Welcome to Baños
Baños is a mixed bag. The setting is amazing: you can see waterfalls, hike through lush forests, rest your bones in steaming thermal springs, hike down impossibly steep gorges, bike or boat all the way to the Amazon Basin, and marvel at the occasional eruption of nearby Volcán Tungurahua. The town itself is somewhat overwhelmed with garish tour operators, cut-price spas and budget accommodations, but the jigsaw puzzle–like sidewalks in red, yellow, and blue are wide enough to stroll on, and the cathedrals, spotlit in different colors, look pretty from the plazas at night.
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Baños activities
Canyoning in Rio Blanco from Baños
Meet at the office in Banos at 9:00am and receive all your equipment. You will put on your wet suit and get on the vehicle to head to Rio Blanco. Opon arrival, your guides will give you a safety briefing and you will be able to practice several times on land before entering the canyon. Then, it is time for the adventure to begin. You will negotiate your way down steep canyons by abseiling and jumping waterfalls and cliffs. Have fun as you cascade down natural chutes and also swim through crystal clear pools. Your guide will be with you at all times helping you as you go down. Admire the beautiful surroundings and lush vegetation. This tour involves spending 80% of the time in the water, so get ready to be wet. Once you reach the end of the canyon, you will dry-off and we'll head back to Baños where you can enjoy a sandwich and drinks to top-off this wonderful day. This tour in Rio Blanco among the seclusion of the canyons is the perfect way to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Join this tour and spend the day exploring some of Ecuador's last wilderness frontiers.
Private 2-Day Quilotoa Lagoon and Baños from Quito
Day 1: Quito - Quilotoa Lagoon ( lunch )Your 2-day tour starts a journey through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, passing through by the towns of Latacunga and Pujilí. On the way to Quilotoa, you’ll stop to visit an indigenous thatched house from the Paramos tribe, where you’ll observe customs of residents.Visit the town of Tigua, famous for its naive paintings. Then, continue up to the Quilotoa volcano, where you will be able to descend to the Quilotoa Lagoon located inside the crater. Once there you can enjoy of kayaking ride inside of the lake or go mule riding back to the top.Overnight in BañosDay 2: Baños - Quito (breakfast, lunch)After breakfast, you will take a walk to Agoyan Pailón del Diablo and Manto de la Novia waterfalls where it is possible to take a cable car down near the waterfall and Casa del Árbol to have a spectacular view of Baños.Lunch and around 14:30 pm return to Quito.
Banos to Puyo Amazon Rainforest Full-Day Trip Including Lunch
Your day trip to the Amazon jungle starts with meeting at a central location in Baños at 8:30 am. There, you will meet your prepared and experienced leaders and board a private vehicle to head to Puyo. After approximately 1 hour, you will reach Puyo where your first stop will be a rescue center for animals. Here, you will see monkeys, ocelots and caimans. We will then head to the camp in Hola Vida Reserve, an ecological reserve of 225 hectares dedicated to the conservation of the environment. You will first head with your guide to visit a beautiful waterfall located about two hours away from the cabins in the reserve. Once there, you will have a chance to swim and enjoy the tranquility of the forest. Spend some time here, taking in the atmosphere and stunning settings, which make this area a memorable place. Then, it is time to head back to the cabins and camp. On your way back, you will pass through and explore the jungle with your guide. Learn about the rainforest and its flora and fauna and try to spot interesting flowers and birds. Once you reach the cabins, you will enjoy a delicious and traditional lunch and then head on an exciting paddle canoe ride on the Puyo river. After 30-minutes of fun in the river, you will visit a viewpoint to admire an exceptional view of the rainforest and then continue your tour by visiting a Quichua indigenous community. See the people and how they make necklaces and bracelets. Here, you can also try and practice the blowpipe and paint your faces with achiote, which is a natural paint. After a fun-filled jungle adventure, you will be taken back to Baños.
FROM QUITO TO BAÑOS
Day 1: We start our tour from Quito early in the morning. The first day we will drive to Quilotoa Crater Lake but on the way we will have some stops. Depending of the day of departure we will stop at one of the traditional indigenous markets. This can be in Pujilí or Zumbahua that operate once a week and where the locals from the area congregate to sell their products. Another stop Tigua village and their famous painters who have achieved a prestigious name for painting indigenous traditions and Andean landscapes on goatskin. One stop more will be in the Toachi canyons before we continue to Quilotoa. This is our destination, where it will be possible to hike part of the edge of the crater or hike down to the lake (this hike is demanding but it is possible to hire a mule for the return climb. (This cost is not included). We will have lunch at one of the locally own restaurants in the area and will move to Baños. On the way we will stop to try traditional ice-creams elaborated in the area. Our final destination this first day is a little town called “Baños” one of the most popular and interesting towns on the way to the Amazon Rainforest.Day 2: We have breakfast at the hotel and we will move east to visit the amazing route of the waterfalls where we have the chance to have a little ride on a gondola crossing the big Pastaza River to get a close view of one of the waterfalls called “Manto de la novia”. We will also visit another waterfall called “Pailon Del Diablo” or Devil’s cauldron in English. To get here we will have a hike along a forest path for around 45 minutes. We will return to Baños for lunch. In the afternoon we will go swinging on the swing at the end of the world and visit the town. The rest of the afternoon will be free for you to explore the area.Day 3: This third day we will start our return to Quito. On the way we will visit the Salasacas indigenous group and their textile shops located in the main square of this town. We will continue to “Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park”, a volcano of 5.897-m-high considered the highest active volcano in the world. This is an impressive sight to see if weather conditions are in our favor. During our stay at the National Park we will admire its natural environment, its Flora and Fauna with the explanations provided by your naturalist guide. We have a hike around Limpiopungo Lake which is located at the foot of the volcano and another one by the edge of a cliff watching the native vegetation . We will have lunch in the area of Cotopaxi and will return to Quito afterwards.
