Ruta de las Cascadas: Ecuador's Greatest Downhill Ride
The Ruta de las Cascadas — 17 km of downhill cycling from Baños to Puyo through the Pastaza canyon — is Ecuador's most popular outdoor activity; the downhill through seven waterfalls, the canyon scenery, and the ecological transition make it an extraordinary ride
Pailón del Diablo: Ecuador's Most Powerful Waterfall
The Pailón del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) — an 80-metre waterfall crashing into a narrow canyon on the Pastaza River — is Ecuador's most dramatic waterfall; the viewing platforms, the mist, and the sheer force of the water create an overwhelming natural spectacle
Baños Hummingbirds: Where the Andes Meet the Amazon
The Baños region — at the transition between Andean cloud forest and Amazon — has exceptional hummingbird diversity; the sword-billed hummingbird, the booted racket-tail, and dozens of other species inhabit the transition zone
Baños Sanctuary: The Virgin Who Saved the Town
Baños is a pilgrimage destination — the Basílica de la Virgen del Agua Santa is Ecuador's most visited shrine; the miraculous images attributed to the Virgin during Tungurahua's eruptions, the ex-voto paintings, and the healing springs make Baños both adventure town and sacred place
Melcocha: Baños's Candy-Pulling Street Tradition
The melcocha — a traditional sugarcane taffy candy pulled by hand in the streets of Baños — is the town's most distinctive food tradition; the public candy-pulling, the flavours, and the shop fronts of the melcocha vendors are one of Ecuador's most charming street food cultures
Baños to Puyo: Descending Into the Amazon
The road from Baños to Puyo — descending from 1,820m to 950m in 60 km through the Pastaza canyon — is one of Ecuador's most dramatic drives; the descent from Andean cloud forest to the Amazon's edge passes seven waterfalls and multiple ecosystems
Baños: Ecuador's Adventure Capital Under a Volcano
Baños de Agua Santa sits at 1,820m at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano — the adventure sports capital of Ecuador; swinging off cliffs, white-water rafting, zip-lining, and the famous 'Route of the Waterfalls' all converge in this Andean town
Tungurahua: Living Under an Active Volcano
Tungurahua — the 4,783m 'Black Giant' active since 1999 — is the world's most accessible active volcano experience; the ash falls, the lava flows, and the volcanic thunder create a constant reminder that Baños sits at the foot of one of South America's most active peaks