Baños: waterfalls, hot springs and adventure

The Waterfall Route

The **Ruta de las Cascadas** follows the road east towards Puyo, past more than a dozen waterfalls. The classic way to do it is by renting a bicycle in town and riding mostly downhill, then catching a pickup or bus back.

• **Manto de la Novia** can be crossed by a cable car, called a tarabita, over the gorge.
• **Pailón del Diablo**, the Devil's Cauldron, is the star: a thundering waterfall where trails and swaying bridges take you right beside the spray, and a narrow crawl space leads behind the water.
• **Machay** has a forest trail past several smaller falls, good for families.

Wear a waterproof jacket, and use the bike lanes where they exist, as trucks and buses share the road.

Hot springs

The town is named after its thermal baths. **Las Piscinas de la Virgen**, below a waterfall at the edge of town, are the most famous public pools and are liveliest early in the morning and in the evening. **Termas El Salado** sits a short ride out of town. Several hotels and spas have their own thermal pools for a quieter soak.

The swing at the end of the world

Up the hillside, the **Casa del Árbol** has a swing on a treehouse that sends you out over a deep valley, with Tungurahua behind on clear mornings. Take a taxi or bus up and walk back down, or combine it with the **Ojos del Volcán** viewpoint. Go early for the best chance of seeing the volcano.

Adventure activities

Operators in town run rafting on the Pastaza River, canyoning down waterfalls, ziplines, puenting (bridge swinging) and paragliding. Safety standards vary, so choose established operators, check equipment and ask about guide training and insurance. Avoid rafting or canyoning after heavy rain.

The town itself

The **Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa** is a pilgrimage site full of paintings of miracles. Watch taffy makers stretch melcocha, a sugar cane sweet, on wooden hooks in shop doorways, and try the local guava paste and sugar cane juice. Evenings are relaxed, with plenty of cafés and international restaurants.

Onward to the Amazon

Baños is the gateway to **Puyo** and the rainforest region. Many visitors continue to Tena or Puyo for jungle trips, or head back up to **Riobamba** and the Chimborazo volcano, Ecuador's highest peak.

Safety

Tungurahua is an active volcano, though it has been quieter in recent years. Note the evacuation routes signposted around town and check official alerts from the Geophysical Institute before hiking. Keep valuables close on buses to and from Baños, where bag theft from overhead racks is a known problem.

Where to stay and eat

The centre has budget and mid-range hotels within walking distance of everything, while hillside spa hotels offer views and thermal pools. Restaurants serve everything from almuerzos to pizza and vegetarian food. Try the local sugar cane products and fresh trout.

A suggested two days

On day one, soak in the morning thermal pools, then ride the Waterfall Route to Pailón del Diablo and return by pickup. On day two, go up early to the Casa del Árbol swing, spend the afternoon rafting or on a gentle canyon walk, and finish with a spa or a relaxed dinner in town.