Biking Down Ruta de las Cascadas, Baños
There are many things to do in Baños, Ecuador, but biking down Ruta de las Cascadas belongs among the top activities. Read our travel guide on Ruda de las Cascadas, including information on where to rent a bike, how much things cost, and what are the best waterfalls to see.
Baños de Agua Santa in Ecuador is one of the top destinations in this South American country. This small town is a must-visit place and majority of travelers put it on their Ecuador itinerary for many reasons.
For us, the main reason to visit Baños was that from photos we had seen before our trip, we could tell the town is set in a beautiful landscape. On top of that, there are many amazing things to do in Baños.
As we like being active on our holidays and even long term travels, we really appreciated the number of activities such as hiking and biking we could do around Baños.
And biking is actually an activity we would like to talk about here more closely because in Baños you can find one of the best roads for cyclists, Ruta de las Cascadas.
A short side note. If you are into biking, and looking for something more thrilling, check out also our Chimborazo biking adventure, alias biking down Ecuador's highest mountain. We have a feeling you might like it.
Baños lies 1820 meters above sea level, and it is exceptional for many reasons.
The town is famous for hot springs (this is where the name comes from), volcanoes surrounding the town, lush green forests, waterfalls, zip-lines, and proximity to the Oriente district featuring Amazon Rain Forest.
And the best part of it is that Ruta de las Cascadas alias Road of the Waterfalls will show you the best of the region on a very short distance.
Even if you are not an enthusiastic biker, do not worry. Anyone can enjoy Ruta de las Cascadas.
First of all, the road, when biking from Baños leads mostly downhill, second of all, it is only up to you where you decide to finish, and thirdly, you will top up your energy later in the town in one of the hot springs.
And lastly, it’s perfect for backpackers traveling on a budget.
Simply put, biking Ruta de las Cascadas is a perfect one-day activity you should not miss when in Baños.
Do you want to know more and plan your day-trip?
Keep on reading.
In the following sections, we will share with you information on how to rent a bike, which waterfalls to visit, how much things cost, what you can see along the way, how to get back to Baños, and much more.
RUTA DE LAS CASCADAS
Officially, Ruta de las Cascadas stretches between Baños and Puyo, another little town in Oriente.
Puyo is 60 kilometers from Baños, but do not be put off from this activity because of the distance.
First of all, the road leads mostly downhill (although the first part of the road is for sure easier), and secondly, you do not have to ride the whole stretch of this road. This is actually what we did.
We arrived in Baños after our one-week Galapagos Islands cruise, and as we had a lot of work to do with editing photos, we decided to cycle from Baños only to the most beautiful waterfall along Ruta de las Cascadas, Pailon del Diablo, which is 17 kilometers from the town.
What we could read online, this section is the most beautiful anyways, so there is no need to bike as far as Puyo, although you absolutely can, in case you are not pressed for time and want to get the most of nature around Baños.
The 17 kilometers long ride took us only a half-day; we did not have to get up early, enjoyed the waterfalls and scenery along Ruta de las Cascadas, got back to Baños early in the afternoon, relaxed in hot springs in the town, and then had plenty of time and energy to do what we needed.
RENTING BIKES IN BAÑOS
Because biking Ruta de las Cascadas is one of the top activities in Baños, you won't have a problem to rent a bike here.
Every single hostel or hotel in the town offers bike rental, or you can go to one of many independent rental shops or tour agencies, where this service is offered as well.
We shopped around Baños, but it seemed to us that bikes and services are pretty much the same, so we decided to rent a bike in our hostel. We simply asked at the desk if it is possible to have two bikes ready in the hostel the next day in the morning, and that was it.
The price of bike rental is more or less the same everywhere. The price ranges between $5 to $7 for the whole day. We would not pay more as the quality of the bikes is not that high.
Always check the bike first before you set off, make sure brakes work fine (super important as you will be biking mostly downhill), and you should also get a small tool kit, lock, and helmet.
Do not be afraid to ask for a different bike if you are not happy with the one you got.
BIKING ALONG RUTA DE LAS CASCADAS
Following Ruta de las Cascadas is very easy, and you do not need any orientation skills to finish the ride successfully.