From the Andes to the Amazon 3D - 2N Cotopaxi - Quilotoa - Baños - Puyo
An early departure at 7:30 am ventures you into the Ecuadorean Andes through the Panamerican Highway admiring the diverse ecosystems of the route know as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes", a clear sample of the majesty of the Andes. An hour and a half ride, 45 km south from Quito, will bring you to the Cotopaxi National Park, arriving at the foot of the impressive active volcano 5.897-m-high, considered the highest active volcano in the world. You'll hike around the Limpiopungo Lagoon and, weather permitting, you'll get the best view of Cotopaxi. Following, you'll head out to Quilotoa Lake, a 3km wide water filled caldera formed by the collapse of the volcano's crater after a massive eruption. Here it is possible to either hike around the edge of the caldera or do the hike towards the lake. There are kayaks available at the lake for rent, which will add a sense of adventure to your visit to this breathtaking site. You’ll have lunch in a local restaurant and make your way to Baños late in the afternoon. Overnight in Baños. The next day you’ll explore the route of the waterfalls. Baños de Agua Santa (Spanish for Baths of Holy Water) is named after the hot springs located around the city which have a reputation of having healing properties due to their mineral content. Visit Pailón del Diablo, one of the largest and most spectacular falls in Ecuador. Baños is also known as the "Gateway to the Amazon", as it's the last big city still located in the mountains before reaching the rainforest in the lowlands. This day you'll get the opportunity to experience the diversity and beauty of the Amazon Rainforest by visiting "Hola Vida" reserve, just a few kilometers away from Puyo. Be ready for a day full of possibilities and maximum flexibility in the visits and activities available. On the last day, prior to your departure from the beautiful city of Baños, you'll visit “The Tree House” and swing at the most famous site with the best look out to Tungurahua Volcano. Later, you'll drive back to Quito and enjoy lunch in the way.
3-Day Quilotoa Lagoon and Baños Hot Springs
Day 1: Quilotoa Lagoon The tour starts with hotel pickup followed by a journey through the Avenue of the Volcanoes. We you'll stop to visit an indigenous local house from the Paramos. Observe the clothes and customs of the indigenous andean cultures, and observe indigenous houses made of straw on the way. Then, you'll visit the town of Tigua, famous for its naive paintings. Continue up to the Quilotoa volcano, where you will be able to descend to the lake located inside the crater or just walk around the crater. Return from the lagoon by mule (own expense) before drop-off at your accommodation. Accommodation in Chugchilan. Day 2: Quilotoa Lagoon to Baños Departure in the morning from Chugchilan to Baños. Briefly stop in Salcedo to try the best Ecuadorian tropical ice creams. On the way to Baños, you'll visit Salasacas Indigenous Market. Lunch in Baños In the afternoon, After lunch, we’ll take a walk to Agoyan Pailón del Diablo and Manto de la Novia waterfalls where it is possible to take a cable car down near the waterfall and Casa del Árbol to have a spectacular view of Baños. Accommodation in BañosOptional: Thursday, Saquisili Indigenous Market, Saturday, Zumbahua Market Day 3: Baños to Quito Your private guide is at your disposal for the whole day, letting you customize your itinerary. Choose to visit natural landmarks such as biking, horseback riding, rafting, canopy and bungee jumping. After lunch, at around 2pm, return to Quito. Tourist Class option includes Private transportationCertified bilingual guideDriver / guide from 1 - 3 passengers1 menu lunch, 2 breakfast, 1 dinnerEntrance fee in Quilotoa, Pailon del Diablo, Manto de la Novia waterfalls, Casa del ÁrbolAccommodation in Mama Hilda in Chugchilan; Hotel La Floresta in BañosExcursionsTourist Superior Class option includes Private transportationCertified bilingual guideDriver / guide from 1 - 3 passengers2 menu lunch, 2 breakfast, 1 dinnerEntrance fee in Quilotoa, Pailon del Diablo, Manto de la Novia waterfalls, Casa del ÁrbolAccommodation in Black Sheep in Chugchilan; Samari Spa & Resort in BañosExcursions