This blog may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.
The beautiful town of Banos is known as Ecuador’s adventure capital. We have had so many fantastic experiences on our travels here, from paragliding and canyoning to visiting the Amazon jungle!
Trust me, you’ll want to make the most of your time in Banos. That’s why we’ve written this blog containing our shortlist of fun activities. It’s not too ambitious to try to fit all of these activities into a few days in Banos, and we’ve included all of the need-to-know info to help you plan ahead.
Honestly, I’m a little jealous that you’re going to be spending time in Banos. It’s a paradise for adventurous travelers, so without further ado, let’s get into our top recommendations for an unforgettable trip!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this full-day tour of the Amazon jungle. You’ll get to hike through the Amazon jungle, canoe down the Puyo River, and visit a local indigenous village. Check out the 5-star reviews here!
Tip: This is a very popular tour, so make sure you reserve in advance to guarantee your spot and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
1. Visit the Puyo Amazon Jungle
- Price: $35 USD
- Duration: 11 hours
- Time: 8:45 am
- Highlights: Beautiful viewpoints, hiking through the Amazon, canoeing along the Puyo River, visiting a Quincha community, tour of a cacao farm
- Inclusions: Transport, lunch, rain boots, ponchos, & professional guide
- Pickup from: Meeting point in Mexico City (or your hotel for the private tour)
- Rating: 5 Stars (check out the glowing reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
I cannot stress enough just how underrated this tour is! If you haven’t explored the Amazon yet in Ecuador, this full-day Puyo tour should be at the top of your to-do list.
The tour took us out to Puyo for a jam-packed day, which kicked off with a visit to a gorgeous viewpoint. Then, we donned rain boots and ponchos for a guided nature walk through the Amazon, which ended with mud facials and swimming in a waterfall – talk about an adventure!
After that, it was time for lunch and guayusa tea, which is a must-try local super drink. With full bellies, we canoed to our next destination, which was a blast. The rapids were light but it was so exciting!
We were smiling from ear to eat by the time we arrived at the Quichua village. Here, we had our faces painted by the locals, passed around chicha de yuca, and got to try out a traditional blowpipe. I wasn’t any good at this, but it did make us all laugh!
After that, we visited one of the highest viewpoints in the Amazon jungle. As you can imagine, the views were magnificent. For a few extra dollars, we were able to rent hammocks and ride an epic Tarzan swing. The day had one final treat in store for us, which was a visit to a cacao farm on the way home. We had dinner here, which was a yummy tortilla, and of course, we had to buy some chocolate!
This tour offers mind-blowing value for money at only $35 USD per person. There really is no way that we could have done all of this by ourselves, so I highly recommend booking this tour. We had the best day ever!
Check availability and book your Amazon Jungle experience here!
Related Read: Another great place to visit the Amazon is in Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Check out the best tours here!
2. Go Canyoning
- Price: $90 USD
- Duration: 5 hours
- Time: 9 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Abseiling, ziplining, and swimming in the beautiful Cashuarco Canyon
- Inclusions: Safety equipment, certified guide, souvenir photos & video
- Pickup from: Meeting Point in Banos
- Rating: 5 Stars (check the 150+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We have been canyoning all over the world, but I promise you that this half-day canyoning experience in Banos is extra special. The Cashaurco Canyon offers the most incredible route. It combines an adrenaline-fuelled adventure with breathtaking scenery, which is what visiting Banos is all about. It doesn’t surprise me that some travelers come here just to go canyoning – it really is that good!
We went for the morning tour and were driven out to the canyon with our small group. This tour is capped at 10 people per group, which is great news in terms of safety and attention from your guides! The small group size does mean it books up fast though, so I would definitely suggest booking this tour in advance.
Now when I say the time flew by, I am not exaggerating! There was a thrill a minute as we abseiled down steep rock faces, jumped into the crystal clear river, and floated along with the current. It was truly a wild adventure, and the scenery itself was absolutely gorgeous. The fact that we got a delicious lunch afterward and some awesome photos was just the cherry on top!
Don’t miss out, reserve your spot on this popular canyoning tour here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Try Paragliding
- Price: $78 USD
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 10 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Tandem paragliding with aerial mountain and valley views, adrenaline-fuelled adventure
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation, paragliding equipment, certified guide
- Pickup from: Banos Meeting Point
- Rating: 5 Stars (check out the 5-star reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
At the end of the day, what really makes or breaks a paragliding flight is the scenery. So I’d say that Banos, with its mountains, valleys, and views of the Tungurahua volcano, would be a pretty great place to go. And if you’re not convinced, seeing all of the whooping and hollering paragliders overhead when you arrive in Baños will definitely persuade you!
Honestly, I would leap at the chance to go take this paragliding flight over the deep valleys and lush greenery of Baños any day of the week. It’s just beautiful! The conditions here are great, too, although I do recommend booking through Viator so that you’re covered if the weather ruins your plans. They allow you to rebook or receive a full refund for any cancellations.
