Tourist Town – Maldo Travels

San Andres – Islands Tour

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 20:00:00 +0000

This was the first tour we purchased when we arrived at the island. There are several tour reps walking along the main strip in Centro advertising tours. Usually, for any tours involving boats, it’s normally cheapest to buy tickets at the pier from where they depart. The tour that we bought was scheduled to depart at 8.30 AM from a pier on the south side of Centro. There are several entrances and we were unsure what entrance to go through, but when we showed our voucher we were pointed in the right direction. We arrived at the pier at around 8.20 AM and they took our voucher to register our arrival. They told us to wait to be called to be given a wristband. After about 20 minutes of waiting we went up to ask them again and they said they were delayed so we had to wait a bit more. At around 9 AM they gave us our wristbands and told us to board one of the boats. We began setting out before one of the crew members said we were on the wrong boat and so we had to go back to the pier to change to another boat. The whole thing was very unorganized and we finally made it on the right boat at around 9.30 AM.

Johnny Cay

The tour we got was for one of the fast boats and it fit around 20 people. Our first stop was the island of Johnny Cay which is a short 15-minute journey away. The arrival to the island is very beautiful as you can see the palm-tree-lined sandy shore surrounded by the colorful turquoise water. We were left to roam the island and asked to be back at the boat at 12.30 PM to continue onto the next island. The island is very small so we decided to walk the perimeter which took us about 30 minutes. The center of the island has a couple of facilities and some seating areas in the shade of tall palm trees. You can also buy some food and drinks in this area. You can get in the water on some shallow parts of the island, but be careful because the waves can be very strong. Overall, it’s a nice place to relax during the day.

Aquarium

The boat came back on time and we promptly set out to the next destination which was the Aquarium. It takes about 35 minutes to get there and on the way the tour guide asks everyone if they want to make a stop by the ghost ship. However, they ask for an additional 5000 COP¹ contribution per person which was a little annoying, but fortunately, everyone on the boat agreed. The tour guide tells the story of how the cargo ship got stuck on the corals and was abandoned since it was too expensive to pull it out. It was a quick stop and then we continued to our destination which is known as the aquarium. The water is much calmer here so it’s perfect for snorkeling. There are several stalls there and you can rent snorkeling gear if you didn’t bring any with you. However, the highlight of this place is the sandy path that goes into the sea. The waves come in ankle-deep at most, but it’s a very picturesque walk.

Haynes Cay

There is also a safety line that connects to Haynes Cay that you can walk along. The water is waist deep and it takes about 10 minutes to walk across. This island is smaller than Johnny Cay and also less maintained. There’s a restaurant here as well to buy food and drinks which is the main attraction, but most people stay in the Aquarium. We walked back across and relaxed in the water while we waited for the boat to come back at 3 PM. We then got on the boat and one of the sting ray handlers brought a sting ray by the boat. We saw it swimming around the boat and you could reach out to touch it as it swam by.

Mangroves

Next, the tour guide took us to the final destination which was the mangroves. We cruised around here for a couple of minutes while the guide told us about the flora and fauna in the area. Then it was a quick 10-minute journey back to the pier.

Mindo – Nature and Adventure

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 23:04:00 +0000

Located only 2 hours away from Quito, this is a popular holiday spot for residents of the capital. We drove there but you can take a bus as well. The town is small but filled with tour agencies and restaurants. I’ve been on several occasions and we normally stop at a tour agency on the main road to look for activities. There are many things to do and here are some of the activities I’ve done in my last couple of visits.

Zip-lining/Canopy

There are many different places to do zip-lining in the mountain cloud rainforest terrain. You can buy the tours in the town and they normally do bundles with other activities. However, you can also go directly to the zip-lining locations which will probably be cheaper. From the town center, it takes about 15 minutes to get to the zip-lining location. As you leave the town, the route turns to narrow winding dirt roads. There was plenty of parking available at the site. The staff helped us put our gear on securely and we then set out with 2 guides. It took about an hour to go through a circuit of 10 zip-lines and it was great fun.

