The Ultimate Vegan-Friendly Guide To Baños, Ecuador
Have you ever wanted to go bungee jumping, get a massage, explore epic waterfalls, and soak in thermal springs all in one weekend? Well in Baños, Ecuador you can do just that and more. I only spent a few days in town, but it’s clear to me why people come here for extremes sports and extreme relaxation. The two may not seem like they fit together, but when combined turn into a sweet concoction of experiences that ground you in your body and fade into memories that will last a lifetime.
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Is Baños, Ecuador Worth It To Visit?
The vibrant town of Baños (also known as Baños de Santa Agua) lies in the Tunguraha province and is a gateway to the Amazon Basin. It is well known for its mineral-rich hot springs that the locals love to soak in and its access to trails on the active volcano Tungurahua that lies just south. Soon after arrival you’ll notice that there are some pretty huge waterfalls encasing the walkable city, a variety of opportunities for healing, and endless options for outdoor adventures. Baños is vegan-friendly too, home to many veggie friendly restaurants and cafes.
Day Trip From Quito To Baños, Ecuador
If you’re in Quito and only have one day to experience Baños, check out this Upper Amazon Day Trip where you’ll drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, explore the rainforest, get your adrenaline pumping, and see the Devil’s Cauldron waterfall with a local guide.
Thrilling Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador
Baños is dynamic because not only does it offer heart-pumping adventures, but it also has healing experiences as well that range from seriously affordable to luxurious. No matter what you’re looking for, chances are that Baños has something for you to enjoy. Before engaging in any of the activities below, be sure you’re covered with travel medical insurance.
If you’re looking for an experience that you’ll never forget (and will make you feel very alive, despite also feeling close to death) check out these activities:
1. Bridge Jumping (No, Seriously)
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to free-fall through the air, and for $20 I got to find out what it’s like, if only for a few seconds. When I went to buy my pass for the jump, the operator informed me that bridge jumping is different from bungee jumping. If you go bridge jumping in Baños, you’ll have harness attached to your mid and upper sections, versus just around your ankles and lower body as they do in bungee jumping. But the jump is just as thrilling, terrifying, and awakening.
👉 Be sure to check out my complete guide to bridge jumping for risks to consider, where to go bridge jumping, and more.
2. Canyoning, White Water Rafting, Zip Lining, And More
I didn’t get the chance to go canyoning in Baños, but I’ve done it in South America before and highly recommend it. Canyoning is usually a mix of sliding/repelling down water features and jumping off of rocks into water below. It’s pretty fun, a little scary, and 100% worth if if you’re a merperson like me. Baños also offers other sports like white water rafting on the Pastaza River, paragliding over volcanoes, rock climbing with locals, and zip lining past waterfalls. And oh, you even have the chance to spend the day with an Indigenous community!
The town is filled with offices where you can book your adventure, and there are so many tour companies to choose from. You can also book in advance through Get Your Guide, a trusted booking platform where you can read reviews and browse through awesome activities all over the world. They have a whole page dedicated to Baños, so be sure to look at all of their offerings here.
3. Chase Waterfalls (Via Hiking Or Biking)
One of my favorite pastimes is admiring waterfalls, and Baños is an incredible place to do that. The town is known for its many waterfalls, and you can access them via hiking trails or on a bike. While in Ecuador I’ve really been enjoying the blog Laidback Trip, and they have an excellent guide to biking down the Ruta de las Cascadas that you can find here.
4. Visit The Baños Swing At The End Of The World
I’ve always loved hopping on a swing and feeling the breeze run through my hair as I pump my way higher and higher, just to relax in sweet surrender as gravity pulls me back down to Earth. So as you can imagine, I was super stoked when I realized that giant swings have become a popular thing in Ecuador.
The one in Baños is located at La Casa del Arbol which can be reached via a local bus that costs just $1 each way, or by foot which is 6+ mile hike uphill. If you’d like to turn the visit into an all day excursion, hiking there is the way to go. If you’d like to spend just 45 minutes or so each way, take the bus. Some people prefer to take the bus to the top and then walk back down into town.
La Casa del Arbol was originally built and used as a watchtower for the nearby volcano Tungurahua that I mentioned before, but now it’s a swingin’ tourist attraction (literally). The treehouse and swing overlook a stunning valley, which you won’t see in my photo above as we went on a cloudy day. The weather is a bit unpredictable in Baños, so be sure to always have your rain poncho handy!
It costs $1 per person to enter what is basically an adult playground where the swing is located. At the top of the hill you will find corny but cool photo ops, a self-guided zip-line, gardens, and more in addition to the swing. You’ll find food, drinks, and trinkets for sale. There may be a local worker operating/giving people a big push on the swing, and it is nice to give them a small tip after your journey into the clouds.