Regardless of your hotels’ location, you have to get to the main road E30 (Via a Baños) and then turn right.
Most of the trail follows the highway (although there are some sections where you can leave the main road and make short detours), but no worries.
Yes, there is traffic and big trucks, but the drivers already know there is an increased presence of bikers, and they pay attention.
We must say that we felt very safe while biking down the valley.
Of course, for your safety, always be alert, drive slowly, watch out for cars, and wear a helmet at all times. It is not allowed to bike through tunnels, but there is always indicated a turnoff for bicycles on the right-hand side.
THINGS TO SEE ALONG RUTA DE LAS CASCADAS
We cycled along Ruta de las Cascadas during the dry season, and although the waterfalls were not that powerful, the ride was still absolutely spectacular.
And what can you see along the route? Well, it is pretty obvious that you will see many waterfalls.
From Baños you will ride along a beautiful gorge, and on your right side, you will see Cascada Agoyan, Cascada Agollan, Cascada el Manto de la Novia, and Cascada la Piedra. All these falls are lining Rio Pastaza.
When you visit the area during the wet season or after torrential rain, new waterfalls might appear running down the slopes.
The last and the best waterfall we saw on the way was Cascada El Pailon del Diablo.
This waterfall is not visible from the road, and it is also the only one where you have to pay a fee, $2 per person. Is it worth it?
Absolutely. El Pailon del Diablo is one of the best places in Ecuador!
Although the falls along the road were pretty, El Pailon del Diablo was really breathtaking, and we spent there quite a long time (do not forget to lock your bike in a parking lot). The waterfall was quite powerful, and as we wanted to take photos capturing the raw beauty, we got drenched.
Luckily, it was warm enough.
Except for the waterfalls, you can enjoy zip-lining when driving Ruta de las Cascadas. This activity became very popular; therefore, there are several zip-lining stations along the way, and cabins will take you across the gorge close to the falls on the opposite side.
If you are an adrenaline seeker, you might want to consider this Zip-Lining Tour.
We believe that after this activity, you will have enough for at least a couple of days.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW TO GET BACK TO BAÑOS WITH A BIKE
In case you decided to ride to Puyo, you should be able to take a local bus from this town - we've read that bus drivers do not have a problem with transporting bikes. They even have bike racks.
As we finished our journey at El Pailon del Diablo and were not keen to bike uphill back to Baños (biking back to Baños is the most budget-friendly option), we waited for a truck that would take us back to the town.
Luckily, it was easy. From the waterfalls' parking lot, walk along the road lined with restaurants, and wait here for a truck.
There is no schedule, but you should not wait long. If there is no driver available, ask around in the restaurants, owners for sure know someone who will be returning to Baños in no time.
Sometimes, you have to wait for other travelers, in case you do not want to pay the full price.
We paid $3 each, and it was four of us.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAÑOS
There is no shortage of budget accommodation in Baños. No matter if you are looking for a social hostel or a nicer place to stay overnight, you will find it here for a very reasonable price.
We've handpicked the best places to stay in Baños for every type of traveler.
Budget | Hostal D'Mathias - We stayed in this nice and clean hostel close to the bus station and city center, and it was great value for money.
Mid-range | Selina Baños - If you like light interiors and modernly furnished rooms, you are going to love it in Selina. The central locations and great vibe are the main selling points here.
Luxury | Sangay Spa Hotel - Nice modern and clean rooms, good amenities, buffet breakfast is included, and the hotel has one of the best locations in the town right next to the Cascada de la Virgen.
WHAT TO PACK FOR RIDING RUTA DE LAS CASCADAS
You do not need a lot of equipment when making a half-day trip along Ruta de las Cascadas. Of course, it depends on the weather that particular day, but remember sitting on a bike is not very comfortable with a heavy backpack.
Bring a good daypack with a waist strap, comfortable sneakers, remember to pack rain poncho and waterproof jacket, sunscreen, water bottle, and a travel camera.
As you can see, you can pack light for Ruta de las Cascadas.
Overall, biking Ruta de las Cascadas is one of the most budget-friendly activities in Baños.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
