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. While I only spent a few days in this town that is growing in popularity, it became clear to me why people come here for extremes sports and extreme relaxation. The two many not seem like they fit together, but when mixed they turn into a sweet concoction of experiences that ground you in your body and fade into memories that will last a lifetime.
- Is Baños, Ecuador Worth It To Visit?
- Thrilling Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador
- The Best Healing Activities In Baños
- What To Eat In Baños, Ecuador (Vegan-Friendly)
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. I personally found Baños really unique and would love to return one day to get to know the town even better.
Thrilling Things To Do In Baños, Ecuador
Adrenaline junkies flock to Baños like pigs to a mud puddle. But 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 and expensive. No matter what you’re looking for, chances are that Baños has something for you to enjoy.
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. Jump Off A Bridge (No, Seriously) In Baños, Ecuador
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.
There are a couple of bridges that you can hop from in Baños, and I suggest going to the one that is walkable from downtown. There is another one just outside of town, but you would most likely need some sort of transportation to get there and the scenery isn’t as stunning. It seems to me that it doesn’t really matter which company you buy your jumping pass from, as there are only a couple of spots to jump from, so everyone ends up in the same place in the end.
I got my ticket for jumping from a place downtown and had a 15 minute walk to the bridge. Once I got there, I gave the operator my ticket and they harnessed me up. The whole process of purchasing my ticket, walking to the bridge, and jumping took about a half hour.
Once I was all secure and ready to go, I hesitantly (and sweatily) wobbled up a plastic step stool, slid over the fence, and stood on a small platform that hovered over a mind-blowing gorge. Once on the platform the operator told me to stand up and open up my arms. Although they told me to jump out and away from the bridge, my body refused to move and they ended up pushing me. It was a terrifying first few seconds of falling and tumbling, and then it was pure bliss once I was up-right again and taking in the view from the rope.
Tips For Bridge Jumping
The jump was worth it for me, despite being sore in my neck (and eventually my whole body) for a few days. If you decide to take a leap of faith, here are some things you should know:
- Bridge jumping is not recommended for those who have current injuries
- Bridge jumping is not recommended for those who have had neck/spinal injuries in the past
- You will most likely be sore for a few days after bridge jumping
- You can eliminate some of the whiplash by jumping/diving as hard as possible forward off of the platform
- You are allowed to carry a GoPro or other small camera with you on your jump
- There will be someone taking your video and photos while you jump, and you can buy them afterwords for $5
- Make sure you’re covered with travel medical insurance by SafetyWing (my favorite travel insurance company!)
2. Go Canyoning, Rafting, Paragliding, Rock Climbing Or Zip Lining
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, paragliding, rock climbing and zip lining, and there is no shortage of companies to choose from when it comes to booking your adventure.
The town is filled with offices where you can book your adventure, and there are so many tour companies to choose from. It’s also an option to book 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) In Baños, Ecuador
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 Swing At The End Of The World In Baños, Ecuador
I’ve always loved hopping on a swing and feeling the breeze run through my hair as I pump my way through the air, higher and higher, just to relax in sweet surrender as gravity pulls me back down to the earth below. So as you can imagine, I was super stoked when I realized that giant things 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 Treehouse And Swing In Baños
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 every try 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 if possible.
1. Soak In The Healing Thermal Pools 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.
Finding The Right Hot Springs For You
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 Hot Springs
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 The Hot Springs
- 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.
What To Eat In Baños, Ecuador (Vegan-Friendly)
Eating/living vegan and travel go hand in hand. Why? Most of us travel to experience nature and bask in her healing powers. That’s certainly why so many folks from around the world consciously make their way to Baños.
When it comes to eating animals Free From Harm says: “A result of clearing all this land for cattle, sheep, and other farmed animals is that ‘livestock’ production is now the single greatest driver of habitat loss and destruction globally (Science of the Total Environment, 2015). It is also the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, and water pollution. Indeed, scientists now agree that a mass extinction of species is rapidly underway; they are calling it the Sixth Great Mass Extinction of Species on Earth, with up to 200 species going extinct every day. And it’s being caused by us.”
In order to protect our beloved forests, oceans, rivers, waterfalls, jungles, and more we must stop fueling one of their #1 causes of destruction at each and every meal. There are so many reasons to live vegan, and protecting the planet and our natural resources in just one of them. If you’re interested in vegan living and plant-based eating, be sure to check out the entire Unruly Eating & Veganism section of my blog as well as this guide on how to go vegan.
Vegan Restaurants In Baños
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.
We weren’t very impressed by the food, services, or prices at My Veg but were happy about the vegan arepa and empanada offered at Arepas To Go (arepas were $4 each while empanadas were $2). We also tried out Sher E Punjab and the plant-based naan was amazing but the prices were high for smaller portions of food that were offered. If you’re looking for a health shop with many vegan treats, chocolate goodies, and natural body products be sure to stop by the lovely shop called Arome Especia Market.
