Introduction to Baños – Ecuador

Baños is a small famous town nestled in the Andes Mountains in central Ecuador. This popular destination is renowned for its natural geothermal waters, spectacular waterfalls, hiking and mountaineering, outdoor adventure activities, gimmicky themed attractions and its phenomenal natural setting.

The town’s name…

The word ‘baños’ in Spanish means ‘bath’, so in Ecuador places that have natural geothermal waters tend to be named ‘Baños’. Thus, there are several towns in Ecuador named Baños. Each town actually has a longer official name.

This particular town is officially called Baños de Aqua Santa. That translates as ‘Baths of Holy Waters’. As Ecuador’s largest, most famous hot springs town, it’s generally just referred to simply as Baños, and everyone understands that to mean this Baños.

Baños’ spectacular natural setting

As I mentioned above, Baños is nestled in the central Andes Mountains. The little town is packed between soaring, forest-covered, near-vertical mountain ridges and peaks.

Baños is also situated at the base of Tungurahua Volcano, one of Ecuador’s highest and most active volcanoes. In fact, Tungurahua is one of the most active volcanoes in all of South America!

The nearly-perfect cone-shaped volcano reaches 5023 M / 16,480 ft and is usually topped with snow. Baños town itself is located at 1820 M / 5971 ft. That means Mt. Tungurahua soars another 3000 M / 10,000+ ft above the town and way above the lower mountain ridges surrounding Baños.

However, mighty Tungurahua is often completely hidden behind dense clouds, never to be seen. While the pther mountain ridges immediately hedging in Baños soar quite high overhead, it’s hard to believe that there’s actually a much, much higher mountain just behind them. If only one could see it.

Tungurahua Volcano – seen from Latacunga – nearly 100 km / 60 miles away

On the other hand, during clear months, Tungurahua is clearly visible from Baños and the surrounding region. And sometimes Tungurahua becomes active, spewing miles’ high ash clouds or molten lava. The last series of major eruptions was in 2006, when the volcanic activity destroyed three villages on the mountain’s flanks. But the activity actually persisted from 2000-2016.

Baños municipality now has in place clear evacuation rules and routes marked all over town in anticipation of Tungurahua’s next dramatic activity.

As if all the beautiful mountains and majestic volcano weren’t enough scenery for Baños, the town is also situated along Rio Pastaza, a river that winds its way through the mountains, en route to the Amazon.

It would be more accurate to say that Baños is located above the river, as it’s situated on top of the river gorge. Over millenia Rio Pastaza’s gushing waters have dug a deep canyon through the moutains.

At one spot within this long, winding river valley a flat plateau is wedged between the top of the gorge and the mountain ridge near the base of Tungurahua. The town of Baños was established there.

Thus one side of the town is halted by a soaring mountain ridge. The other side of town lies right on the edge of the deep gorge, where sheer cliffs plunge down to the river. Waterfalls plunge off the cliffs into the river right there as well, adding to the dramatic spectacle.

Two high bridges span the river gorge at Baños. The main steel vehicular bridge crosses on top of the cliffs, high above the canyon. A lower, narrower pedestrian bridge also spans the gorge. From either of these bridges you can see the voluminous waterfalls plunge off the cliffs into the river.

Baños’ geothermal pools

For many visitors to Baños, the town’s public geothermal pools are the main attraction. Several baths are situated in town, others are a short distance outside Baños. Most are fairly simple affairs, consisting of one or two outdoor ‘swimming’ pools filled with natural geothermal waters. The various pools generally cost about $4 US per person.

Because of their popularity, the pools at Baños often are busy, which usually also means noisy. Local elders who use the baths seem to enjoy chatting loudly. Then families bustle in with noisy, excited children. The whole scene can easily turn into a zoo, especially on weekends.

Travelers’ whose idea of hot springs is to relax and unwind will probably find the pools at Baños not really their idea of a great hot springs experience. It might be better to visit a less famous Baños town in Ecuador.

Waterfalls of Baños

Besides the natural geothermal pools, Baños is also renowned for its many spectacular waterfalls. Reportedly, there are over 300 waterfalls in & around Baños. Right above town, one extremely long slim waterfall glides down the moutainside, high above town, ending at street level.

As already noted, two other high, gushing waterfalls plunge off the cliffs into the river right at town. From the bridges, looking northward into the gorge, you can see yet another voluminous waterfall plunging out of the cliffs into the river.

Dozens and dozens of other waterfalls can be accessed from Baños by hiking, cycling, taking a bus or driving. Some can be seen from the valley’s sole highway, either cascading down the mountains or plunging off the cliffs into the river canyon. Others require a hike to reach.

Some waterfalls are quite famous tourist attractions in their own right. Easily the most famous fall is Pailon del Diablo, or ‘Devil’s Cauldron’. As the name implies, the river creates a huge swirling, frothing deep pool of water. It’s really a spectacular waterfall that plunges high off a cliff with tremendous volume and force of water that is permanently roaring.

To witness Pailon del Diablo visitors must hike down a steep jungle-y trail to arrive near the base of the roaring falls. From there, a series of stairs and viewing platforms have been built to watch the spectacle from various levels and angles. Adventurous visitors can even walk behind the deafening falls, getting completely drenched in the process.

Many other falls, tall or short, roaring or swishing, gushing or gurgling, can be visited by simply walking out of town. Others can be accessed by bike, car or bus and then usually taking a short walk.

Outdoor adventure activities at Baños

Because of Baños’ natural setting at Tungurahua Volcano and with lesser mountains, cliffs, the river gorge, the long valley, hiking trails and cycling opps, a whole bunch of adventure companies have set up various activities and tours in Baños.

Adventure options include bungy jumping off bridges over the river gorge, cycling through the valley on the ‘Route of Waterfalls’, hiking, mountaineering on Tungurahua, off-road cycling, horeseback riding, a cable car across the canyon, high swings, and many other activities.

Hiking is one of the activities that can easily be done independently, and for free, in and around Baños. Many trails start right from the edge of town. They include several trails up the closest mountainside to various look-out points, a loop trail across the river and over two canyon bridges, a hike up into an adjacent river valley, hikes on the flanks of Tungurahua, and a hike across yet another bridge to a lesser-known but spectacular gushing waterfall & whirpools.

Baños’ gimmicky family attractions

For whatever reason, some folks at Baños have developed a whole bunch of amusement attractions. There’s a Dinosaur Park with loud supposed dinosaur screams and roars that blast through the nearby mountains.

There’s a Volcano Museum, appropriately shaped like a volcanic cone. There’s an ‘Enchanted Forest’, ‘Troll Mountain’, a zoo, a noisy tourist shuttle vehicle shaped like a train, and several other gimmicky attractions.

Summary

So Baños is one of those famous places that offers widely differing activities and experiences for many very different types of visitors.

Independent travelers who love nature will certainly appreciate Baños’ spectacular natural setting, the waterfalls, hikes and/or other outdoor adventures. For these nature lovers’ it’s surprisingly easy to avoid the crowds & noise and slip alone into the mountains & valleys surrounding Baños.

On the other hand, people looking to ‘live it up’ with adventures or silly attractions can join the throngs at geothermal pools, attractions and tours.

Either way, Baños is definitely worth visiting while exploring Ecuador. I certainly enjoyed my week at Baños, hiking in the mountains and visiting several spectacular waterfalls.

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