11 Beautiful Places to Visit in Baños, Ecuador
- Igor Fox
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Swing at the End of the World! (La Casa del Arbol (The Treehouse)
La Mano de la PachaMama (or The Hands of PachaMama)
Pailón del Diablo
Restaurant Miramelindo
Mega Adventure Park Rio Blanco
La Cascada de Agoyan (Agoyan Waterfall)
Ruta de las Cascadas ( or "Valley of Waterfalls")
Zip Line Puntzan Canopy
Cascada de la Virgen
Sebastián Acosta Park (La Basílica Park)
Monumento al Colibri
Travel Ecuador, Part 3
Well, lets continue our Joinery!..
And, welcome to Baños!
There are many beautiful places to visit in Baños
Wow, so much you can do in the area of this little town. And this is also a gate to Amazon Jungle, by the way...
It was dark already when I arrived to this place. I checked in XPERIENCE Hotel (pretty good place btw), dropped off my backpack and went for a walk. Well, I can say, that Baños is a definitely place for a tourists. And, the main area is pretty small, which is very convenient. And it is safe too, and clean. Different kind of restaurants, bars, hotels... everything you need. You can rent a ATV, bicycles right there and just drive around the area. Or, you can book a tour at many tour providers, which you can also find all around.
There couple of places, which worth visiting in this city:
The first place, which I found by walking by the little streets of Baños was Sebastián Acosta Park (La Basílica Park). I guess it's gonna be the main attraction at Baños by itself, because who doesn't want to take a picture with a big sign of the city.
There is also Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa Church there, also known as the Basilica of Baños right beside the park.
And, little bit about this Basilica. It was completed in 1944, having been begun on February 11, 1904. And it was build from the Tungurahua volcano stones. The stile of the Basilica is semi - Gothic. This church is not only the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary, but because of the way it is built, its stone structure has served as a refuge when the Tungurahua volcano, located nearby, has erupted.
After spending some time time here, I continued my exploration of the city. Just walking by the streets, one block north of the Park, I found a very another local attraction - Monumento al Colibri.
It is pretty nice monument and worth visiting, since you are in the city.
After I just walked by the streets, exploring the area.
By walking, I found a beautiful waterfall, Cascada de la Virgen, which is right beside Pisinas Termas de la Virgen (thermal swimming pools).
It is nice city, worth visiting because of the city by itself, and especially, because of the attractions around.
Also I notice a lots of stray dogs in the area. Haven't seen so many for a long time. But, despite they were stray, they still were pretty friendly.
It was late already and, I haven't eaten since morning ( the ice cream on the way there doesn't count). Fortunately for me Baños has much lover altitude (1820m above the sea level) than the place I was earlier that day (Quilotoa Lake, 3914m, check the story here). The altitude sickness, which I had earlier, has gone, and it was time to eat. Truly, there are many options of the food there. Wherever you like)). I chose Venezuelan place, Arepas To Go. And, since I was hungry, and the prices were cheep, I ordered two meals... big mistake. They brought two plates, so I thought that was all my order. And, while I barely could finish what I already had..., they brought the rest. Ups, I wasn't ready for that. And, yes, I eat a lot..., but that was too much even for me...
Completely full I went to sleep...
I woke up early morning, around 7am. The new day was waiting, and new adventures to!... And it was time to explore the area around Baños.
Okay, lets start todays trip from... breakfast. Good for me I had a light breakfast that morning. Why? You will see later...)))
The guide picked me up at 8am and the joinery has started!
And the first stop for today is gonna be Zip Line, which was booked for me with Puntzan Canopy. Well, it was just unforgettable experience! 6 lines with entire route length 2000m, between trees, just right above the river below... Wow. You can ride in a sitting position, in supermen position, even upside down. And the view is stunning there. I was my first zip line ever, and definitely, the best))
Also at the area, I notice a little waterfall, which I couldn't miss, and some tree with unusual berries for me..., which I also couldn't miss...)) I like to try different food and fortunately for me the berries were edible and yummy))
And, that was only the beginning of the day!
The next stop was Ruta de las Cascadas ( or "Valley of Waterfalls"). It's a lush gorge along the Pastaza River known for numerous waterfalls like the famous Pailón del Diablo, accessible by biking, bus, or car, offering adventure activities such as ziplining and hiking in a beautiful Andean landscape.
