Tucked into a green gorge below the Tungurahua volcano, Baños de Agua Santa packs more adrenaline and scenery per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Ecuador.
What to do in Baños
- Ruta de las Cascadas — a string of waterfalls along the river, best explored by bike, including the thundering Pailón del Diablo.
- La Casa del Árbol — the iconic “swing at the end of the world,” soaring out over the valley.
- Thermal hot springs that give the town its name (“Holy Water Baths”).
- Canyoning, rafting, and ziplining for the adventurous — and it’s a popular gateway onward to the Amazon at Puyo.
It rewards an overnight (or two), though determined travelers do visit in a long day.
Getting there from Quito
Baños is a longer haul — several hours south of Quito via Ambato — so comfort matters. A private flat-rate transfer from Quito airport (UIO) or the city means one fixed price for the whole journey, no bus changes with luggage, and a driver who handles the route while you watch the Andes roll by. It’s also a natural choice if you’re connecting onward into the Amazon.
Baños sits beyond the prepaid UIO products on our rates page, so contact us for a quote for the door-to-door price.
Tips
- Consider an overnight — the long drive is much better split, and Baños is lovely after dark.
- Lower and warmer than Quito; pack for mild, humid weather and bring a swimsuit for the springs.
- Combine it with a Cotopaxi or highlands stop on the way — just let us know when booking.
- Coming straight from a flight? We track your arrival so the driver is ready when you land.
For a destination this far out, locking in a flat rate and a vetted driver is the difference between a great trip and a stressful one.