We will be in Banos in September for a few days and are looking for recs on some outdoor activities. We keep reading how great it is for hiking/biking/etc, and would love to hear some specific recommendations of good hikes or bike rides etc. We are looking for a little adventure but are by no means seasoned outdoor adventure type so nothing too wild. Read that the bike ride down to Rio Verde and the waterfall near there is quite nice, has anyone tried this and would you recommend it? Is there a good resource on line or elsewhere that covers some of the different hikes in the area? Finally the guide books mentioned in passing that there are cloud forests near banos. Any information on where this is and if there are any good hikes. Thanks so much.
p.s hope the roads open up soon for all of you trying to get there!
I went to Banos on the spur of the moment, not having researched anything. The whole town (well, all four streets!) is full of very friendly and helpful tour operators and the best thing to do is spend a couple of hours visiting several, to compare itineraries, prices and duration. There does not tend to be a standard tour, the horserides for example can last one, two, four or eight hours depending on what you want to see, your experience, and your budget. As it is often just you and the guide, you could even personalise your own tour, I guess.
So my recommendation would be to go and ask the guides - that's what they're there for - and as the town lives off tourism they treat you well and work hard to maintain their good reputation, rather than trying to rip you off.
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