Once outside of Quito, the scenery changes rapidly, gray concrete gives way to lush green rainforests blanketing unbelievable landscapes
Baños de Agua Santa is a city also known as "Gateway to the Amazon", as it's the last major city one must pass before leaving the Andes and entering the hot and humid jungle of the Amazon River basin. Turns out it's pretty hot here on the Equator after all, just you leave the mountains and feel free to start sweating.
Baños is built on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano which puts it at risk to repeat the fate of Armero and in fact in 1999, all 17000+ residents were forced to evacuate the city for weeks.
Overhanging Rio Pastanza, Baños is one of the most popular tourist points of interest in Ecuador due to its astounding natural beauty (it is home to more than 60 waterfalls) and its plethora of available adventure sports and attractions. Locals and visitors alike enjoy rafting, kayaking, canyoning, bridge jumping, hiking, biking and horseback riding. And I did exactly none of that. Except a bit of biking, which took me down the valley, outside of the city in eastern direction, all the way to the confluence with Rio Verde to the massive waterfall Cascada El Pailón del Diablo.
Next day I decided to take a look at the area from above, that is from one of the mountains around. No shortage of those, obviously, but any mountaintop requires some effort to reach it. Or to pay for the transport like tourists do, which is way too easy to be an attractive option. And besides, those 2 bucks may be spent better.
Took me way longer than expected, but in the end I reached the top, La Casa del Arbol, featuring multiple swings that seem to be popular on this mountain. I counted 3 principal places where you can swing back and forth above the abyss, with different grades of extreme.
Fun fact: while it's clearly warmer than Quito, weather forecasts somehow are horribly wrong about the temperatures in this city. They were showing values from 2 to 6 degrees C but in reality it never falls below 10, I'm quite sure.
More photos:
Ready to Blog & Earn?
With TravelFeed, easily start your own travel blog and earn as you go. It's the smart platform for travelers who want to profit from their passion. Create a free account
If you liked this post, consider giving it an upvote or resteem. Follow me for more cool stuff and stay loco!
Me on the other platforms:
Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance!
To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here
To view my posts on @SteemitWorldMap click here:
My recent posts:
Rain over Port-au-Prince lit up by the Setting Sun
Autumn Overture in Pamirs
Life will find a Way: a Hummingbird Nest amidst the Barbed Wire
Animalez - Bogota Streetart
Colorchallenge: Wednesday Yellow - Ancient Persian Bathhouse
Golden Sunset over the Dominican Republic
Fairies' Dwellings
The stories I'm most proud of:
Sectants and magic potions, Ayahuaska experience in Colombia
Haiti: Poverty, gangsters and UN party
Exhausting ride along the border of Afghanistan
Overnight adventure in Haunted Bhangarh, a Ghost Town in India
Beheaded Goat and Bloody Idol above the Clouds in Himalayan Temple
Travel Resources for your trip to Ecuador
Recommended by TravelFeed
Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Ecuador.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Ecuador on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Ecuador. Chat now.
Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.