Whitewater Tubing

This is a more adrenaline-inducing activity as the current of the river is very strong. The tour agency provided life jackets and helmets which we put on before heading out. They also told us to put on swimsuits or clothes that we didn’t mind getting wet, since we were guaranteed to get soaked. We then hopped on a pickup truck to the riverside location for the tubing activity. It took about 20 minutes to get there and they also took the buoys in other pickup trucks. The guide then gave us a safety briefing and since we were a large group, they divided us up into 2 groups. The tubes are about 6 tubes tied together so it’s 6 people each plus the guide. Unlike rafting where you have to row, your only job in the tubing activity is to hold onto the ropes. The guide will then do the rest of the work navigating which is quite amazing to watch. You’ll see them jump around the tubes and the river to navigate and dislodge the tubes when they get stuck. It takes about 20 minutes to go down the river and everyone gets completely soaked. At the destination location of the river, the pickup truck was waiting for us to take us back. It’s only a 5-minute drive back from this part of the river.

Waterfall Rappelling

For this activity, we hopped on the pickup trucks to go into the rainforest. The waterfall is deep inside the rainforest and it took us about 30-40 minutes to get there. We first arrive at a lodge where we waited for a guide to come back with the previous group. We then hiked up the rainforest for about 15 minutes to reach the waterfall. When we got there, there were a couple of people from another group rappelling down the waterfall. We arrived at the base of the waterfall and could see it was quite high, maybe around 15-20 meters. There wasn’t much water coming down though, which makes it suitable for rappelling. Once the previous group had come finished coming down, the guides put the harnesses on us before hiking up to the top of the waterfall. It’s a short 5-minute hike up and then the guide gave us instructions on how to rappel down. Initially, it’s a little scary as you have to lean back, but once you get a hang of the technique you lose the fear. It takes about 5-10 minutes to rappel down, depending on how quickly you go. The guide rappelled down in 10 seconds which was insane.

There are many other activities which include a trail to visit waterfalls, renting buggies, visiting a butterfly sanctuary, and lots more. You can also just head to the river. The current is a little strong, but some parts are quite shallow so you could sit on some rocks and get a hydro-massage.

Otavalo & Peguche – Culture & Nature

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 21:09:00 +0000

The popular tourist town of Otavalo is only a 2-hour drive away from Quito. There is also regular public transport since it is a well-traveled route with buses leaving from the North Terminal of Carcelén. It’s a nice scenic drive along the winding Andean mountains; especially when passing the lake at San Pablo which lies next to the great volcano Imbabura.

We arrived at the Parque Simon Bolivar which is a small central square. There are several paid parking lots in the area and after parking our car, we walked to the crafts market. The people of Otavalo are primarily indigenous and have integrated with modern society. You’ll see lots of people walking around in their traditional clothes, and the main attraction in the town is the crafts market. The crafts market is only a couple of blocks from the park where we left our car, and there are many crafts stalls on the sidewalks on the way. Some roads are also closed to vehicle traffic so it’s safer to walk to the market. The busiest days are the weekends when the majority of the vendors open their stalls. The market is still open on weekdays though so it’s still worth a visit. You’ll find many different products for sale and Otavalo is well known for its high-quality textiles; especially the ponchos. There are also many restaurants in the area to get a taste of some of the region’s cuisine.

After going for a stroll around the market, you can head to a nearby waterfall at Peguche. It’s only a 10-minute drive from the market and there’s a car park on-site. Public transport is also available and departs from the park. Another option is to hail a taxi from anywhere in town which will cost around 2 USD² each way. The final option is the 40-minute walk since it’s not too far and also a nice walk through the town. Between the car park and the entrance, there are a couple of shops and stalls selling snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. There is also an Incan solar calendar structure which is accessible for free.

