Baños is one of those places that you can spend 2 days in or 2 months in and have a spectacular time. Known as Ecuador’s “adventure capital,” it is situated in the valley among 4 volcanoes– most notably the Tungurahua just south of town.
If you’re traveling from Quito, it’s cheapest and easiest to take a direct bus from the Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe bus station in the south of Quito. You can absolutely choose any of the bus operators, they’re all essentially the same. The trip should cost about $5 USD.
Note: if you’re prone to motion sickness, we highly recommend taking a Dramamine or something similar, as the road is very, very bumpy! The trip should take around 3 hours, depending on how fast your driver goes and how many stops they make.
And now, without further ado...
Our Top 5 Things to Do in Baños + Tips for Your Best Trip!
1. Swing at La Casa del Arbol
Known for “the swing at the end of the world,” La Casa del Arbol is one of the top attractions in the area. If you’re keen for a little hike, it’s a lovely (but uphill) walk to the entrance. Entry costs $2 per person. You can also take a taxi or a bus, too.
The little treehouse where the swing is was originally built there as a seismic-monitoring station to monitor nearby volcano Tungurahua. Nowadays, it has gained international renown for photos that look like you’re swinging into an abyss. (Spoiler alert: it’s just angles– the dropoff isn’t actually that steep.)
Note: unlike many other Baños activities, this is definitely not a “rain-or-shine” activity. As you can see in our photo above, it was very overcast and the fog was super thick when we went– total pea soup. You could barely see 10 feet in front of you. It was still beautiful to walk around and explore, but the swing was far less spectacular without the view.
However, on clear days, you can see the Tungurahua volcano, and of course get that great “edge of the world” photo.
Casa del Arbol also has a mini-zipline to explore, as well as a beautiful park and café area.
If you want to explore other swings, Casa del Arbol is the original but by no means the only option. Nearby, you can also explore Columpio Fantasías de Volar or Torre al Cielo.
2. Bike La Ruta de las Cascadas
One of the most exciting ways to spend an afternoon in Baños is renting a bike and conquering La Ruta de las Cascadas. It’s super easy to do this on your own, and there are tons of bike rental places to choose from in town. From there, just hop on the main road and go!
In addition to the stunning waterfalls, you’ll see lush greenery and gorgeous vistas of the river below from the road. It is just jaw-droppingly beautiful in this area, and a can’t-miss attraction if you’re visiting Baños.
This bike trip was our favorite thing that we did in Baños— so much so, that we thought it merited its own post. For all the best tips, a route map, and in-depth guide to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall park, don’t miss our Biking Baños guide!
3. Go for a dip in a thermal bath
There are a few options for thermal baths, something the Baños area is super well-known for.
Check out Balneario El Salado for locals-only vibes, or the popular Termas de la Virgen. When at Termas de la Virgen, make sure you don’t miss the nearby Cascada Caballera de la Virgen! You’ll have to rent a bathing cap when you arrive at most of the thermal baths, but the entrance + cap fees should be less than $5 total.
Tip: It’s best to visit the thermal baths at night. The cooler outside air feels really nice on your skin as you go between the different temperature tubs,
4. Adventure sports!
Baños is known as Ecuador’s adventure capital for good reason! There are tons of options for all thrill levels, from white water rafting, to tree-trekking/ziplining (also sometimes called “canopying” locally), or bungee-jumping and canyoning for the extra-adventurous.
While you can book some of these adventures online, it’s just as easy to walk around town and pop into the different kiosks. All the prices are largely the same, but you can also check out TripAdvisor or other sites if there’s a particular tour company that stands out to you.
Alternatively, if ziplining isn’t for you, you can also take a cable car over some of these waterfalls, too. While the ride can be a bit jerky, it’s definitely less scary than ziplining or tree-trekking.
Tip: For white-water rafting, canyoning, and the more intense activities, you should definitely sign up a day or two in advance, as they often leave very early in the morning.
5. Visit the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa (Our Lady of the Holy Water) + the Main Square
The main square in Baños is similar to a lot of Latin American squares, with the church being the highlight. We loved strolling around the square and admiring the beautiful trees, and sitting for a bit to people-watch on one of the benches. The inside of the church is beautiful, with lots of paintings and depictions of the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary.
We also loved trying local hot chocolate at nearby Arome Chocolate & Coffee. Ecuador is famous for its chocolate, and our favorite hot chocolate place that we tried was definitely Arome in Baños. They also have delicious chocolate-covered espresso beans! For a quick snack, check out vegan-friendly Venezuelan Arepas to Go— we loved it so much we went back a 2nd time!
Have you been to Baños de Agua Santa? What was your favorite activity? Let us know in the comments!
