Essential Banos Ecuador Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do in Banos (2026 Advice)
Banos is a beautiful and lively mountain town tucked away in a volcanic valley, famous for its waterfalls, natural hot springs and extreme adventure sports. In this guide I share the absolute best things to do in Banos, from renting a bicycle for the famous Banos waterfall bike ride to visiting the crazy impressive Pailon del Diablo and flying high at the Casa del Arbol swing.
I did all the stressful planning and intensive research myself to create this comprehensive Banos Ecuador travel guide so you can explore the area with ease. Whether you are looking for an intense adrenaline rush or a relaxing escape into nature these real tips from my own experience will help you plan your holiday or backpacking trip with absolute confidence.
Banos
Essential Banos Ecuador Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do in Banos (2026 Advice)
The Best Things to Do in Banos: My Ultimate Adventure Banos Ecuador Travel Guide
1. The Famous Banos Waterfall Bike Ride
Renting a bike for the famous Banos waterfall bike ride is an absolute must. The path follows a stunning downhill route through the valley. On route you pass a lot of adventure things if you are feeling it, including extreme bridge bungee jumping and the massive San Martin Canopy zip line wires stretching across the canyon.
My best advice is after visiting Pailon del Diablo (the main famous waterfall) do not end the day here as most people do. If you keep going you will find more waterfalls further along the road which has a stunning quiet spot where you can sit and swim in the waterfall pool at the bottom of it. I was very unlucky during my Banos trip as the weather was so bad and it started to torrential rain when I was hiking down to the swimming waterfall and I had to turn around.
If you get caught out by the rain like I did do not panic. If there is a large enough group of you the staff at the local restaurant by the trail can call you a large truck (what can only be described as an army truck from the movies) to give you a private transfer back to town. It actually cost me the exact same price as the local bus when we split the total fare between us all. Otherwise you can ride your bike back to Pailon del Diablo and lift your rented bikes straight onto the back of the regular public buses.
2. Witness the Power of Pailon del Diablo
The absolute highlight of the Banos waterfall bike ride route is Pailon del Diablo, which translates to the Devil Cauldron. This is easily one of the most crazy impressive and powerful waterfalls I have ever seen in my life. I was that impressed I even Googled if it was one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world (spoiler: it is not).
You park your bike at the entrance, pay a $2 cash fee and walk down a forest path to reach the viewing suspension bridges. You can climb right along the wet stone steps that are carved directly into the cliff face and get soooo close to the water. Prepare to get absolutely soaked from head to toe from the mist, but standing that close to it is an adrenaline rush that is worth it.
3. Swing over Banos at the Casa del Arbol Swing
The famous Casa del Arbol swing is known around the world as the swing at the end of the world, where you can swing out over a canyon with a volcano sitting right in the background. The experience is meant to be so fun and the photos are incredible (gotta get that insta shot). Everyone completely raves about this activity.
I was once again incredibly unlucky with the weather during my time in Banos. The mountain clouds were sitting so low the entire time I was there that it was completely impossible to go up on the swing. If the cloud cover is that heavy you would legitimately only see a thick white fog instead of the valley views. If you want to do this activity make sure to check the mountain visibility before you pay for a local bus or a taxi ride up the mountain. If the sky is clear then go immediately as it can change so quickly.
4. Canyoning down Waterfalls
I did the local canyoning tour and it was way more thrill seeking than I ever expected. The experience involves putting on a thick wetsuit and a helmet to scale straight down the front of wet waterfalls in the jungle canyons.
I do not want to say too much and spoil the fun you will have (also better to not know otherwise it might scare you away) but it is a 2 to 3 hour experience and the finale requires you to have complete and total trust in your local guides. At the very end you have to take a leap of faith and fully jump down a 26 foot high waterfall into a plunge pool below while the guides hold your safety ropes to stop you from hitting the rocs on the ground.
It was truly amazing and incredibly scary all at the same time. I am so sad that I do not have the actual photos of my jump to show you because the tour company sent the files in a strange digital format that I could not download on my phone.
5. Try White Water Rafting
A few of my friends booked a white water rafting excursion on the nearby river during our stay and they absolutely loved it. I was debating between this and the canyoning but ended up choosing the canyoning as I want to save my first ever white water rafting experience for the famous one in New Zealand (YES the one with a waterfall).
The local adventure agencies offer several different rapid levels depending on how brave you are feeling on the day, making it a great activity for both beginners and experienced thrill seekers.
6. Eat Your Way Through the Local Cafes
Who would have thought that this tiny mountain town would have so many incredible coffee shops. Banos has a fantastic food scene that is perfect for budget backpackers or everyday holidaymakers. I spent my rainy afternoons hunting down the best artisan coffee spots and had such great food throughout my stay. I found an absolute favourite local cafe that served up massive plates of fresh burrata cheese, so make sure to wander away from the main plaza to make the most of the independent dining options here.
My favourite ones were:
- Andes Speciality Coffee
- Praline Coffee House
- Honey Coffee and Tea
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