The entry ticket for the waterfall costs only 0.50 USD for access to the trails and spaces along the way. It’s then a short 10-15 minute walk along the trail which is very well maintained. The surrounding area is very green like a rainforest which has lots of different paths. There are toilet facilities and we also passed a camping area. Further down the trail, there was a path that headed toward a natural pool. There were also small bridges that crossed the river to an area with some huts. It looked like these huts were restaurants since they were playing music, but they also looked like lodging. The trail splits at one point, with one path going to the lower part of the waterfall and the other path going up to a viewpoint. We first went to the lower part of the waterfall and crossed a wooden bridge to get there. The waterfall isn’t very high, but the water comes crashing down with enough force to create a gust of mist. You can get very close to the waterfall, but be prepared to get very wet. I managed to climb up on one of the large boulders to get a picture. The water is a little cold, but bearable with the hot weather that we had when we went. We then went back across the bridge and up the other trail to the viewpoint of the waterfall. There is a small hut there that looks out towards the waterfall.

On the way back along the trail, we noticed another path that went up the other side of the hill. We followed the trail up and this one goes higher than the one at the viewpoint. We got to a point where there was a warning sign and continued past it to the top. The trail past this point gets very narrow and can be scary if you’re afraid of heights. This trail goes over the waterfall and you get an amazing view of the town with a mountainous background. We took some rest here before heading back down and back to the car park.

Windsor Castle – Historic Royal Home

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 19:50:00 +0000

Known to be a popular residence of the current monarchy, Windsor Castle is a large complex that is open to the general public. By car, it takes about an hour to get there from London. There are plenty of paid car parks in the area, but it tends to get very busy in the summer so there’s more traffic and difficult to find a parking spot. Another option is to go by train which takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The train station is a short and pleasant 10-minute walk away from the castle.

Tickets can be booked online for a specific time slot and the booking process will note any restrictions on the day. You must book online to be able to visit and booking directly is the cheapest option. The ticket also comes with an audio guide that can be set to several different languages. As you walk throughout the site, you’ll see numbered signs that you can enter into the audio guide. This is a great way to learn about the history of the many different areas in the castle. It is also possible to book private and group tours if you prefer. The grounds are very well kept and all areas are very well signposted so it’s easy to find your way around. You can visit the different gardens and several different state apartments with many different things on display.

It’s easy to spend a full day here as there are so many places to visit. There are also activities for kids and a couple of cafes to grab something to eat. As you head towards the exit, you’ll pass by St George’s Chapel which is full of history. The Chapel is normally closed on Sundays for service, and you should check if it is open on the day you plan to visit as it’s a beautiful place. At the exit, there is also a soldier of the Queen’s Guard stationed in a booth. A small area is cordoned off and the guard will occasionally step out of his booth and march up and down the cordoned-off area. After leaving Windsor Castle, you can explore the town which has lots of restaurants and the riverside is especially popular. There are rowboats for rent and many ducks and swans floating on the river. Overall, it’s a great day trip from London to a place that’s full of history.

Portugal – Towns, Mountains and Lakes

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 14:26:00 +0000

On our trip to Portugal, we stayed at a friend’s family’s place in Canas de Senhorim which is about a 1-hour 45-minute drive from Porto where we landed. There are several car rental companies within walking distance from the airport and our friend normally rents from Drive & Go. The drive to Canas de Senhorim is beautiful as we pass by mountain landscapes along winding roads. We were staying here for about a week and we did some grocery shopping in the bigger town of Nelas which is a short 10-minute drive away. For eating out in restaurants, we headed to the city of Viseu which was a 30-minute drive away. For activities, the Serra da Estrela national park is close by as well as several small towns.

Praia da Lagoa Comprida

It took us about a 1-hour drive to get to this lake in Serra da Estrela and the route is very scenic as we climb the mountains along winding roads. There are a couple of small mountainside towns on the way before reaching the car park which is next to the dam at the lake. There’s a small shop/cafe here and you can walk along the dam for some great pictures. The lake is huge and there were a couple of groups of people sunbathing by the lake. We found a spot on one of the large boulders by the lake and went for a swim. The weather was great when we went with 30-degree temperatures but the lake was still quite cold which made for a refreshing swim. After doing some swimming, we went for a walk around the lake and there are many large boulders that would be great for bouldering. Overall, it was a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Viseu

