Baños de Agua Santa, Ecuador: travel guide
Ecuador's adventure-sports capital, a small town wedged in a green gorge below the Tungurahua volcano. Famous for waterfalls along the Ruta de las Cascadas, the Casa del Árbol swing, thermal baths, canyoning, rafting and ziplining.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
Plan a Baños de Agua Santa trip
Top places to visit in Baños de Agua Santa
Casa del Árbol
Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry USD 2
A treehouse on a ridge above Baños with the famous "swing at the end of the world" overlooking the Tungurahua volcano, plus other swings and viewpoints.
Pailón del Diablo
Waterfall · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry USD 2
One of Ecuador's most powerful waterfalls (the "Devil's Cauldron") on the Ruta de las Cascadas, reached by a forest trail with bridges and a tunnel right beside the falls.
Termas de la Virgen
Activity · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · entry USD 3
Baños's best-known thermal baths at the foot of a waterfall in the town centre, with hot volcanic pools — busiest and most atmospheric at night.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa
Church · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h
A neo-Gothic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of the Holy Water, a regional pilgrimage site with murals recounting miracles attributed to her.
Ruta de las Cascadas
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 4 h
A ~18 km scenic route from Baños to Río Verde passing a string of waterfalls (Agoyán, Manto de la Novia, Pailón del Diablo), best done by bike, chiva or ziplines and cable cars (tarabitas).
Manto de la Novia
Waterfall · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry USD 2
A twin waterfall ("the Bride's Veil") on the Ruta de las Cascadas, crossed by a cable car (tarabita) and a footbridge over the Pastaza gorge.
Mirador de la Virgen (Bellavista)
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
A short steep hike from town to a white Virgin statue and cross with a sweeping view over Baños and the gorge.
Things to do
- Canyoning the Baños Waterfalls Adventure · 4 h · from USD 55 per person
- White-Water Rafting on the Pastaza Adventure · 4 h · from USD 55 per person
- Ruta de las Cascadas Bike Tour Cycling · 5 h · from USD 30 per person
- Canopy Zipline Baños Adventure · 2 h · from USD 25 per person
Day trips and tours
- Baños Adventure & Waterfalls Day 8 h · from USD 60
Where to stay in Baños de Agua Santa
- Centro about USD 65 per night
Compact town centre within walking distance of thermal baths, tour operators and restaurants.
Hotels
- Luna Runtún Adventure Spa 5-star · USD 180 to USD 350 per night
- La Floresta Hotel 3-star · USD 55 to USD 95 per night
- Great Hostel Backpackers 2-star · USD 9 to USD 35 per night
- Sangay Spa Hotel 4-star · USD 70 to USD 140 per night
Where to eat
- Casa Hood International, Vegetarian · about USD 10 per person
- Swiss Bistro Swiss, International · about USD 18 per person
- Stray Dog Brew Pub American, Pub · about USD 14 per person
- Mercado Central de Baños Ecuadorian, Street Food · about USD 4 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.