A WEEKEND IN BAÑOS - The Adventure Capital of the Andes
SOLEQMASTER
What do you know about Baños? What do you know about the so called adventure capital of South America? Do you know about the variety of all the sport activities or the nature?
No worries, all the answers will be in this article.
We will tell you about our weekend in Baños – The Adventure Capital of the Andes.
THE CITY BAÑOS
Baños de Agua Santa is a city located in the province of Tungurahua. Approximately 3 and a half hours from Quito.
It has the charm of a small and mysterious town. Also it’s known as the South American adventure capital. This name comes due to the number of activities involving extreme sports. Further there are excursions to the volcano Tungurahua. On the other side there are also hot springs if you prefer to relax.
We were looking forward to this trip. Our adventure began at the southern bus terminal of Quito, Quitumbe. There we took a bus on the Quito-Puyo route. The bus costs five dollars.
Once we arrived at Baños we took a chiva – a small open bus – to reach Comuna Santa Rosa de Runtun.
THE BEAST
Our first adventurous stop was the Flight of the Condor. A huge swing on the void. Its name derives from the speed that the swing gets in the beginning of the ride.
We were welcomed very warmly by this family business. They even offered us a typical liquor to relax before the swing of a lifetime! It is their aim to make the braves feel the adrenaline. Just for twenty dollars.
We decided to go for the highest swing, called the Beast. This swing has an impressive pendulum’s length of sixty meters. We just can’t describe the feelings during the ride!
After taming the Beast, we took our chiva and went to the Swing at the End of the World. A swing located on a tree house at 2,660 meters above the sea level. While swinging, you will have an extraordinary view on the volcano Tungurahua and on the valley.
After this funny and risky chapter of our trip we visited the Casa de Dulce la Selecta (House of Sweets). We were able to learn how the delicious guava candy is made from its harvest to its sale.
Did you think Baños was a city for daytime adventures only? Well, you were wrong because this city doesn’t sleep! Another reason for you to spent at least a weekend in Baños!
In the center you will find a great variety of discotheques and bars where you spend an unforgettable night dancing salsa, merengue and reggaeton. We opted for the Leprechaun Disco, which offers three environments with different music in order for you to never get bored.
THE WATERFALL PATH
We had one more day for more adventures, so we decided to go exploring the waterfalls path. On the way, we also had the chance to observe the Agoyan hydroelectric dam, which is only the prelude for the first actual waterfall, the Gates of Heaven, situated just one kilometer away from the Agoyan tunnels. This is a very visited waterfall, as the water ends up right on the road where bicycle and cars transits and because of the peculiar Christ-alike rock situated nearby.
On the way we found many offers for extreme sports and we decided to go for canopy, as we were craving some more adrenaline! Later on, we thought that an incredible waterfall must be appreciated by the right angle, therefore we went for a ride on the cable car “Piece of Sky”. From here, we had an outstanding view of the waterfall called the “Mantle of the Bride”, which is located within the urban bathing area and it is approximately forty meters high with only one fall. The water is transparent, with a temperature of 10º C.
THE GREEN RIVER
After that, we moved to the parish of Río Verde (the Green River), thirty minutes far away from Baños. Here lies the majestic Pailón del Diablo, an eighty meters high waterfall considered to be one of the largest in Ecuador and one of the ten most spectacular in the world.
Take your chance and visit Baños, it could turn out to be one of your best experiences so far!
Maybe you are interested now. A weekend in Baños or a couple days longer? SOLEQ.travel offers you different opportunities for your Baños adventure. Do not hesitate to contact us for an individual inquiry.
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