A three-hour drive south from the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, Baños de Agua Santa is a small town en route to the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is at this point where you notice the change in climate and terrain as it becomes warmer in a mountainous landscape rich in vegetation. The route is very scenic where you will pass by several volcanos through a region that is known as ‘La Avenida de Los Volcanes’ (Volcano Avenue). Given that it is a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of these magnificent monuments of nature that usually hide behind the clouds. For a tasty treat, you can make a stop on the highway at one of the many stalls/shops selling the nationally famous ‘Helados de Salcedo’. These are ice creams with different natural fruit juice flavors layered horizontally. Another city on the way to Baños is Ambato; recognized for their bread and traditional rabbit dish. Ambato also has a bus terminal which connects to Baños and also offers tours to Volcan Chimborazo – which at almost 6300 meters, is the highest in Ecuador.
The town of Baños itself is small with a marketplace, plaza, a small basilica, and hot water spring all within a 5-minute walking distance of each other. Despite being a small town, it also has a lively nightlife with several bars and clubs. There are also several tour agencies that provide tours in a unique party-like bus called Chivas stopping at several destinations. The hot spring is rather special in Baños and is embodied in the town’s name since Baños de Agua Santa translates to Baths of Holy Water. The town is a well-visited pilgrimage destination for devout Catholics as the water from the hot springs has been associated with miraculous curative events. Ultimately, Baños is a frequented tourist spot for both foreign nationals and Ecuadorians – especially those from the capital.
Casa del Arbol
Home to the famed swing at the end of the world, this spot is about 20 minutes away from Baños and also part of the Chivas tour. Entrance costs 1 USD1 to access the site which has a garden, 6 swings, and a restaurant cafe. Located high up on a mountain, it has a great view of Volcan Tungurahua provided it’s a clear day. The busiest 2 swings are the ones next to the iconic tree house. Perspective is what makes the great pictures seen on the internet. You have to time the photo with the volcano in the background and at an angle that makes it look like your swinging off the end of the mountain. Do try to get here early as it can get extremely busy. If you get there around sundown, you may get less time on the swing as the operators try to get through everyone by the time it gets dark. There is also a queue to go up the treehouse which has a great view of the landscape and volcano. The weather is warm during the day and gets quite cold as the sun begins to set so bring a warm jumper or coat. Also, a great national hot drink to have in the cold is canelazo which is a national liquor and cinnamon based alcoholic drink.
Cascada Machay
One of the waterfalls near Baños which is about 35 minutes away is the Cascada Machay which is on the same route as Pailón del Diablo just 5 minutes further. The trail is maintained by the locals and entrance costs 1 USD. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk down a scenic dirt path to get to the viewpoint. Machay is a tall waterfall with a great landscape surrounding it. You can get closer to it by going down to the rocks. Doing so will guarantee you getting wet and the rocks are quite slippery so proceed with caution. It’s a great waterfall and you can go further downstream for a splash, but swimming near the waterfall is not permitted.
Other Activities
There is much more to do around Baños to get in touch with nature like the destinations mentioned above. In addition to these, there are also high adrenaline activities such as zip lining, rock climbing, rafting, bungee jumping to name a few. It’s one of my favorite places in Ecuador that I always go back to, and every time I go there’s something new to try out.
