Baños
Travelers come to Baños for thermal pools at the foot of an active volcano, waterfalls along the road east, and adventure sports in a small mountain town.
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Baños, formally Baños de Agua Santa, is a small town in Tungurahua Province in the central Andes of Ecuador. It sits in a deep valley at about 1,800 meters, under the Tungurahua volcano, which is still active. The town takes its name from its hot springs, and the thermal pools fed by volcanic water are the main reason most visitors come. Baños is also the starting point for the road east, which passes several waterfalls on its way toward the Amazon lowlands near Puyo.
The town suits a trip of two to four days. Many travelers combine soaking in the pools with hiking, cycling downhill on the waterfall road, canyoning and zip-lining. Baños is compact, and you can walk most of it. The weather is mild year-round, but rain is common, so pack a rain layer. The drier months, roughly June through September, are the best time to go. Buses and shuttles run to Baños from Quito and other cities in the region.
Baños in five
- Carry small US dollar billsEcuador uses the US dollar, and small shops and drivers often cannot break large bills. Keep small notes and coins for buses, market stalls and taxis.Money and costs
- Take the bus from Quito's southern terminalBuses to Baños leave from Quito's southern Quitumbe terminal and take about 3 to 4 hours. Leave in the morning so you reach the town before dark.Getting around
- Check volcano alerts before you goTungurahua is an active volcano above the town, and Baños has been evacuated before, in 1999 and 2016. Check the current alert level with the Geophysical Institute before you travel.
- Confirm insurance covers canyoning and raftingMany policies leave out adventure activities unless you add them. Get the activity list in writing before you book a canyoning or rafting day.Travel insurance
- Set up an eSIM before the bus rideSignal can drop on mountain roads, so download offline maps and your bus times before you leave Quito.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- Visa-free tourist stays for many passports; check your nationality
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Not required; some restaurants add a 10% service charge
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain28 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Wet, greenJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 197 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, green
- FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Wet, greenFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 209 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, green
- MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Rainy, greenMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 210 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- AprilRain26 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Rainy, greenAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- MayRain27 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Rain, easingMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, easing
- JuneRain26 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Drier, clearJuneRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 191 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, clear
- JulyRain25 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Drier, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, busy
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Drier, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, busy
- SeptemberRain19 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Dry, clearSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- OctoberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low8°Showers, greenOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Showers, green
- NovemberRain23 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Showers, greenNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 166 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers, green
- DecemberRain29 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Holidays, busyDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holidays, busy
Average daily high and low in Baños, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Baños
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
20
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 91%
Baños
04:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°16°91%Monday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Tue24°14°89%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Wed24°14°94%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu25°13°91%Thursday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Fri23°14°83%Friday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Sat24°15°88%Saturday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Sun23°15°86%Sunday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 86%.
Updated 04:39 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Puyoabout 2 hours by busThe gateway town to the lowland Amazon, with lodges and river trips further on.Read the guide
- Ambatoabout 1 hour by busA larger city with markets and a bus terminal for onward trips.Read the guide
- Ruta de las Cascadasabout 2 to 4 hours by bikeA road east of town past several waterfalls, best started early.Read the guide
Before you go to Baños
Rules for Baños, checked
- Many nationalities enter Ecuador without a visa for tourist stays. Check the entry rules with the foreign ministry before you book.Source
- Tungurahua is an active volcano above Baños. Follow any evacuation order and check the alert level on the Geophysical Institute site before you travel.Source
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Ecuador.
Plan around Baños
Entry, buses and money for a trip that includes Baños
Read the guideGetting around EcuadorBuses, taxis and tours between the main towns
Read the guideMoney and costsDollars, cash and card use outside the big cities
Read the guideVisas and entryTourist stays and the entry rules for your passport
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses and hotels close to the town center
Read the guideTours and ticketsGuided waterfall, rafting and canyoning trips
Read the guideBaños FAQ
Is Baños worth visiting?
Yes, for the hot springs, the waterfalls and mountain biking, with the volcano in view. The town sits at the foot of Tungurahua at about 1,800 m, so bring a warm layer for cool evenings.
How many days do you need in Baños?
Two to three nights covers the hot springs, a bike or bus ride on the waterfall road and one adventure day. One night is enough for the baths and the town.
What is the Ruta de las Cascadas?
It is a road that runs east from Baños toward Puyo, past several waterfalls, including Pailón del Diablo. You can ride a rented bike, take a bus or hire a taxi for the trip out.
Is Baños a good base for the Amazon?
It is a common stop on the way to the lowland Amazon, because Puyo, the gateway town, is about 2 hours by bus. Check what a lodge or river trip includes before you pay.
What are the main risks to plan around?
The main things to plan around are volcanic alerts, steep mountain roads and the water on rafting and canyoning days. Ask your lodging about current conditions when you arrive.
What is melcocha?
It is a pulled sugar candy made in town and sold in shops and on the street. It is a common souvenir to take home as a gift.