10 Best Things to Do in Banos, Ecuador
Banos is the small adventure capital of Ecuador, sitting in a green valley with the Tungurahua volcano towering overhead. The name means baths, and the hot springs are still the point of the town, but the real draw is the wall of adventure options packed into a few days. I used Banos as a base and barely slept. Here is what I would do again.
Hang on the Swing at the End of the World
Casa del Arbol built a swing on a tree at the edge of a sheer drop, and the name is not an exaggeration. You swing out over a foggy abyss with the canyon below. It takes a nerve to let go and lean back, whether or not you keep your eyes open. Go at sunrise to have the place mostly to yourself.
Soak in the Hot Springs in Town
This is why the town exists. There are several thermal pools in and around Banos, from the simple riverside baths to the busier complexes. The best evening I spent was floating in warm water while the volcano glowed and the steam rose into the dark.
Ride the Zip Line Across the Canyon
Banos has one of the longest ziplines in the world, running across the gorge with the waterfall thundering below. The drop off the platform is the scary part; after that you are just flying. It is the single best adrenaline hit in town.
Drive the Route of the Waterfalls
A good road runs down the valley past a string of waterfalls, the biggest of which are the Pailon del Diablo and the Manto de la Novia. You can drive to the waterfall with the cascading walls and walk the suspended bridge across it. Give it half a day with plenty of photo stops.
See the Pailon del Diablo Up Close
This one deserves its own slot. Walk down through wet tunnels to stand right at the base of a huge, angry waterfall. The spray soaks you and the noise is tremendous. It is the rawest natural sight in the area.
Raft the Class 3 and 4 Rapids
The Patate and Pastaza rivers run fast through the valley, and outfitters run half day rafting trips that mix adrenaline with the mountain scenery. I got dumped out on the first rapid and laughed through the rest. Ask for the runs with the biggest water.
Walk the Canyoning Descents With a Guide
Canyoning here means abseiling down wet rock faces alongside waterfalls, sometimes rappelling straight down cascades you can hear thunder. The guides are seasoned and the descents range from mild to genuinely hair raising. My legs ached for two days and it was worth it.
Try the Puenting Bridge Bungee
There is a bungee and bridge jump site near the main canyon where you can launch off a high steel span with the gorge below. If you have any pull toward this kind of thing, Banos is one of the cheapest places on earth to do it properly. Heed the queue in the afternoon.
Walk Up to the Waterfall at Tungurahua Viewpoint
When the volcano is behaving, a short hike above town leads to viewpoints where you can see vapor rising from the crater. The volcano is the temperamental backdrop to everything, and catching it active is a rare sight that locals read like weather.
Eat a Street Empanada and Drink Canelazo
The food in Banos is simple and good, but the evening scene is worth seeking out. Order empanadas from a stall and wash them down with canelazo, a hot spiced fruit drink with a local kick, while the street fills with travelers. The town glows after dark and the volcano broods over the rooftops.
Rest Your Legs by the River
When the adrenaline finally gets too much, there is a calm walk along the riverside promenade at the edge of town. Benches look out over the water with the green mountains rising on both sides, and the sound is the opposite of the zipline cables and rafting rapids. I sat there with a fruit juice one afternoon and let my body catch up. It is the unsung best activity in Banos, and you will understand the moment you do it.
Take the Tarabita Over the Canyon
A small cable car called the Tarabita swings over the deep river gorge just outside town, carrying you across the gap with the waterfall mist rising far below. On the far side a path climbs past viewpoints and small eateries. It costs almost nothing, takes ten minutes each way, and it is the cheapest way to feel like you are flying in Banos.
Banos is a place to fit in as much as your body allows, then recover in a thermal pool. Balance the adrenaline with the slow moments and it will be one of the best few days of a long trip in Ecuador.