One of the main attractions in this city is Sé Catedral de Viseu which dates back to the 12th century. Entrance to the cathedral and adjacent square which has some iconic tile artwork is free, but you can also pay to visit the museum which goes through very old buildings. The architecture and stonework of the cathedral appear to be untouched which allows you to appreciate the history in this place. Across the main plaza, you can find the newer Igreja da Misericórdia de Viseu. Next to this church, you can find a viewpoint that looks over the city. We walked around the stone-tiled city which has several shops in its high streets and ended up at Jardim da Ribeira. There is a funicular here which goes up to Igreja da Misericórdia de Viseu, but the highlight at this time of year was the Feira de São Mateus. This yearly event takes place at the end of August and the beginning of September. There were many funfair games, food stalls, and a stage with live music. One of the iconic foods was the farturas which were being sold everywhere. These were very tasty and are similar to churros but much larger.

Mangualde

This was one of the bigger towns close to Canas de Senhorim. The highlight here is the Live Beach which is an artificial beach. It’s a great place to relax with beach chairs and parasols available for hire. There is also a bar/restaurant, a kids area, and a football pitch in the sand. After going for a swim, you can head to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Castelo which is at the top of a hill and makes for a great viewpoint. You can either drive up to the parking area or walk up some steps. There’s also a restaurant there which is famous for serving a snail dish.

Douro Valley – Famous Wine Country

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:01:48 +0000

There are many tours available online and one of the most popular ones are the river cruises with wine tours. We mainly wanted to go for a wine tasting and having been before in Argentina, I remember a visit to a single winery being enough and that it was cheaper buying directly with the winery. After some online research, we decided to go to a winery in Peso da Régua which was a popular spot. We were staying at Canas de Senhorim and it was only a 1-hour 10-minute drive. From Porto, it’s a slightly longer 1-hour 20-minute drive. Although Porto has several agencies offering a range of Douro Valley tours which may be more convenient.

After looking up wineries in Peso da Régua, we decided to go with Quinta da Pacheca. They had reasonable prices for the wine tasting tours with an English speaking guide. Our wine tour was scheduled for 3 PM so we set out at around 12.30 PM. The drive itself is very scenic as it crosses mountains and valleys along winding roads. There are several parking options available in the town although the ones by the river tend to fill up quickly. We managed to find a spot by the river and then went for a walk along the riverside. The landscape views here are incredible as you get to see the terraced vineyards on the slopes of the banks on the other side of the river. The river cruises stop/depart from the banks of this river. The large cruises had already set out but there was a small boat that offered a 50-minute river tour for 10 EUR³. We walked around the hilly town for a bit before getting back in the car to cross the river to get to our wine tour.

Quinta de Pacheca has a large complex with vineyards, buildings for winemaking, and a hotel with unique barrel rooms. When we got there, we went sure where the tour began so we went to the hotel reception to ask and they directed us to a building further down the road. The wine tour started promptly and to start with, everyone had to walk through a disinfection barrel that sprays a mist as you walk through. The guide then first took us to the vineyards and gave us some information on how the grapes are grown and the different types of grapes used. Next, we headed into a building where they prepare the harvested grapes. There are large stone deposits where the grapes are kept in and stirred to get the juice from the grapes. The guide told us that during the harvest season, they offer an experience for visitors to collect grapes and then step on them barefoot which was the traditional method. We then continue down some steps to the storage room where the barrels are kept. The guide explains how the wine is stored and aged in this room. After this, we then head outside for the wine tasting. We got to try 5 wines in total; 2 Reds, 1 White, and 2 Ports. The guide explains how each wine was made as he pours them out. We’re also given a menu with a list of the wines and prices for anyone wanting to buy. I enjoyed the Ports and ended up getting 2 bottles to take home. After the tasting, we’re free to roam around the area to take pictures.

We were done at around 5 PM and we decided to cross the river back to Peso da Régua to see if we could get on the river tour we saw earlier. The last one was scheduled to leave at 6 PM so we went into a cafe to wait until then. We were pretty tired so ended up staying at the cafe for a bit longer rather than going on the river tour. At around 6.30 we then went back to the car to head back to Canas de Senhorim.

