What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Banos, Ecuador.
Photo: Shad Meeg / Pexels
Baños sits below a volcano in Ecuador's highlands, known for thermal pools, waterfalls and adventure sports. Soak at Termas de la Virgen, bike or walk the Ruta de las Cascadas past waterfalls like Manto de la Novia and Pailón del Diablo, or swing above the valley at Casa del Árbol. The town is small and walkable, with viewpoints like Mirador de la Virgen and Mirador Bellavista. January and February bring the best weather for exploring outdoors.
Plan on 3 days. That gives you time for the waterfall route, the hot springs, a viewpoint hike, and a look around the town centre and basilica without rushing.
Río Verde
This is the most powerful waterfall near Baños. It drops into a deep rocky gorge on the Pastaza River. A forest trail leads down to viewing platforms and suspension bridges, and a narrow path takes you right beside the falling water, so expect to get wet.
Baños to Río Verde
This road follows the Pastaza River canyon east from Baños toward the Amazon lowlands and passes a string of waterfalls. Many visitors rent a bike in town, ride downhill and stop at each fall. Most then take a truck or bus back up.
Runtún
This small treehouse sits high above Baños. Its rope swings fly out over a steep drop into the valley. On clear days you see Tungurahua volcano across the valley, but clouds often cover it, so check the sky before you go up.
Ruta de las Cascadas
This tall, thin waterfall pours down the far side of the Pastaza canyon. A tarabita (open cable car) crosses the gorge for a close view, and you can also walk a trail to the bottom.
Town centre
These public thermal pools are fed by volcanic springs and sit at the foot of the Cascada de la Virgen waterfall. The springs give the town its full name, Baños de Agua Santa. Locals and visitors use them, and the pools get crowded at busy times.
Town centre
This dark stone church is the main landmark in central Baños and a pilgrimage site for the Virgin of Agua Santa. Large paintings inside show miracles that people credit to her, often rescues from volcanic eruptions and accidents.
Above the town centre
A steep stepped path climbs from the edge of town to a statue of the Virgin. From there you look down over the rooftops of Baños and the river valley. It is a short, hard walk and a good way to get your bearings.
Above the town centre
A large white cross on the hillside marks this viewpoint, and you can see it from town. The uphill trail is steeper and longer than the Virgin viewpoint walk. Your reward is a wide view of Baños and, when the clouds lift, Tungurahua volcano.
Ruta de las Cascadas
This waterfall sits at the end of a forest trail off the waterfall road. Along the way you pass several smaller falls and a pool where some people swim. The walk is quieter and greener than the busier roadside stops.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 21°C / 16°C | 29 days (239 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: February | 22°C / 16°C | 27 days (203 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| March | 22°C / 16°C | 29 days (204 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| April | 21°C / 16°C | 27 days (192 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| May | 21°C / 16°C | 29 days (234 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| June | 20°C / 15°C | 28 days (302 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| July | 20°C / 14°C | 29 days (301 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| August | 20°C / 14°C | 26 days (212 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| September | 21°C / 14°C | 23 days (124 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| October | 22°C / 15°C | 26 days (169 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| November | 22°C / 16°C | 26 days (175 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| December | 22°C / 15°C | 30 days (236 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
Highs of 21°C, with rain on about 29 days and 239 mm in total. Rated good with a score of 7, but pack rain gear.
Highs near 21.5°C, with rain on about 27 days and 203 mm. Rated good with a score of 7. It has slightly fewer wet days than January.
Highs of 21.6°C and lows of 16°C, but rain falls on about 29 days, with 204 mm. Rated good with a score of 7.
Highs of 21.3°C, with rain on about 27 days and 192 mm. Rated good with a score of 7. Expect some rain on most days.
Highs of 21°C, with rain on about 29 days and 234 mm. Still rated good with a score of 7, but rainfall is rising.
Highs of 20.1°C, and the wettest month at 302 mm, with rain on about 28 days. Rated good with a score of 7, but expect heavy rain.
The coolest month, with highs of 19.6°C and 301 mm of rain on about 29 days. Rated good with a score of 7, but very wet.
Highs of 20.2°C, with rain on about 26 days and 212 mm, plus 10 sun hours. Rated good with a score of 7, and drier than July.
The driest month, with 124 mm and the fewest rain days, about 23. Highs of 21.1°C and 10.5 sun hours. Rated good with a score of 7.
Highs of 21.5°C, with rain on about 26 days and 169 mm, plus 10.4 sun hours. Rated good with a score of 7, and one of the drier months.
The warmest month, with highs of 22°C. Rain falls on about 26 days, with 175 mm. Rated good with a score of 7, and a solid choice.
Highs of 21.5°C, but rain on about 29.5 days, the most of the year, with 236 mm. Rated good with a score of 7, so bring rain gear.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Ecuador →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, walkers, budget travellers
The flat grid of streets around the Basílica and the central park holds most cafés, tour agencies and bike-hire shops, so you can walk almost everywhere. It is the easiest base for booking day trips and catching buses. The drawback is street noise from traffic, church bells and late-night groups.
Good for nightlife, social travellers
This street on the edge of the centre has the town's main run of bars and live-music spots, plus plenty of cheap places to eat. Staying here means a short stumble home after a night out. Expect music and voices late into the night, especially at weekends.
Good for nature lovers, cyclists, families
This village lies along the Ruta de las Cascadas east of Baños, close to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall. It is green and quiet, and good for exploring the waterfall route without the return trip each day. Restaurants and shops are limited, so you rely on buses or taxis to reach town.
A chewy sugarcane taffy and the sweet Baños is best known for. Makers pull the warm mixture over wooden pegs in shop doorways along the main streets, and you can buy it fresh.
Sugarcane grows in the valleys around town. Street stalls sell peeled sticks to chew, and fresh-pressed juice, often served over ice as a quick snack.
Roast guinea pig, a traditional Andean dish often grilled whole on spits. Locals eat it for family meals and special occasions, and some grills in town serve it.
Fried potato and cheese patties from Ecuador's central highlands. They usually come with fried egg, sausage or peanut sauce, and are a common lunch in markets and small local restaurants.
Pork chunks slowly cooked in their own fat until crisp. It is served with mote (hominy), fried plantain and corn, and is a popular weekend meal at local eateries.
Yes. August scores 7 out of 10, the same as every month in Banos. Days reach 20.2°C with 10 hours of sunshine, more sun than June or July. Rain still falls on about 26 days, totaling 212mm, so pack a rain jacket even though the weather is rated good.
January and February are the top months. January hits 21.2°C by day and 9.6 hours of sun, while February is slightly warmer at 21.5°C with 9.7 hours of sun. Both still get rain on roughly 27 to 29 days, since Banos has no dry season, but temperatures and sunshine are most consistent then.
Plan for 2 to 3 days. The main sights, like Pailón del Diablo and the Casa del Árbol swing, each take 2 to 3 hours, and the full Ruta de las Cascadas waterfall route fills half a day. Add the Termas de la Virgen hot springs and town-centre sights like the Basílica for an easy extra half day.
Yes, year-round. Every month has at least 23 rain days, and December and March see close to 29 to 30 days with rain. June and July are the wettest by volume, with 302mm and 301mm respectively, while September is the driest month at 124mm.
December is mild but wet. Highs reach 21.5°C and lows drop to 15.4°C, similar to most of the year. Rain falls on about 29.5 days, the highest rain-day count of any month, with 236mm total, so expect frequent showers even though temperatures stay pleasant.
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