Three hours south of Quito and set against the backdrop of a very active volcano, Baños is Ecuadors outdoor playground. In the morning you could be riding on a motocross bike up towards a series of waterfalls, and in the afternoon be relaxing in natural steaming baths; Baños seems to have it all.
A cool town in itself, Baños offers the outdoor type a whole host of activities. Many people rent out mountain bikes, quads or motorbikes to explore the stunning surrounding scenery. Waterfalls are abundant in the area and a short ride outside the town takes you to several huge waterfalls in the valley north of the town (at Pailon de Diabloone you can actually climb through a cave underneath the waterfall).You can also see the active volcano that spurts endless streams of lava into the sky just outside the town; a very cool view when seen at night.
The other outdoor activities are endless; White water rafting (very good), Horse riding, Canyoning, Bungee Jumping, Zip Lining, Paragliding and more. Many tour operators also offer trips into the Amazon. By this time i think your heart won't take much more, so a nice relax in one of Baños' hot springs and a cold beer should do the trick.
If your feeling a little more adventurous, this time on the food front, then Baños offers a very cheap delicacy of Peru and Ecuador, 'Cuy', or as we call it, Guinea Pig. Join in the locals devouring this strage feast at the local market for as cheap as £3.
Hostel: Plantas y Blancas. A great trustworthy help-yourself style hostel. Amazing roof terrace with awesome views, amazing breakfast and turkish baths!
No comments:
Post a Comment