Thermal baths and nice surroundings
by metteks
Baños is a small town of 16.000 people, but over 50 hotels. This shows how popular Baños is. The town is quite touristy, and many signs are in English.
The town is known for its many thermal baths. One of them Piscina de La Virgen is places just under the waterfall at the picture. Some of the pools have really hot water, over 50 degrees C. These are not for swimming, but just for soaking, or a brief stay just to say you did it. In fact I say a crazy guy first jumping in the hot water, and then into the freezing cold pool, and back again several times.
The surroundings offer some great hikes in the green hills. On every corner of the town agencies offer different trips, ex. Horseback riding, whitewater rafting, mountain biking and jungle trips.
There is also a small zoo just outside town. It is not that great an experience, but they do exhibit some Ecuadorian animals. I found the walk there more exiting, and the views to the river deep in a gorge are fantastic.
sugar cane stalls
by richiecdisc
Though sugar cane drinks are available in many Latin as well as Asian countries, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a proliferation of stands as in Baños nor anywhere near the gusto with which their owners hawked their products. Their numbers seem absurd until you see how popular they are, every one of them has a line at night! Well, at 35 cents for a good size glass you can understand why. A local variation involves putting half a lime into the cane grinder to take some of the sweet edge off the juice. Yummy. We went to the same one every time. The woman was super friendly and always gave us extra after we finished off our already big portion. You can also buy the raw sugar cane which is cut into little candy bar sized pieces that you can chew on. Not bad. Across from the stands are the milcocha shops. This is the forerunner of salt water taffy and the young guys that loop it over a wooden post and stretch it out by hand put on quite a show. I still can’t believe I forgot to get a picture of this “total Baños” sight but I did try the stuff and it was even better than the stuff down the Jersey Shore!
Hiking in the Picturesque Patate Valley
by namastedc
For a nice, truly 'off the beaten path' hiking experience, travel the 20 minutes from Banos to the Patate Valley for a hike above the tree lines.
Carlos Restrepo, at the Hacienda Leito, will organize horseback or hiking trips into the farmland of the valley, all of which he owns. You will pass through cow pastures, past the houses of the many people who work on the farm, eventually crossing above the tree line where there are alpaca or llama. From the highest points on the hike, you would have an unbeatable view of the volcano Tungerahua - where you can get a great picture of steam and ash billowing from its caldera.
Carlos uses indigenous guides who live in the community. They are an incredible resource - don't forget to tip for good service!!
To get the information on Hacienda Leito, go to my Banos Hotels tips.
RENT A BIKE! JUMP OFF A BRIDGE! CROSS THE CANYON!
by swesn
Mountain bike rentals are available in Banos. A popular route is the scenic route to Puyo which is the gateway to the jungle tours in the Amazon.
Even if you don't make it all the way to Puyo, do make the trip anyway (or hitch-hike part of the way) at least until Pailon del Diablo. This must be the road with the most stunning view in Ecuador.
The road at times go through tunnels, and at times go off-road (gravel, not paved) around the tunnels, overhanging by the side of the cliffs, with spectacular views looking down at the Pastaza river. Along some sections, you might even be sprinkled from atop by small waterfalls.
Along the road, soon, you would come across a hydroelectric dam. Unless the gates are opened, you are most likely just going to see a trickle of waterfalls below.
There is a bridge where adrenalin junkies can get a dose of bridge-jumping.
When you reach Rio Verde, spare some time to hike down to the waterfall called Pailon del Diablo, or Devil's Cauldron. There is a suspension bridge from where you can see the falls properly. However, if the dam gates are closed, again, it is not going to be quite a 'cauldron'.
Another thing to try along the way is to take the 'tarabita' which are exposed cable-car across the canyon.
The baths ! Les bains !
by Maillekeul
Cheap (1 USD), full of people (Virgen) or empty (Santa Ana, outside the city), hot but often full of germs (be careful !)...
Pas cher (1 USD), plein (Virgen) ou pas plein (Santa Ana, en dehors de la ville), chaud mais souvent plein de saloperies (attention !)...
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At Bellavista enjoying the views of Banos
Graffitti painting at the Banos outdoor market
The big ol ugly black cathedral and plaza
Crossing the canyon on the tarabita
