Activities in Baños Ecuador, Information Travel Agencies, Tour Operators
Baños de Agua Santa
Situated in a valley of waterfalls and hotsprings, Baños has become a popular destination for travellers seeking year-round temperate weather, a small town atmosphere, and a base for exploring the great Ecuadorian outdoors. Located four hours by bus from Quito, Baños offers Rafting, Kayaking, Canyoning, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, Trekking, Bridge Jumping, Zip Lining, Horse Riding and much more.- It also offers easy access to Riobamba, the starting point of the exhilarating train journey down the Devil's Nose to the coast, and to Puyo, one of the gateways to the Amazon. Baños also serves as a popular site for studying Spanish -- a mellower and cheaper alternative to Quito.
Midweek, Baños is a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity. The big events are the occasional performance of a traditional Andean band, the nightly English language movie at the Hood Cinema, or beers with friends at one of the local bars. However, on the weekends and during holidays, Baños explodes with carnival-like festivities. Children straggle behind their parents with neon balloons and sticky sweets; photographers position themselves on street corners offering instant snapshots; a cartoonish caterpillar train on wheels toots through town; and women in pastel painted stalls sell everything from hand-woven sweaters to imitation barbie dolls. Tables spilling out of cafes onto sidewalks provide the ideal location to watch the lively scene of Baños go by while enjoying a papaya or sugar cane juice.
Baños is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Ecuadorian Sierra. Apart from food and a small but boisterous nightlife, you have to go outside of the town limits to find incredible outdoor activities. With plenty of hiking, bike paths, nearby spas, and tours this is not hard to do.
Spend the day biking mostly downhill through spectacular scenery and past several waterfalls, some of which splash onto your path towards Puyo. This can be a half-day trip or an all-day trip depending on how fast you go and how far you take the path. To go all the way to Puyo is 60 km. Most travelers stop 17 km down the road at the beautiful Pailón del Diablo waterfall.
Midweek, Baños is a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity. The big events are the occasional performance of a traditional Andean band, the nightly English language movie at the Hood Cinema, or beers with friends at one of the local bars. However, on the weekends and during holidays, Baños explodes with carnival-like festivities. Children straggle behind their parents with neon balloons and sticky sweets; photographers position themselves on street corners offering instant snapshots; a cartoonish caterpillar train on wheels toots through town; and women in pastel painted stalls sell everything from hand-woven sweaters to imitation barbie dolls. Tables spilling out of cafes onto sidewalks provide the ideal location to watch the lively scene of Baños go by while enjoying a papaya or sugar cane juice.
Baños is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Ecuadorian Sierra. Apart from food and a small but boisterous nightlife, you have to go outside of the town limits to find incredible outdoor activities. With plenty of hiking, bike paths, nearby spas, and tours this is not hard to do.
Spend the day biking mostly downhill through spectacular scenery and past several waterfalls, some of which splash onto your path towards Puyo. This can be a half-day trip or an all-day trip depending on how fast you go and how far you take the path. To go all the way to Puyo is 60 km. Most travelers stop 17 km down the road at the beautiful Pailón del Diablo waterfall.
Getting To and Around Baños
Direct and connected flights to Ecuador are available all year round. During low season cheap flights to Ecuador can be booked for heavily discounted prices. From Quito (the capital) and other Ecuadorian cities, bus connections to Baños are available every day. There are lots of online web portal that specialise in tourist services, information and more. For example the portal www.imagineecuador.com offers interesting information about Baños and a web directory where you can search for hostels, hotels and attractions prior to your arrival.
Bus services depart from all over the countryside. The main services run out of Tungurahua, Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Latacunga, Riobamba and, Puyo. The bus station Quitumbe in Quito
Bus services depart from all over the countryside. The main services run out of Tungurahua, Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Latacunga, Riobamba and, Puyo. The bus station Quitumbe in Quito
Things to Do
Plan to visit the church museum and local art galleries. Some local artists have won international awards for their Andean artwork.
The name Baños (pronounced by some people Banios or Banos) came from the hot springs found all around the city. The baths, "baños", are located just a few blocks away from the city center. Baños water is sometimes yellow colored by the high mineral content, and the temperature varies by the amount of cold water mixed into the bath. I suggest you go and enjoy at least once the thermal springs in town. Preferably, La Virgen hot springs - this is one of the hot spots for locals and tourists alike . Also there are springs located in Santa Clara that feature a sauna and a gym as well. El Salado hot springs are 5 minutes away if you take a local bus or a taxi. Some other hot springs such as, Santa Ana, and Eduardo's baths are near town. Just ask a friendly local who will assist you with directions once you are in the city.
