Sights and landmarks in Baños

Sights and landmarks in Baños

1. See

   Cascada de La Virgen

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

2. See

   Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water

   Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa

   This neo-Gothic style church is named after the vision of the Virgin Mary seen near the appropriately named waterfalls and is therefore a place of pilgrimage for those who come to thank the Virgin for many miracles and to ask for her blessing. It was built with many volcanic rocks and the inside is lined with paintings depicting the Virgin's miracles, including saving the church from several volcanic eruptions.

3. See

   Eco Zoo San Martin

   The local zoo is quite large and features animals from various parts of Ecuador; monkeys, Andean bears, tayras (these may poop on visitors!), and jaguars, birds including condors, toucans and parrots, and Galapagos tortoises from but also snakes and tarantulas.

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. See

   Puente San Fransisco

   The bridge across the deep Pastaza Gorge is just north of downtown and a world class place for bungeejumping.

9. See

   Parque Montavalo

   A park in the south of the city

10. See

    Parque de la Basilica

    Lively park right next to the basilica.

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