Enjoy Rainforests, Waterfalls, And Adventure In This High-Adrenaline Destination In Ecuador

Encircled by vast mountains laden with thick rainforest, the town of Baños is a gateway to the adventurous Ecuadorean interior. Its crags conceal vast tumbling waterfalls, rushing river rapids, and views over the valley in which the town has thrived. The white-walled, cobblestoned town is a peaceful and scenic base for adrenaline hunters, with all the activities being touted in the streets being oriented around thrills. Here, travelers can tackle the canyoning excursions, white water rafting expeditions, hiking and biking routes that lure adventurous travelers into to Ecuadorian rainforest.

Accessing the small town requires a bit of a journey, but one that traverses the glorious Andean highlands and verdant valleys that define Ecuador's wild interior. Start in Quito, South America's most underrated city, which promises an unforgettable and very affordable vacation. The capital is well-connected via its international airport, linking Ecuador with major U.S. cities like Atlanta and New York with direct flights. From there, you'll need to book a private transfer or start the adventure early by taking the local bus from Quitumbe bus terminal. Be conscious of keeping your valuable possessions on your person during the ride, buses can be notorious for thieves in the cities of this dangerous South American destination.

Weaving around Baños, a trail linking occluded cascades runs through the mountain forests. The Waterfall Route, as its known, is a 15-mile path that weaves past several towering waterfalls and hidden springs. Most visitors rent a bike in town, though ambitious hikers do take the trail on foot. The route encompasses five main waterfalls, starting out with the pooling Ulba Waterfall and its sidekick, the smaller Cascada del Silencio. Riding onwards over a sweeping view of a verdant valley, you'll spot Cascada de Agoyan before continuing to Cascada del Manto de la Novia. The next stop, Pailón del Diablo, might be the highlight of the route. Its rickety rope bridges and fall-side staircase give you an up-close experience of the crashing cascades. There are many truck taxis leaving from here which you can hitch a lift with to avoid the uphill ride back.

Take your time — you won't want to rush through Ecuador's tropical cloud forest, a playground brimming with orchids and butterflies, and there is no obligation to visit every single waterfall on the route. The total trip typically takes 6 hours to complete by bike, but there are shorter marked trails that take in the highlights without requiring a full day's uphill trudge and can be achieved in under two hours on foot. It's also possible to visit many of the best waterfalls on a jeep tour, though you may miss out on the truly secluded spots accessible only by weary foot or cycle tread.

Beyond the hiking and biking trails wound around the town, Baños is a jump-off point for a wide array of exhilarating excursions at the intersection of the Andes and the outer Amazon. One of the most popular activities is canyoning, wherein wetsuit clad travelers rappel down sheer cliffs and scramble up waterfall-drenched rock faces. Brave the precipices and hold faith in your equipment to be rewarded with natural slides into cascade pools and obscure angles on the crashing falls. Some tours also pair canyoning with a speeding trip down the ziplines flying over the face of the falls.

If you prefer the water top to the cliff face, choose a white water rafting route along the rushing rivers cleaving through the town's mountainous surrounds. Rocketing over the class III and IV rapids that form a natural corridor between Sangay National Park and Llanganates National Park, the tour can be pretty full on and rowers will be expected to pull their weight or risk being flung from the rubber raft.

Enjoy expansive views over the valley in which Baños rests without undertaken another enormous exertion by taking a trip to La Casa del Arbol. Take a bus from town up to the 'treehouse' to push out over the valley on the extensively photographed swing hung above the vista. If you're still in need of some lower paced recovery time, visit the hot springs. Located at the base of the active Tungurahua volcano, the naturally warmed pools at El Salado or La Virgen offer the perfect natural cure for adventurous explorers.