Patong – Phuket’s Party Beach Town

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 22:28:00 +0000

With our flight departing at noon from , we left the hostel at 8.45 AM for the Airport. A Tuk Tuk from the hotel cost us 8 USD⁴ and took 30 minutes. We had a connecting flight in Bangkok with a transit time of only 1-hour 45-minutes. The lady at the counter said we had to pick up our bags and re-check the bags in Bangkok but we should have enough time. With another 2 hours to wait, I logged into the WiFi to check emails and saw our Patong hotel had been canceled so I spent 30 mins booking another one. We landed at the smaller Don Mueang International Airport so getting to customs was quick. We let the staff know about our flight leaving soon and were put in the priority queue. We managed to clear customs, re-check our bags, and go through customs again within the 1 hour 45 minute connection time. It’s a 2-hour flight to Phuket and the airport there is also fairly small.

At the exit, there were stalls offering shuttle services and sim cards. We tried to use the airport wifi to see if they had Uber⁵ or an alternative app but that didn’t work. We had to take cash out at the ATM to buy a Sim card since they didn’t take credit cards. After connecting to the internet, we looked up taxi apps but didn’t find anything reliable and it had been over an hour now so we got the shuttle service which was 180 THB⁶ per person. We were directed to the shuttle pick up location and waited there for about 15 mins until the next shuttle came. We were first taken to the office a 5-minute drive away where everyone got off to give their hotel details. After everyone was done, we hopped back in and the driver instructed everyone to put their seat belt pointing at a sign saying 1000 THB fine for no seat belt. The driver didn’t speak much English and wasn’t very friendly. It was about an hour’s drive and the traffic was a little crazy with winding roads closer to Patong. Our driver also drove quite quickly whilst lane hopping. We got dropped off on the main road a short walk from the hotel. We checked in and were in our room by 6.30 PM.

The Town

After settling into our room, we went for a walk on Bangla Road. There was lots of light and music along this road. The first part was mostly bars and restaurants. The stretch closer to the beach was then filled with clubs and bars. The side roads also had bars and some street food areas. It’s a very lively and nice atmosphere filled with people. We walked up to the beach and then across. There were still tour agency stalls open as well as restaurants and souvenir shops. We walked along a street parallel to Bangala and found a nice food market called Otop. We decided to eat here and were not disappointed. Prices were reasonable between 100 and 200 THB for food. We then walked across until we reached Bangala and headed back up to the hotel. We were in Patong for another 3 days and had tours planned during the day. In the evenings we went out to Bangala and found the bars with live music to be great.

On one of our free afternoons, we headed to the and rented some Beach chairs from 4 PM until close which was 6 PM for 100 TBH each. We also bought some ice-cold 750 ML Chang beers for 180 TBH each and played cards. There are several water sports at the beach as well including jet-skiing, parasailing, and the banana boat. We then went for a walk along the beach until the sunset before heading back to the hotel to get changed before checking out a bar. We went to a live music bar called Lion Livemusic and the band was amazing. They could play practically any song and the singers were great. We then checked out the two big clubs; Tiger and Illuzion. There are loads of reps selling drink deals and we thought this was needed for entry. Turns out entry is free once you dodge them. Both venues are huge and the music played is mainly charts/electro.

Siem Reap – Tourist Town

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 30 May 2019 23:39:00 +0000

Coming from London, we took a flight with Thai Airways to Bangkok which took 11 hours 45 minutes. Our flight was delayed 1 hour so we only had 45 mins to get to our connecting flight to Siem Reap. We ran the length of the Aeropuerto Suvarnabhumi and made it since there was no need to go through customs. The flight to Cambodia was quick and took about an hour. We landed in Cambodia at 8.30 AM and the airport is very small. At customs, there are 4 queues; one for a visa application, one for residents, one for ASEA members, and a general passport control queue. If you applied for the e-visa then you can join the last queue otherwise you join the visa queue. There are no ATMs at the airport but there is a Currency Exchange office.