There is a beautiful waterfall next to La Virgen hot springs - make sure you spend time there, especially for the spectacular photo opportunities.
Another ´must see´ place to visit and is called El Manto de la Novia. You can hire a local tour guide for this kind of trip. Prices are low and the adventure is worth it! A one day tour will ensure you get to see everything.
Spanish schools in Baños are great way to meet new people, make friends and get into the local culture by learning a new lanaguage: Espanol.
Tours in Baños, Outdoor Adventures
* Biking
* Bridge Jumping
* Canyoning
* Hiking
* Horse Riding
* Paragliding
* Rock Climbing
* Trekking
* Whitewater Kayaking
* Whitewater Rafting
* Zip Lining
Plan to visit the church museum and local art galleries. Some local artists have won international awards for their Andean artwork.
The name Baños (pronounced by some people Banios or Banos) came from the hot springs found all around the city. The baths, "baños", are located just a few blocks away from the city center. Baños water is sometimes yellow colored by the high mineral content, and the temperature varies by the amount of cold water mixed into the bath. I suggest you go and enjoy at least once the thermal springs in town. Preferably, La Virgen hot springs - this is one of the hot spots for locals and tourists alike . Also there are springs located in Santa Clara that feature a sauna and a gym as well. El Salado hot springs are 5 minutes away if you take a local bus or a taxi. Some other hot springs such as, Santa Ana, and Eduardo's baths are near town. Just ask a friendly local who will assist you with directions once you are in the city.
There is a beautiful waterfall next to La Virgen hot springs - make sure you spend time there, especially for the spectacular photo opportunities.
Another ´must see´ place to visit and is called El Manto de la Novia. You can hire a local tour guide for this kind of trip. Prices are low and the adventure is worth it! A one day tour will ensure you get to see everything.
Spanish schools in Baños are great way to meet new people, make friends and get into the local culture by learning a new lanaguage: Espanol.
Tours in Baños, Outdoor Adventures
* Biking
* Bridge Jumping
* Canyoning
* Hiking
* Horse Riding
* Paragliding
* Rock Climbing
* Trekking
* Whitewater Kayaking
* Whitewater Rafting
* Zip Lining
Baños Tour Operators, Travel Agencies
Imagine Ecuador -Tour Operator Banos
www.imagineecuador.com
info@imagineecuador.com
Local Markets and Shopping
* Local Markets offer fresh fruits, vegetables and more for very low price. Perfect for the backpacker budget! Make sure to wash your fruits before you eat them.
* Visit the famous local handicraft market. Try your hand at bartering but don´t go overboard! Craft stalls and shops offer handiwork made with wood, wool and silver. The jewellery in particular is very popular. Bigger shops accept credit cards, however, in the streets they accept cash only. Banks and ATM's are all available on the main streets. Banco Pichincha is located on the corner of Thomas Halflants and Ambato Streets, Baños.
* Be sure to sink your teeth into some Melcocha! You can even see this sweet treat being prepared all across town. The locals prepare it by pulling and beating the taffy against a door frame – a sight to be seen and definitely not something you see every day! Traditionally, this taffy is eaten with a big class of morocho, a milk based beverage with corn and no added sugar. Locals who don´t have such a sweet tooth enjoy this snack with morocho.
www.imagineecuador.com
info@imagineecuador.com
Local Markets and Shopping
* Local Markets offer fresh fruits, vegetables and more for very low price. Perfect for the backpacker budget! Make sure to wash your fruits before you eat them.
* Visit the famous local handicraft market. Try your hand at bartering but don´t go overboard! Craft stalls and shops offer handiwork made with wood, wool and silver. The jewellery in particular is very popular. Bigger shops accept credit cards, however, in the streets they accept cash only. Banks and ATM's are all available on the main streets. Banco Pichincha is located on the corner of Thomas Halflants and Ambato Streets, Baños.
* Be sure to sink your teeth into some Melcocha! You can even see this sweet treat being prepared all across town. The locals prepare it by pulling and beating the taffy against a door frame – a sight to be seen and definitely not something you see every day! Traditionally, this taffy is eaten with a big class of morocho, a milk based beverage with corn and no added sugar. Locals who don´t have such a sweet tooth enjoy this snack with morocho.
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