How To Get To The Swing At The End Of The World
The public buses to the treehouse and swing depart at 5:45 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:15 PM, and 4:00 PM from the Bus Hacia la Casa del Arbol bus station in downtown Baños. The bus station is located on Pastaza Street across from Panaderia La Delicia Don Gato bakery.
5. Visit The Local Market
There is a vibrant local market in Baños that is worth visiting. At the Mercado Central Baños you can try out some fresh squeezed juice, fruit-packed smoothies, and even experience vegan palmito (palm of hearts) ceviche.
The Best Healing Activities In Baños
I reserved my first day in Baños for healing, which meant that I soaked in the mineral thermals and then got one of the best massages of my life. I reserved my second day for a heart-pounding adventure (bridge jumping) that left me sore and needing to calm down a bit, so I would recommend reversing the order of your experiences.
1. Thermal Baths In Baños, Ecuador
Is it a complete trip to Baños if you don’t visit the healing waters? I’ll leave that up to you to decide, but I would highly recommend going. While I’m usually just a fan of natural hot springs that haven’t been funneled into a person-made pool, I was pleasantly surprised by the facilities that El Salado had to offer.
Some believe that the water in Baños has healing powers because of the rich minerals in the water from the volcanic springs, while others attribute it to the Virgin Mary. The thermal pools are heated by the volcano that we’ve been discussing, whose name translates to “Throat of Fire”. Tungurahua’s magma tunnels spread out beneath the city and heat up the water.
Regardless of what you believe, there are various spots to choose from in Ecuador when it comes to going for a soak, and this guide by Ecuador Abroad is extremely helpful at narrowing down your options to find what you’re searching for. Keep in mind that it is best to visit the hot springs early in the morning or later at night to avoid large crowds.
The Best Thermal Baths In Baños
While there are a lot of fancy spa/hot spring experiences in Baños, my partner and I were going for a more local feel that was inexpensive and accessible by foot. That’s why we chose El Salado; the fee to enter was $3 per person, and a rental swim cap was $1 each. We didn’t spend any money on transportation to get there as El Salado was only a 35 minute walk from our AirBnb rental downtown.
What To Expect At The Thermal Baths
When you get to the hot springs you’ll pay your entry fee and then rent a swim cap. It’s necessary for the 2 local thermal pools (El Salado and Termas de la Virgen). After that it’s time to change, check your bags, and then shower before entering the thermal pools. I left my phone, money, and other valuables in my checked bag (it was simply put into a crate with a number on it and stacked away) and had no problems.
The thermal pools themselves are incredible – I could have spent the entire day there going from one pool to another. There was a really, really hot pool that was hard to stay in for more than about 10 minutes and a freezing cold pool that was basically like an ice bath. There were also multiple pools that just had a warmish feel to them that were appropriate for kids as well. Going back and fourth between all three temperatures was a feeling that was blissful in an unexplainable way, and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did.
What To Pack For Thermal Baths
- Plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Plant-based snacks if you plan on staying there for a few hours or more
- Sandals to use in the showers before/after entering the hot springs
- $4 per person in cash: $3 to enter, $1 for a swim cap rental
- Extra cash if you plan on buying water/snacks there
2. Get A Massage
I’m a sucker for hot springs, swings, and massages so you can see why Baños was a dream to me. On top of offering so many wonderful services and experiences, I found the actives there extremely affordable. While massages in the USA cost a pretty penny, most 1 hour massages in Baños cost $25. I ended up going all-in and got the Madre Tierra massage at Huellas Natural Spa (a small massage parlor in town) where two people preformed the full-body massage at once, so I had four strong hands digging into my sore backpacking muscles. The women who did it were incredibly strong yet intuitive. They offer other incredible healing services that can be found in detail on their website.
There are many other massage/healing services in town, so take your time and find one that feels right for you. If you come across a place that looks nice to you but it closed, write down their WhatsApp number (usually painted on the wall of their building) and send them a message to find out more about their hours and offerings.
Vegan Food In Baños, Ecuador
There was no shortage of plant-based places to try in Baños. We ate our way through a few food spots that made the HappyCow list for Baños. It’s a great resource for finding vegan food all over the world, even at non-vegan restaurants.
When we visited Baños there were 15 places to try out listed on HappyCow, and we only had so much time so it’s hard to say which ones are the best. But I can tell you that out of the places that we tried, Cafe Good had a delicious, healthy and filling vegan breakfast plate for $6 (that came with the best juice that I’ve ever had in my life, no lie) and Sativa Studio Cafe had vibrant and fresh vegan snacks and dishes accompanied by a chill and peaceful atmosphere.
