Located in the province of Tungurahua in Ecuador’s Andean region, Baños de Agua Santa is a tourist town that sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The area is known for its hot springs, waterfalls and rivers, as well as for the huge variety of outdoor and cultural activities on offer.
Among the most popular tourist attractions in Baños de Agua Santa are the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, the Baños cable car, the hot springs of the city and the Mirador Cruz de Bellavista, among others. Read on to discover these places and a few others, as well as some tips to help you organize your trip with greater ease.
What are the best things to see and do in Baños de Agua Santa?
1. El Pailon del Diablo Waterfall
Although it is not exactly in the city of Baños, but about 15 kilometres away, the Pailón del Diablo waterfall is one of the main attractions you should visit. This impressive waterfall is some 80 metres high, and its eerie name comes from the fact that, according to legend. If you stare into the mist created by the waterfall and catch a glimpse of the “pailón” or cauldron-shaped rock into which the water falls, you can see the face of the devil.
Besides watching the waterfall, you can do many other nature-related activities in the place where the Pailon is located. Examples of these are organized ecological walks, crossing a suspension bridge or entering the “Grieta al Cielo”, a huge crack in the rock generated over centuries by water erosion. The entrance fee to the waterfall and surrounding area is €2.5.
2. Waterfall traverses on tarabita
In case you don’t know the word, a tarabita is a kind of cable car widely used in the mountainous areas of Latin America to cross river areas or ravines. And besides being a practical means of transport, it is also a real adventure that you can experience on your trip to Baños de Agua Santa.
Known as Tarabita Manto de la Novia, this cable car crosses the Pastaza River and takes visitors to the “Manto de la Novia” waterfall, a beautiful 60-metre high waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. This thrilling experience offers breathtaking views of the river and the surrounding rainforest.
3. Mirador Cruz de Bellavista
If you want to know where to get the perfect postcard of your trip to Baños de Agua Santa, the undisputed answer is the Mirador Cruz de Bellavista. And not only that. The viewpoint is high enough to offer views. Not only to the beautiful city, but to the entire valley and the immense Tungurahua volcano.
Although you can, of course, get there by taxi. A very good option if time permits is to walk from Baños. The walk takes about half an hour, but will pass in the blink of an eye thanks to the beauty of the road. However, if your legs aren’t used to climbing hills, it’s best to get there by taxi and walk back.
Price for access to the lookout point: €2.
4. Treehouse
One of the most popular places among visitors to Baños de Agua Santa is its famous Tree House. It is located 2660 metres above sea level on the slopes of the Tungurahua volcano. So, it offers wonderful views of the valley. Visiting the Tree House is also an adventure, as it has a cliff-side swing that, if you decide to climb, will send you soaring over Tungurahua.
It can be reached with your own vehicle or by bus. The entrance fee to the house is €1, and it is open from 7:00 to 19:00.
5. Visit the hot springs of Baños de Agua Santa
And in a town called “Baños de Agua Santa”, you can’t miss the natural hot springs that spring from the mountains. One of the most relaxing is the hot springs “El Placer”. They are located in the Sangay National Park, some 140 km from Baños. But are well worth a visit if you have the time. Visiting the El Placer hot springs is an experience only for the most adventurous and nature-loving, as getting there is not easy, but very beautiful. First you have to reach the wetlands known as Laguna Negra, about two hours by car from Baños. And here begins a beautiful walk of about 3 hours in the middle of nature. The hot springs are a natural oasis of tranquillity and beauty.
But these are not the only ones. If you want some closer to Baños de Agua Santa and with a less demanding route, we recommend the Santa Ana hot springs. With different pools of sulphate waters and different temperatures, with incredible views of the mountains. The price is €2 adults and €1 children.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in the surroundings of Baños de Agua Santa?
Quito, the capital city of Ecuador
Baños de Agua Santa is about 190 km from Quito. So, it’s likely that if you’re travelling to the Amazonian city, you’ll pass through Quito first. So, if you didn’t plan to spend at least a day in Quito before heading to Baños, we highly recommend you do so. As the capital of Ecuador is a beautiful city that’s well worth a visit.
Quito is a city steeped in history and culture and is known for its beautiful colonial architecture and stunning mountain views. Its Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to colonial churches and beautiful old squares. The Parque Metropolitano is one of the city’s largest parks and offers panoramic views and picnic areas. Other tourist attractions include the Panecillo, the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the Museo de la Ciudad and the Cable Car. These are just some of the many attractions Quito has to offer visitors. But this vibrant city has much more to discover.
What and where to eat in Baños de Agua Santa
Ecuadorian gastronomy is characterized by a mixture of indigenous, Spanish and African influences, as well as by the use of seasonal products. Among its typical dishes include ceviche, locro de papas, seco de carne, arroz con menestra and churrasco, among others. And more specifically from Baños, one of its dishes per excellence are the empanadas de viento, delicious wheat flour pasties filled with cheese.
- Restaurante Las Orquídeas: A restaurant with traditional cuisine of Ecuador and Baños on the slopes of the Tunguragua volcano and beautiful views. Try their cuy and caldo de gallina, a delight. Price range: €3-10
- El Chozón Bar & Grill: A pleasant restaurant with a tropical and Amazonian atmosphere, specializing in grilled meats. On Saturday nights, there’s live music. Price range: €5-20
Where to sleep in Baños de Agua Santa?
- Pailón Grieta al Cielo Tourist Complex: If you want to live the full experience offered by the Pailón del Diablo waterfall, a good option is to stay in the huts immersed in the Ecuadorian jungle. Trails, wild flowers, the profound tranquillity of nature… one of the most special accommodations in Baños. Price for two people per night: €100
- Aldea Real Eco Friendly: In a place full of nature and dreamy landscapes, it’s best to take the opportunity to stay in a place with views like a film. The Aldea Real Eco Friendly hotel is one of the places that offer it. Its rooms, as well as being spacious and comfortable, have huge windows with views of the mountains and the Pastaza River. Price per night: €63
What should I know before travelling to Baños de Agua Santa?
- The official currency of Ecuador is the United States dollar (USD).
- Always carry a lake of cash on you, not all shops accept credit cards.
- The official language of Ecuador is Spanish.
- Always have mosquito repellent on hand.
- Wear warm clothing, especially for the evening, as temperatures vary greatly throughout the day.
- Wear suitable footwear, and you are going on nature trails and avoid dangerous areas.
- Although the water is safe to drink, we advise you to drink bottled water and to be cautious with street food.
- Brace yourself for medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Do not display valuables in public, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
- Although Baños de Agua Santa is a safe city for tourists, we recommend that you take care with your belongings in crowded places.
How to organize a trip to Baños de Agua Santa
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Baños de Agua Santa…
If you have any doubts about how to do this, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions before a trip to Baños de Agua Santa
Baños de Agua Santa has a tropical mountain climate, so temperatures vary greatly throughout the day, but remain stable throughout the year, with daytime highs between 12ºC and 14ºC and nighttime lows between 4ºC and 6ºC. The warmest month is November. The warmest month is November, but it is also one of the wettest, with an average of 28 days of rain per month. The driest month is August, with an average of 19 days.
The best time to travel to Baños de Agua Santa is during the dry season, from June to September, and especially in August. During these months the temperature is cooler, but there is less rainfall, so it can be a good time for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and enjoying the hot springs and waterfalls.
The best way to get from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa is by bus, as the journey takes only about 3 hours and costs around 5€. Buses to Baños leave from Quito station every 15 minutes.
No Comments