Banos de Agua Santa: hot springs between Andes and Amazon
Published on 08/25/2026 at 15:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Banos de Agua Santa in the town of Banos is a small Andean settlement where volcanic hot springs, steep green hillsides and rivers meet at the edge of the Amazon basin. Sitting in Tungurahua Province in central Ecuador, it lies close to the Tungurahua volcano and has grown into a compact spa and adventure town built around its thermal waters and surrounding waterfalls.Tungurahua Province
Hot springs under the Tungurahua volcano
The defining feature of Banos de Agua Santa is its cluster of geothermal baths that draw mineral-rich water from deep below the flanks of the Tungurahua volcano. The town’s full Spanish name, which translates as “Baths of Holy Water”, refers to these thermal springs and the long tradition of treating them as curative and sacred.Baths of Holy Water
Several municipal bathhouses sit at the foot of the surrounding slopes, including complexes such as Termas de la Virgen Antigua, which occupy streets in the centre of Banos directly below a waterfall called Cabellera de la Virgen.Termas de la Virgen Antigua Here, pools of different temperatures are set into simple concrete terraces with views of the rock face and falling water above, and visitors move between hot basins and cooler plunge pools amid rising steam.
Waterfalls, rivers and steep valley slopes
Banos de Agua Santa stands in a deep valley where the eastern Andes begin to descend towards the Ecuadorian Amazon, so the town is surrounded by steep, densely vegetated slopes streaked with waterfalls.valley beside the Tungurahua volcano Rivers cut through the landscape, creating gorges that host a string of cascades known collectively as the Ruta de las Cascadas, with viewpoints and simple bridges giving access to different angles on the falling water.
From the built-up streets of Banos the terrain rises sharply, and in places houses and small guesthouses cling to these gradients, stepping up from the valley floor. Beyond the town the hills become higher, with dirt tracks and minor roads following ridges and contour lines. The combination of steep slopes, narrow valleys and flowing water gives Banos de Agua Santa a compressed geography where riverbanks, roads and cliffs sit close together and where clouds often hang low over the ridgelines.
Spa town and adventure hub in the central Andes
Banos de Agua Santa is part of the central Sierra region of Ecuador and lies within Tungurahua Province, in a zone where the Andean highlands meet the more humid lowlands that feed into the Amazon basin.central Sierra region The town itself has a grid of streets lined with low-rise residential buildings, churches, small hotels and restaurants, and a central plaza that functions as a focal point for local life.
Over decades Banos de Agua Santa has gained a reputation as a base for nature and adventure activities in Ecuador, with rafting on nearby rivers, canyoning in streams and mountain biking on valley roads all using the surrounding terrain.adventure capital guide At the same time, the thermal baths and spa hotels keep the town rooted in its original identity as a place of hot springs, and many visits combine hours in the pools with excursions out to waterfalls, viewpoints and rural communities.
Visiting Banos de Agua Santa: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Banos de Agua Santa is located in Tungurahua Province in central Ecuador, south of Quito, at the transition between the Andean highlands and the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. It is reached overland from cities such as Ambato and Quito by road along routes including the E35 Pan-American Highway and connecting roads towards Banos.
- The town sits in a steep-sided valley with streets that rise towards surrounding slopes, so walking between some neighbourhoods involves gradients and flights of steps. Approaches to waterfalls and viewpoints outside the centre often follow narrow paths or simple tracks along river gorges and hillsides.
- Rivers and waterfalls around Banos de Agua Santa run throughout the year, and mist or low cloud can settle over the valley, so surfaces on paths and viewing platforms may be damp. Lightweight layers and footwear with firm grip help when moving between the town’s paved streets and more rugged terrain.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the US dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Banos de Agua Santa
Where is Banos de Agua Santa?
Banos de Agua Santa is in Tungurahua Province in the central Sierra region of Ecuador, south of Quito, in a valley at the edge of the Amazon basin.
What can visitors expect on a first visit?
Visitors encounter a compact town with thermal bath complexes, low-rise streets, a central plaza and quick access to nearby waterfalls, rivers, viewpoints and steep green hillsides.
What makes Banos de Agua Santa distinctive among Andean towns?
Its combination of volcanic hot springs, dense surrounding waterfalls and its position between the Andes and the Amazon, with both spa facilities and adventure activities, gives Banos de Agua Santa a particular character.
