Baños is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Ecuadorian Sierra. The town is dominated by hostels and touristy restaurants and cafes. Apart from food and a small but boisterous nightlife, you have to go outside of the town limits to find activities. With plenty of hiking, bike paths, nearby spas, and tours, this is not hard to do.
For -5, you can rent a bike for the day and follow the mostly downhill road through spectacular scenery and past several waterfalls, some of which splash onto your path. This can be a half-day trip or an all-day trip depending on how fast you go and how far you take the path. To go all the way to Puyo is 60km. Most travelers stop 17km down the road at the beautiful Pailón del Diablo waterfall.
Around Baños
Río Verde is about 17km south of Baños. An area rich in waterfalls and lush vegetation, most travelers see this area on a day trip from Baños by bike, tour bus, chiva, scooter or motorbike. The biggest waterfall in the area, El Pailón del Diablo is the stopping point to the south for most tours from Baños and features a less-than-1km path leading through the forest and to the waterfall as well as some restaurants and lodges set deep in the woods.
If you want to tour the area without a guide, you can easily rent bikes, scooters etc. in Baños and, with the help of a map and some common sense, follow the main highway along its mostly downhill path. Be sure to avoid entering the tunnels, there are unpaved paths to the right of each tunnel (on your way out of Baños). The road can be fairly dangerous with reckless bus drivers galore, but the views are worth it. Don't miss the cable car (or, more appropriately, cable basket) to see the Manta de Novia waterfall (Bride's Veil Waterfall). It's round trip and well worth views directly over the waterfall.
Tour agencies litter pretty much every block in Baños, offering every variety of adventure sports from bungee jumping off bridges to rafting and everything in between. Tours to the Amazon Basin, the Oriente, are also popular.
Quick Tips:
Bring bug spray, a swimsuit, athletic clothes, a big appetite, and an adventurous spirit.
Best Way To Get Around:
You can walk or bike everywhere in town. Bike rental is -6 per day, and there is a wide selection of rental places. You can also rent 4-wheelers (cuadrones).