyoning, you’ll pay about $35. Here’s a canyoning tour you can reserve online in advance!

Travel Tips for Canyoning in Baños, Ecuador:

1. Do the Cashuarco tour if you can! It requires 4 people and is only available during certain times of the year, but it’s supposed to be the best canyoning tour in Banos. We didn’t get a chance to try it, so let us know how it is!
2. If you don’t book online, you’ll want to head to an agency in town book a day or two in advance because tours leave early in the morning.
3. You won’t be able to carry a water bottle or wear a hydration pack. But the activities aren’t terribly strenuous or physically demanding. Drink a bottle beforehand and you’ll be fine.

9. Drink Delicious Ecuadorian Hot Chocolate

Ecuador is known for its chocolate: grown farm fresh in the coasts and near the Amazon jungle, the chocolate here is local, organic, and incredibly good. It’s so good that hot chocolate is often the preferred drink of Ecuadorians, spurring the usually less-than-stellar coffee options. This is not the case in Baños, Ecuador! Baños is home to both incredible hot chocolate AND delicious coffee.

The best place to try some legit Ecuadorian hot chocolate is Arome Chocolate & Coffee. Arome Chocolate is THE place to get excellent chocolate in Baños, whether it’s a high end bar of Pacari chocolate (our absolute favorite), toasted cacao beans, or a slice of fudgy chocolate cake or tiramisu. Their specialty is hot chocolate: choose from a selection of options on the menu, or choose a custom-made cup of hot chocolate created from any chocolate bar in the store! We experimented with a few options and found them all to be heavenly.

What’s more, Amore also serves up some of the best coffee in town. Choose your location in Ecuador and your bean strength and you’ll be brewed up a fantastic cup of coffee – or add some of that famous chocolate to make it a delicious Mocha. There are five Amore locations around Baños, each specializing in chocolate, coffee, nuts or spices.

If you’re more into coffee than chocolate, head to Honey Coffee & Tea. Honey is the gorgeous, Instagram-worthy coffee shop of a long term traveler’s dreams: cozy enough to spend a whole day lounging and getting work done on your computer, and yummy enough to spend all day casually ordering food and dessert to go with your coffee. With 35 varieties of coffee and an inclusive selection of third-wave coffee brewing techniques  – including V60, Siphon, CHUSPA, Vacuum, and Aeropress – this is the perfect spot for a coffee lover to spend a day unwinding after their adventures in Baños, Ecuador! (Note: Honey also has a huge selection of teas for the less caffeine-inclined.)

10. Stuff Your Face with Local Food

Baños, Ecuador is home to a plethora of fantastic food options at all budget ranges. Here’s our list of where to eat in Baños, Ecuador.

 Eat at the Mercado in Baños

We love mercados in South America: they’re the cheapest place to buy groceries, always offer local produce and meats, and they typically have some fantastic cheap food options. The mercado in Baños, Ecuador is no exception. It’s situated directly across from the Supermarket, which makes comparing prices really easy (spoiler: the mercado is a zillion times cheaper).

In addition to produce and meat, half of the mercado is a huge cafeteria which is always filled with locals enjoying heaping plates of food. Travel tip #1: always eat where the locals eat! Most of the stalls in the mercado offer a variation of the same set menu: soup, juice, a plate of rice, chorizo, salad, and llapingacho (delicious grilled potato and cheese cakes), or a segundo option, usually chicken or beef – all for $2.50.

If you want to venture out from the set menu, there are also plentiful juice and batido stalls (a batido is like a milkshake, with fruit & milk blended together). There’s also a fantastic ceviche spot, which was some of the best ceviche we had in Ecuador, and cost only $2.

Even if you don’t eat a meal at the mercado, at least stop in for a llapingacho. They’re incredible.

Try the Almuerzo menu at any local restaurant

Cheap Almuerzo menus are common all over Ecuador, and Baños is no exception. Stop into any tiny local restaurant around lunchtime and ask for the almuerzo, and you’ll be served a filling multi-course meal for under $5. It usually includes juice, soup, a meat platter, and sometimes a small dessert. Our favorite spot near our hostel was next to the much more popular (and expensive) Ristorante Papardelle.

11. Stuff Your Face with Ecuadorian Street Food

We love street food, and we classify it in a different category than restaurants. The street food in Baños, Ecuador is perfectly safe to eat and absolutely delicious! You’ll find street food sold in stalls and out of carts all over town. Here is our list of recommendations for street food to eat in Baños, Ecuador!

• Choclo/Dry roasted corn kernels: You’ll find choclo all over Ecuador, topping your fresh ceviche or served as a crunch snack. In Baños, you’ll find choclo with a twist: it’s served in a little bag with warm steamed corn and fresh flavorful salsa, for the perfect fresh, crunchy, and warm snack – all for about $1! This yummy snack will keep you full for hours and is incredibly good.

• Llapingachos/Grilled potato and cheese patties: Our favorite Ecuadorian street food! These yummy potato cakes are served in doorways, out of carts, and in the mercado all over Baños for cheap. They’re so good! Don’t leave Baños without trying one … or three.

• Melcocha/Sugar Cane Taffy: Walk through town and you’re sure to find a few candy shops serving up the famous melcocha, a specialty found only in Baños, Ecuador. The sweet taffy is pulled right in front of the store, hanging on a hook in the door frame!

• Fresh Sugar Cane: Ah, delicious sugar cane: crunch and a little woody, but absolutely delicious. You eat it by chewing the sugar cane to get all the sugary goodness before spitting out the pulp. Fresh cut sugar cane is sold at the stalls directly across from our hostel on the way to the thermal baths, and a large bag is only $1. Careful not to eat it all in one sitting unless you want a stomach ache.  If you’d rather not have to work for your sugar rush, the stalls also sell fresh sugar cane juice! My heart is racing just thinking about it…
• Espumillas/Meringue Cream: Found all over Ecuador served in ice cream cones and covered with syrup and sprinkles, Espumilla may ook like ice cream. But don’t be fooled: the soft, sweet meringue has a marshmallow-like texture. Flavored with guava, blackberry, and other fruits, espumillas are a unique street food that you must try in Baños, Ecuador.

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We hope our guide to the best things to do Baños, Ecuador is helpful for your trip! If you’re looking to book a few tours in advance, take a look at these:

Psst: Planning a trip to Ecuador? We’ve got a bunch of useful resources to help you plan your trip!

• Backpacking Ecuador: Itinerary for 1 Incredible Month
• 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in Ecuador
• How to Visit The Galapagos Islands Without a Cruise: A Complete Guide
• What to Pack for South America: 32 Backpacking Essentials
• Hiking the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador: Reverse Route Travel Guide

We’ve also created a massive 10-page eBook packed full of Ecuador travel tips. Sign up below and we’ll send you our FREE Ecuador Travel Guide, plus email you with tips to help you plan your trip!

What are you most excited to try in Baños? Drop us a comment below!

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