Parks and the outdoors in Baños

Parks and the outdoors in Baños

1. Do

   Casa del Arbol

   Swing towards the mountains in the famous Casa del Arbol. Entrance costs $1. There are 2 swings with 2 more in construction. To get there, either hike (3 hr) or take a bus ($1 - 30 min). The bus generally comes back 1½ hr after it left you at the Casa del Arbol. In high season, the wait lines for the swings can grow quite big.

2. See

   Cascada de La Virgen

   This is the main waterfall near the city center which empties near the thermal baths.

3. Do

   Llanganates National Park

   Parque nacional Llanganates

   In Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Pastaza and Napo provinces. 219707 hectares.

4. See

   Manto de la novia

   This dynamic waterfall sometimes features two distinct chutes and has a cable car ride available.

5. See

   Mirador de Bellavista

   Viewpoint from where you can see Baños and the Pastaza river valley it's located in.

6. See

   Pailon de diablo

   This is the most impressive of the falls in the area with an option to hike to the source for a closer look. You can hike to it from both sides, the shorter one overlooks the falls from the top. The longer and a bit more strenous one (you need to cross the bridge for it) offers you views from the bottom. At the end of it there is a very narrow passage (only 80 cm high) where you literally need to crouch, but even if you don't do it then what you will see will be worth it. If you are taking a tour they may want to only take you for the first hike, but feel free to abandon your tour and cross the bridge to see the other one. There is plenty of transportation available which will take you back to Baños, including local buses charging $0.50 fare. There is a nice cafe (Cafe Pailón del Diablo) which can be reached from the longer hike, you need to cross a hanging bridge in order to get there.

   $2.00 (each side)

7. See

   Parque Central Palomino Flores

   The central park just west of downtown is lined by the city hall and tourist information.

8. Do

   Statue of the Virgin Mary

   Head up to the statue of the Virgin Mary which overlooks the town for nice views, but be warned, it's a heart-pumping hike! Elevation gain is 250m, the trail is mostly stairs. It starts next to the public cemetery, there is a small shop selling snacks at the beginning of the trail.

   Free

9. Do

   Termas de la Virgen

   Right next to the waterfalls, this public set of pools holds the heated water bubbling up from inside the earth and is popular among both Ecuadorian and foreign tourists. The water is quite cloudy but it seems it seems pools are completely emptied and cleaned at least daily. The pools have different temperatures, ranging from cold to very hot (signs advise not to stay more than 5 minutes, people alternate between this one and the coldest ones). $2 entry fee and they will keep your stuff behind the counter in an individual plastic bin. It is hygienic: they require you to change and shower before entering the pools, and wear a swimming hat which can be rented at the entrance. Nice view of the waterfall, and they channel some of that water for a rustic cold shower after your hot dip. The best time is to go at the end of the day, when the air is cooler and the sun goes down.

   $4

10. Do

    Tungurahua

    With its crater at 5023 m (16,480 ft) this active volcano provides strenuous hikes just south of Baños. You can hike up from the center of Baños (1800 m, 5900 ft) or take a taxi to the ranger station of Sangay National Park (2800 m, 9200 ft) and start from there. From the center go towards Termas el Salado. On the road that leads to the baths, take the first right to find the marked start of the trail. The first part of the unmarked but mostly obvious trail takes you up to the hamlet of Pondoa (2400 m, 7900 ft) which has a small restaurant. There follow the paved road that later turns into a dirt track up to the ranger station where you need to register (free). A steep and unmarked but obvious trail goes from there to the refugio at 3800 m (12,500 ft) where you could stay overnight ($5 per person) to enjoy the clearer views in the early morning. This hut has a basic kitchen, water access, and a few thin mats to sleep on. This is where you need to turn around unless you brought a guide. It is forbidden to go any further on your own because of the quickly changing weather conditions and the trail that is hard to follow in foggy conditions. Finally, there are bus tours (around $3) that drive up the mountain opposite the volcano. From there, you can see glowing lava if it isn't cloudy, and the volcano isn't producing too much smoke.

    $5 if you stay overnight at the refugio

11. See

    Parque Montavalo

    A park in the south of the city

12. See

    Parque de la Basilica

    Lively park right next to the basilica.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Baños (CC BY-SA 4.0).