Tungurahua · Andes · Ecuador
Experiences and local guides in Baños de Agua Santa
Ecuador's adventure capital, at 1,820 m below Tungurahua volcano: canyoning, rafting on the Pastaza and the Waterfall Route by bike down to the Pailón del Diablo.
Nature
Baños de Agua Santa lies at about 1,820 m in a narrow valley where the Pastaza River drops from the Andes towards the Amazon, some 8 km north of Tungurahua volcano (5,023 m), part of Sangay National Park. Its green slopes hold more than 60 waterfalls, and the hot springs that give the town its name rise at the foot of the Virgen waterfall. Tungurahua went through a long eruptive cycle between 1999 and 2016 and is still monitored by Ecuador's Geophysical Institute.
Activities
- Guided canyoning with full gear in the Chamana canyon (short half-day outing) and Cashaurco (more technical, with waterfalls up to 20 m)
- Rafting on the Pastaza River, with class III to IV rapids depending on the section and water level
- The Waterfall Route by bike: about 18 km, mostly downhill, to Río Verde past Agoyán and the Manto de la Novia, returning by pickup truck or bus
- Pailón del Diablo, a waterfall of about 80 m on the Pastaza, with stairways and hanging bridges leading close to its base
- Casa del Árbol and its swing over the void, facing Tungurahua on clear days; reached by bus, on horseback or on foot
- Paragliding from Nitón hill, then the town's hot springs to end the day
When to go
Baños can be visited all year. Rain falls in every month: June, July and August are the wettest and November to January the driest. The Pastaza's flow changes with the rain, and guides choose the rafting section according to the river level. On national holidays the town fills with visitors, so it's worth booking ahead.
How to get there
The nearest international airport is Quito (UIO). Direct buses to Baños leave from Quitumbe bus terminal in the south of Quito, a journey of about 3 h 30. From Ambato, about 40 km away, buses run frequently (around 1 h). Baños is also a gateway to the Amazon: Puyo lies about 60 km east along the waterfall road, roughly 1 h 30 by bus.
Nature, activities, experiences and guides with links, to read offline.
Activities in this destination
Experiences
We are adding guides in Baños de Agua Santa
Leave your email and we will tell you as soon as a verified local guide publishes experiences here. No spam, one single email.
Local operators identified in Baños de Agua Santa (7)
Guides and operators working in the area according to public information (their website or social media). They are not Trekonda members yet: contact them directly on their site. If you are one of them, claim your free profile to receive requests here.