By air
Mariscal Sucre International (UIO), ~3.5 h by road
South America · Ecuador
Baños, Ecuador
Waterfalls and hot springs below a volcano
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September — fewer showers
Don't miss
Pailón del Diablo
Casa del Árbol
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Water
Termas de la Virgen
Things to do
Cycling the Route of the Waterfalls
Canyoning
Rafting
Soaking in thermal pools
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Eddyl · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Rain jacket, swimwear for the hot springs, sturdy shoes
A quieter corner
Termas de la Virgen thermal pools beside a waterfall
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Baños?
June to September — fewer showers. What to pack: Rain jacket, swimwear for the hot springs, sturdy shoes.
How do I get to Baños?
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International (UIO), ~3.5 h by road.
What is there to do in Baños?
Cycling the Route of the Waterfalls, canyoning, rafting, soaking in thermal pools. A quieter find: Termas de la Virgen thermal pools beside a waterfall.
What should I eat in Baños?
Melcocha taffy pulled in shop doorways, fresh sugarcane juice and roast cuy.
About Baños
- Mountains
Where it is
Baños is a small town in the central Andes of Ecuador, set in the Pastaza valley at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano on the road down to the Amazon.
History
The town grew around its hot springs and a shrine to the Virgin of the Holy Water, which has drawn pilgrims for generations. When Tungurahua became active again in 1999 residents were evacuated for a time, and the town later grew into a centre for adventure travel.
People
Residents speak Spanish and many work in tourism, farming and the sweet shops where melcocha is pulled by hand on hooks in the doorways.
Known for
- Thermal baths fed by volcanic springs
- The waterfall route down the Pastaza valley
- Adventure sports
- The swing at Casa del Árbol
Did you know?
The town's full name, Baños de Agua Santa, means baths of holy water, after the springs believed to have healing powers.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.