5 Fun Things to Do in Banos Ecuador
The city of Banos in Ecuador…
May not seem like much at first glance, but if you have an eye for adventure, then this backpacking haven may just be the place for you!
Many casual travellers and backpackers alike end up dreading to leave the magnificent landscapes and picturesque natural attractions once they venture out into this glorious destination – Banos Ecuador!
#1 Devil’s Cauldron
Should you be travelling to Ecuador or South America for that matter, try to make time for a short trip to Banos Ecuador! And be prepared to be blown away by these 5 attractions while you’re there. I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the pictures I saw from a quick google didn’t really do it justice.
If you’re in Banos, this is a MUST. It’s a quick 30-minute bus from Banos …or you can hire a pushbike which might take a couple hours depending on how physically fit you are …or hire a jeep and drive through the mountains as we did, which was epic!!!
With a rain-forest environment surrounding the waterfall along with steep staircases built into the cliff and a suspension bridge leading you closer to the waterfall, it is a sight you gotta see with your own eyes! The entrance itself cost us $2 USD (probably one of the most worth it $2 I’ve ever spent)
After about a 20-minute walk through the bush, to get to the Devil’s Cauldron you’ll be left wondering why you aren’t travelling the world more often, finding places just like this.
It is good to know though, that there are two different entrances to the waterfall. We took the second one that is reached from across the soccer field which truly brings you into the heart of the waterfall, something you won’t experience with the main entrance. (Entrance fee at the main entrance is a tad cheaper at $1)
You get so close you can almost touch it! Look at this video of our mission… You can crawl right behind it.
#2 Rafting on The Pastaza River
Craving for a little more adventure? Then white water rafting in the Pastaza River will be sure to satisfy the inner adrenaline junky in you! We started off by taking a 30 minutes ride organized by Geotours Banos to the starting point of the rafting route.
The instructors will start by giving some basic safety talk so no worries about losing your life here! The Pastaza River itself is in the middle of a jungle, making it a truly unique experience. It’s definitely something everyone has to try once in their life, and safety is NEVER an issue with multiple kayakers around aiding and snapping pictures of you …This did happen though.
After about an hour of pure FUN and intense paddling, along with the occasional capsizing, while fighting the waves, our rafting experience had to sadly end. Although it wasn’t the most difficult route, I had SO much fun just immersing myself in the experience.
I’ll definitely be back to take on a harder course in future!
#3 Swing at The End of The World
You read that right, it’s the swing at the end of the world!
Located at the La Casa Del Arbol (The Tree House), this swing is NOT for the faint-hearted It ain’t like other swings you’ve taken in your life, with each swing throwing you into the deep abyss.
Truly EPIC and not something you want to miss out on!
#4 Zipline Through the Rainforests
And lastly for the ULTIMATE thrill seekers, you wouldn’t want to miss out on this! Ziplining through the rainforests in Banos Ecuador is something else altogether!
My better half, Intrepid Introvert and I even decided to zipline down a particular course UPSIDE DOWN with our hands wide apart just for that extra bit of pure ecstasy!
#5 Rejuvenate Your Soul at The Thermal Springs
It ain’t all just fun and adventure in Banos. Here, the hot springs are known for their healing properties that promises to revive you after an exhausting day of exploration!
Banos itself has quite a number of hot spring spots but we headed to a particularly famous one called Las Piscinas de la Virgen. Entrance fees are priced at $3 USD while bathing cap rentals are $0.50 USD.
Ahhh, one word – AMAZING. I just can’t describe how relaxing it was to lay in the natural thermal springs after a long day while socializing with both locals and tourists alike!
Definitely come here for at least one night when you’re in Banos!
I know we didn’t get to experience everything Banos has to offer, but we definitely will be coming back here in the near future!
Banos is a city NOT to be missed, so be sure to hang around for a few days if you’re travelling through Ecuador!
Take a look at some of the adventures we had in this video:
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