And the first stop here was La Cascada de Agoyan (Agoyan Waterfall). It's tallest waterfall in Ecuadorian Andes with the height of 60m. Those are very beautiful two waterfalls, which are connected in one river at the end of the drop.
There is also an open cable car which can carry you across the Pastaza River Canyon almost right to the Waterfall.
Well, and you definitely should use this opportunity. Of course if you don't afraid of height. And that's gonna cost you only 2 USD.
Well, as the day showed me later, that all was only the warm up before the headliner of the day...
Our next stop was Mega Adventure Park Rio Blanco.
Well, glass bridge, crazy monkey bridge..., any others... also crazy activities, which will bring your adrenalin up high..., and my favorite - Tarzan Leap!
Okay, step by step here... The glass bridge was fun, and, since I don't afraid of height ( as I thought) wasn't scary at all. As well as Monkey bridge. But this bridge has much more fun to walk... because the bridge is made from everything except solid floor. Some pieces of woof, car tires, just a still cable - real monkey bridge)) It was fun, really fun)) ... Before I got the Tarzan Leap...
I changed a harness again, third time for this day. Everything was good. I was calm and happy. No worries of any fear at all... And here I am at the platform... all preparations is done...
There are three options to jump here - the floor opens below you, you can stand, or sit on the floor... I chose the third one - I took the bar, the floor opened... and... aaaa, I just couldn't to let go the bar, did couple of pullups..., I was soo afraid! Wow! So much fear... I looked down... the ground was 100 meters below... Adrenaline was high... For me it was less scary to jump with parachute... But, the was only the one way here, and it wasn't the way back... only down...
I let go the bar... free fall... aaaaa..., f...ck..., those first couple of moments were one of the scariest in my life, definitely. But, after, I just relaxed..., everything is safe, I told my self..., so just relax and have fun! And that's what I did ))
But, those moments always will stay in my memory...
And that's why my morning light breakfast was a very good idea....
At least it stayed in in this case after this jump...
Highly, highly recommended experience... ))
It was middle of the day already, and it was time ... to eat... My guide reserved a table at one place..., but, I didn't have any desire to eat now... Fortunately for me it was about 15 min to get the place, so I hoped, my... feeling after the jump will go away by that time.
On the way we stopped to see one more waterfall, Bridal Vail Waterfall..., no wandering this area is called Valley of Waterfalls
And here we are - the restaurant, hotel, spa "Miramelindo"
When I entered the place right away I forgot about my dizziness after the jump.
The place is just soo cool! It is definitely worth visiting. Decoration of the place - it is just something. While I was waiting for my order I did a little excursion there. They have a nice garden there, in a jungle stile. Also some art works in local indigenous motives... and a huge anaconda..., not real one, but, still very impressive.
And when I tried the food... I ordered quinoa with veggies and fried tofu..., and wow, they made it so yummy, so delicious, the best tofu and quinoa I ever had! And a dessert! Wow again! Not super sweet, not fatty..., everything was balanced perfectly... yummy yummy!
Enjoy your mea l! ))
Okay, lets go farther, for the last place for today.
And that is gonna be Pailón del Diablo (Spanish for "Cauldron of the Devil) or Cascada del Pailón. is one of the most famous waterfalls in Ecuador, located near the town of Río Verde in the Tungurahua Province. It remains as Ecuador’s largest waterfall as of the 2020s, after the Sun Rafael Falls disappeared. The height of the Waterfall is approximately 80m.
Local folklore explains that the name Pailón del Diablo (“Devil’s Cauldron”) was inspired by the shape and power of the waterfall, which some said resembled a devil’s face in the rock formations. According to tradition, the nearby San Miguel Waterfall was named for the archangel Michael (San Miguel in Spanish), who is believed to watch over the Devil and ensure he remains trapped below.
Well, lets visit it
The path to the Falls was through the little jungle. But, everything was civilized there..., unlike the jungles which were waiting me ahead...
Well, guys, I'd recommend to take some extra cloth, to chance, after the meeting with the Falls, if you want to feel the full experience. )) I tool a rain coat..., and my camera... it was a bad idea, about the camera... Unfortunately, my Nikon Z6III is not waterproof, so I had to keep it under the coat all the time.
