The view of Banos Ecuador from above - Can you spot the Basilica?
Tucked under the shadow of Ecuador’s largest volcano, high up in the Ecuadorian Andes lies the beautiful town of Baños.
Baños is named for the Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water, Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa and features an incredible Basilica in the middle of town that was built from volcanic rock after an eruption of the Tungurahua volcano in 1999, which forced an evacuation of the entire town.
Tourists both foreign and domestic come to Baños to give thanks to the Virgin as well as enjoy the famous hot springs and exciting outdoor activities.
One of the greatest aspects of exploring Baños is that you can kick your own ass all day and then apologize with a $20, 90-minute full body massage (not full service) or hot springs bath afterwards.
I went white water rafting, mountain biking, jumped off a bridge, swam in waterfalls with Spaniards, hiked to the Tungurahua volcano viewpoint and even managed to get myself in a locals pick-up basketball game.
Baños was one of the highlights of my Ecuadorian adventure and here is some visual evidence as to why. Enjoy.
The view of Main Street in Banos from my bathroom.
Mountain Biking around the waterfalls in Banos
Whitewater rafting in Banos - Group pump up before we push off.
While everyone was smiling for this photo we lost somebody overboard.
Rafting break to take a group waterfall shower. I can't show you the photos of how it ended. Big orgy.
Trekking to Tungurahua Volcano viewpoint above Baños. It's lonely at the top.
So many wild flowers along the hike in Banos. It took everything I had to not taste them all.
Overlooking Banos on my way to Tungurahua Volcano. I should have brought a second shirt.
The farm is close to the Virgen statue. So it's a Holy Cow.
I am about to go where no man has gone before.
Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa in all of her purity looking over the city
Nothing better than a locals pick-up hoops game.
Oh hell why not one more waterfall shot - double your visual pleasure. No mas. Baños out.
Shout out to Finola of Travelola.org for providing the photos from our whitewater rafting adventure.
Your rafting adventure is quite nice. Love to travel from different rafting sites so I could experience other types of rafting climates.
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