One thing I love about this flight is that you get about 15 minutes in the air, sometimes longer! I’ve been on paragliding flights that only last for 5 minutes before, so you definitely get your money’s worth with this one!
Keen paragliders actually come from far and wide to fly in Baños because the conditions are so good, so why not seize the opportunity while you’re in town? It’s certainly not every day that you get such amazing views of the Ecuadorian Andes!
If you’re ready to soar above the mountains, book your spot here!
Related Read: If you are traveling around South America, you can also go paragliding in Medellin, Colombia!
4. Zipline Through the Jungle
- Price: $26 USD
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Time: 9 am or 2:30 pm
- Highlights: Fly across 6 zipline cables, take in the rainforest views, explore with your friendly guides
- Inclusions: Transport from Banos, adventure park entry fee, professional guides, safety equipment
- Pickup from: Banos Meeting Point
- Rating: 5 Stars (check out the great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
I’m not kidding when I say that Bailey and I have been ziplining all over the world! So, at this point, we do consider ourselves ziplining experts, and we definitely know a good course when we see one. And since Banos is Ecuador’s outdoor capital, it should come as no surprise when I say that this ziplining course is fantastic!
We got to zoom across six different ziplines and I love the fact that you get to choose how you do it. So if you want to do a zipline upside down, seated, or Superman-style, you can! I also enjoyed the walking between the ziplines, as it was a good chance to take in the rainforest scenery and spot wildlife.
This tour is super affordable, too, and it’s definitely one of the cheaper things to do in Banos at only $26 USD per person. So for anyone traveling on a budget, I would highly recommend this tour!
It’s also suitable for solo travelers as you can book it for just one person, but at the same time, it’s ideal for families, with kids as young as 8 being welcome to join the adventure.
All in all, this is an excellent way to spend a morning or afternoon in Banos. It’s also one of the cheapest zipline tours I’ve ever seen. It costs a fraction of the price of most zipline tours in South America, so booking this tour while you’re in Banos is a good way to save some money!
Check availability for this ziplining adventure here!
5. Explore the Waterfall Route & Casa del Arbol
- Price: $58 USD
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Time: 9 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Explore the famous waterfall trail, see the “Devil’s Cauldron”, take in epic views at Casa del Arbol, go on an exhilarating swing ride
- Inclusions: Transport from Banos, bilingual guide
- Pickup from: Banos Meeting Point
- Rating: 5 Stars (check out the 50+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We love this full-day tour because it combines two of our favorite experiences in Banos, allowing travelers to get the most out of their time in this beautiful area. The day kicks off along the scenic “Ruta de las Cascadas”.
There are so many scenic waterfalls along this trail, but of course, the real highlight is the Devil’s Cauldron (AKA Pailon del Diablo). It’s a seriously impressive and powerful waterfall, and a total must-see while in Banos. Be sure to bring a rain jacket, because we got soaked!
After that, it’s onto the Casa del Arbol, which is a super scenic viewpoint where you can see Tungurahua volcano. This is where everyone gets their famous Instagram shot on the Swing at the End of the World – and of course, we couldn’t miss the chance to do the same. I’d say the photos came out pretty well, wouldn’t you?
This tour was great fun and Alberto was a really great guide. We did have to pay for entry to the waterfall trail and Casa del Arbol on the day, but that was only an extra $4 USD, so we were still really impressed by the value of this tour. It’s a super small group tour with a max group size of six, so if you’re traveling with a group you might end up getting a private experience for no extra cost!
Click here to reserve your spot on this adventurous tour!
Where to Stay in Baños, Ecuador
Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba – $$$
Although I don’t consider this hotel “luxury” it is still one of the nicest hotels in Baños. Hosteria Finca is located a little out of town and is surrounded by nature. All of the rooms here are bungalow style and the views are spectacular. They also offer a sauna on-site and include an exceptional breakfast! You can get all this for just $110 USD.
Check availability and book Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba on Booking.com.
La Floresta Hotel – $$
This is my top pick for where to stay in Baños. La Floresta Hotel is still a bit more expensive (average of $95 USD/night) but you’re getting a lot of luxuries including large rooms, an included breakfast, and beautiful gardens. The hotel is centrally located but within the hotel, you feel a world away.
You can check availability and book La Floresta Hotel on Booking.com.
Hostal D´Mathias – $
D’ Mathias is a great hostel located in the heart of Baños. The hostel has a real home vibe including a comfortable lounge area and a garden. It’s also a great place to meet other travelers. They have dorm rooms with bunks that have privacy curtains or private rooms. The nightly rate begins at just $18 USD so this is a perfect option for those on a budget!
You can book on Booking.com or Hostelworld here.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
I hope you enjoyed this post on all the best things to do in Baños, Ecuador. It’s truly the adventure capital of Ecuador and we know you’ll have a great time exploring here! If you’re traveling around South America, make sure to check out my other blog posts to help plan your trip!
Also if you loved this travel guide then check out our other articles from Ecuador below!
Guide to Ecuador’s Poor Mans Galapagos Islands – Isla de la Plata