Well, the coat kept me more less dry, but, I wish I could feel the full power of the Water on my body! To get the flow I had to literary crawl in a narrow tunnel which was leading to the flow.
The Fall was soo strong! So much energy of Mother Nature! I took my shoes off, anyway it would be wet, and came as much close as I could to the flow... I could feel the power of the Water, I was soo connected to it. Everything just gone. The past, the future... the was only the present, that moment..., and Me... The Water and Nature Boy...
Mother Nature is Beautiful..., we just need to open our... hearts to see it and to feel it... and to be connected...
It was time to go back, to Baños...
The next day was waiting...
Good Morning, Ecuador!
Good, cloudy and rainy morning... Unfortunately... Because today we are going to the End of the World!... Or, other words, the famous Swing at the End of the World!
And, it's cloudy... so no chance to see what is below and no chance to see the famous Tungurahua Volcano...
Aaa, whatever, my dream will come true today and this is the most important part))
Well, lets go!
The swing is located at La Casa del Arbol (The Treehouse) at elevation over 2600 meters near city of Baños. And it is located at a private property, and it is a really beautiful garden there, with many different kinds of birds...
There is an interesting story about it. The owner, the father, made this swing for his daughter. It was a pretty simple swing. And one day the was eruption of the volcano. And, since this place is pretty elevated above the sea level, people asked the owner to come in, for safety, and watch the eruption.
And, since the father is a really kind person, he let them in. And, of course they notice the swing... The rest is history...
Btw, at first the enter was free, and the swing didn't have any safety stuff. But, when people started to come in, more and more people, the government told the guy to take some fees ( now it's only 1 USD) and to put some safety stuff on the swing.
But, lets come back to my day...
I was really surprised to see the park! Even, the cloudy, foggy and a bit rainy weather, couldn't hide it's beauty. A little hummingbird was greeting me me right at the enter )) Different flowers, sculptures, many, many birds... And the place was empty, completely! Only me and my guide )
By the time I've reached the swing, I was already full of positive emotions.
And here it is - the Treehouse! And the Swing! And the end of the world!... which I couldn't see at all because of the clouds...
But, anyway, the dream, which used to be just something impossible... came true! Wow, I'm here... I sit at the swing... little by little swinging further and higher. And I was high..., and I'm not talking about the altitude now... I'm talking about my emotions and feelings...
I was a kid again..., 40s years old kid )) Back to the childhood )) It was nice to be back ))
And, that's the beauty of traveling, that's the beauty of dreaming!...
I was happy, my inner child was happy, finally, I am here!... And I am swinging at the End of the World!
And, there was one more place, which I wanted to visit today..., and that place was made for my inner child ))
Well, this morning a was a kid, definitely! )) And, it is so much fun to go back to that time! Even, despite that time wasn't always bright, but, still, it is fun to be a kid while you are adult ))
So the last place for today, and this joinery to Baños is La Mano de la PachaMama (or The Hands of PachaMama), which is located pretty close to the place where we just were.
This place is beautiful. Made in traditional stile, different paintings of Mother Nature with indigenous motives were everywhere.
There is also an extreme swing there..., but I already got my portion of extreme for these days and this one I just passed ))
But, something totally different what attracted my attention here...
The painted floor, which was leading to the platform, at the end of the cliff...
A sculpture of a Condor, the symbol of Ecuador, was greeting me... And PachaMama opened Her hands to me...
And at that moment I could see the beauty, and harmony between people and Mother Nature... Yes, we can not only destroy, but and create to... We can live in harmony with Nature..., we are a part of it!
This time the weather made me a little gift... The clouds have cleared a little and I could see the city and a valley far below me... And majestic Andes! The Mountains and Amazon basin were meeting at this wonderful place, and now I was a part of them! We were the one! One single Universe, connected at the level of feelings and emotions!... I was high, I was blessed to see this place and to feel its energy...
And, Mother Nature opened her heart to me..., El Corazon... The heart full of light, brightness, kindness and Love...
I walked on a glass bridge towards the second platform. Every moment at this place made me higher and higher, and I was grateful, grateful for this beautiful life...
The is a very cool playground, and a little maze there for a kids, like me )) I was a kid again at that moment )) I didn't play at the playground, but was lost in a maze )) Just for a little bit ))
We've reached the end, but the joinery wasn't finished yet!
Another dream was waiting ahead!
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