For transportation, there’s a taxi office but they only take cash, so we had to exchange some GBP⁷ for KHR⁸. The cost of a taxi was 10 USD⁹ or 40,000 KHR. They give you a receipt and you have to exit the airport, handing in your customs form to the officials. You then meet the driver at the exit who takes your receipt and walks you to the taxi. The driver was very friendly and keen to sell us taxi transportation within Angkor Wat . He offered the service for 40 USD but this was solely transportation and no guide. He also had a price list of transportation to different places. We took his phone details but didn’t book anything. The ride to our hotel which was near the Angkor Night Market took about 30 minutes. After checking in, we headed out to look for tours and an ATM. We enquired with the tour agency at our hotel first but we then found another tour agency who had a very friendly sales rep. He sold us two Angkor Wat tours, a tour to the Floating Village, and a full-day car rental with a driver to Kulen Mountain. He also drove me in his scooter to a Maybank ATM which I read online had free withdrawals. However, this did not work for my card. So I ended up withdrawing money from ABA Bank which charged a 5 USD fee. The tour agency rep said that we could pay everywhere in USD or KHR, so we took out USD from the ATM since we’re more familiar with that currency.

After buying the tours we went for a walk and passed Pub Street in the Angkor Night Market area. We then walked towards the river where the Old Market is located. Both these areas are a nice walk and great for souvenir shopping. They sell clothes here as well and we ended up buying a couple of t-shirts from here for very cheap. We stayed in Siem Reap for 4 days and found the night market area to be great for walks during the day and night. The streets are filled with people since there are lots of restaurants, bars, and street food stalls so it feels safe. The people are also very friendly and there were more locals than I expected who could speak some English. The cuisine is also an interesting experience which can be similar to Thai food but with their unique flavors. Overall, it’s a very tourist-friendly place and the locals are keen to share their culture with visitors.

Baños – Pailón Del Diablo

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 14:23:00 +0000

There are a number of activities and tourist sites within the vicinity of Baños but a must-see is the Pailón del Diablo; a deafeningly powerful waterfall that literally takes your breath away. The waterfall is only 30 minutes away from Baños by car. There is also the option of a bike tour, however, I don’t really recommend this as there is no dedicated bike lane on the roads which can get quite narrow. The Chivas tours include this spot as one of the destinations and are a fun way to get around. There are two options for visiting the Pailón del Diablo, one is ‘La Isla del Pailón’ that is privately owned, and the other is ‘La Grieta al Cielo’ which is run by the locals. The former has a 2 USD¹ entrance fee and is a trail to a wooden bridge near the top of the waterfall yielding a panoramic view from above. The latter costs 1.50 USD and is a trail that goes right down to the waterfall with viewing balconies, a wooden bridge with a panoramic view, and a cave that leads up to the waterfall. Both times that I hace gone, I’ve gone to ‘La Grieta del Cielo’ and did not regret it.

It takes about 25 minutes to walk down the trail. The entrance fee is charged at the bottom and they sell water ponchos so you can assume you will get wet. The weather is nice and warm so I opted not to get one. Although wet is an understatement, you will get soaked from head to toe. Once you’ve paid and walked up a cobbled path, you will arrive at the main balcony and into a mist of water. Then you have the option of either walking down some steps to the lower balcony or walking up through a cave towards the balconies near the top of the waterfall. You’ll notice that there are not many people that go to the lower balcony, and this is because it can be rather terrifying. As you walk down the steps, the mist gradually becomes a strong spray of water. Once at the bottom of the balcony, you will find yourself gasping for air as the water crashes against the balcony. When this happens, many people run back up the stairs (myself included) as you get the sensation that the force of the water will pull you into the river. Although initially frightening, it’s an exhilarating experience and somewhat refreshing once you’ve gathered the courage to make it all the way down.

Now traversing the cave is a little easier. The cave is quite low so you’ll have to crouch and watch your head. A lot of people hit their head and no helmets are available for rental at the site. A lamp is not necessary since sunlight comes in from the sides. It takes about 5-10 minutes to crawl through the cave, depending on how many people there are. The balconies near the top are smaller so you may have to wait for people to come down first. It’s also slippery so you have to be cautious as you make your way. Once you reach the balcony, you can feel the vibrations generated by the immense power of the thunderous waterfall. The waterfall itself is not even an arm’s length away and you can touch it if you dare. It’s also possible to head up a couple more stairs to a balcony which goes behind the waterfall. Walking up these stairs is like walking through a shower with mighty water pressure. Once you get through, you’ll encounter the roaring sound of massive amounts of water pounding down all around you. A surreal experience of nature which can be violent yet peaceful at the same time. When done with admiring the waterfall at such a close distance, you can return back down to the entrance and then use your ticket to access the wooden bridge. This structure crosses the river where you’ll be able to appreciate the magnitude of the waterfall from afar.

Baños – Nature and Adrenaline

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 13:15:51 +0000

A three-hour drive south from the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, Baños de Agua Santa is a small town en route to the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is at this point where you notice the change in climate and terrain as it becomes warmer in a mountainous landscape rich in vegetation. The route is very scenic where you will pass by several volcanos through a region that is known as ‘La Avenida de Los Volcanes’ (Volcano Avenue). Given that it is a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of these magnificent monuments of nature that usually hide behind the clouds. For a tasty treat, you can make a stop on the highway at one of the many stalls/shops selling the nationally famous ‘Helados de Salcedo’. These are ice creams with different natural fruit juice flavors layered horizontally. Another city on the way to Baños is Ambato; recognized for their bread and traditional rabbit dish. Ambato also has a bus terminal which connects to Baños and also offers tours to Volcan Chimborazo – which at almost 6300 meters, is the highest in Ecuador.

The town of Baños itself is small with a marketplace, plaza, a small basilica, and hot water spring all within a 5-minute walking distance of each other. Despite being a small town, it also has a lively nightlife with several bars and clubs. There are also several tour agencies that provide tours in a unique party-like bus called Chivas stopping at several destinations. The hot spring is rather special in Baños and is embodied in the town’s name since Baños de Agua Santa translates to Baths of Holy Water. The town is a well-visited pilgrimage destination for devout Catholics as the water from the hot springs has been associated with miraculous curative events. Ultimately, Baños is a frequented tourist spot for both foreign nationals and Ecuadorians – especially those from the capital.

Casa del Arbol

Home to the famed swing at the end of the world, this spot is about 20 minutes away from Baños and also part of the Chivas tour. Entrance costs 1 USD¹ to access the site which has a garden, 6 swings, and a restaurant cafe. Located high up on a mountain, it has a great view of Volcan Tungurahua provided it’s a clear day. The busiest 2 swings are the ones next to the iconic tree house. Perspective is what makes the great pictures seen on the internet. You have to time the photo with the volcano in the background and at an angle that makes it look like your swinging off the end of the mountain. Do try to get here early as it can get extremely busy. If you get there around sundown, you may get less time on the swing as the operators try to get through everyone by the time it gets dark. There is also a queue to go up the treehouse which has a great view of the landscape and volcano. The weather is warm during the day and gets quite cold as the sun begins to set so bring a warm jumper or coat. Also, a great national hot drink to have in the cold is canelazo which is a national liquor and cinnamon based alcoholic drink.

Cascada Machay

One of the waterfalls near Baños which is about 35 minutes away is the Cascada Machay which is on the same route as Pailón del Diablo just 5 minutes further. The trail is maintained by the locals and entrance costs 1 USD. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk down a scenic dirt path to get to the viewpoint. Machay is a tall waterfall with a great landscape surrounding it. You can get closer to it by going down to the rocks. Doing so will guarantee you getting wet and the rocks are quite slippery so proceed with caution. It’s a great waterfall and you can go further downstream for a splash, but swimming near the waterfall is not permitted.

Other Activities

There is much more to do around Baños to get in touch with nature like the destinations mentioned above. In addition to these, there are also high adrenaline activities such as zip lining, rock climbing, rafting, bungee jumping to name a few. It’s one of my favorite places in Ecuador that I always go back to, and every time I go there’s something new to try out.