Casa del Arbol: Best Day Hike from Baños to the Famous Swing
Hike to Casa del Arbol alias Hike to the Swing at the End of the World is one of the must-do things when visiting Baños, Ecuador. In our travel guide, we share with you tips on how to get to Casa del Arbol, one of the most iconic spots in the area, how much things cost, and in general, we cover everything you should know before the hike.
Baños, a small town in Ecuador surrounded by lush green forests and towering volcanoes, surprisingly hide one of the most iconic photo spots in the whole of South America.
Although you can choose from a large number of amazing things to do in Baños, such as biking the Ruta de las Cascadas, the most popular activity no one wants to miss is the hike to a tree perched on a hilltop.
Yes, you heard right. Casa del Arbol is a small adventure park where travelers find a tree house with a swing. From there, it is possible to admire a valley, which is often covered in clouds and creates a dramatic and mysterious effect.
To be honest, we did not find the swing that awesome, and as we are not huge fans of Instagram, we could not understand the hype, but what we could appreciate was the hike leading from Baños to Casa del Arbol, and the beautiful views along the trail.
No matter if your main motivation to get to Casa del Arbol is a photo or spending time in nature, we've got you covered.
In this travel guide, we share with you information on how to get to Casa del Arbol from Baños (no worries, you do not have to hike, there is another way); we will provide you with a detailed hike description to the Swing at the End of the World, give you photo tips, tips on what to pack and where to stay in Baños.
CASA DEL ARBOL HIKE
In case you have a few hours to spare and want to see one of the top attractions in Baños, feel free to follow our footsteps and get to Casa del Arbol independently.
If you are staying in the center of Baños, you will get easily to the beginning of the trail as we did on foot.
We headed to the southwest corner of the town in the cemetery direction, which is near Misioneros Dominicanos street.
This is where the hike begins and where is a clearly marked trailhead sign. And this is also where the stairs begin.
The start of the hike was like a nightmare for me. We did the hike after our one-week Galapagos Islands cruise, then we were only for a couple of days in Quito, and I felt absolutely out of shape.
Martin felt ok, so we spent the first 30-minutes arguing why I go so slowly, but once we reached Mirador la Virgen, the first viewpoint overlooking the town where we found a holy statue, everything was fine again.
I probably should have packed a couple of energy bars.
At Mirador la Virgen, we also met the only traveler who decided to hike to the top of the mountain that morning, and for the rest of the day, we walked alone.
At this point, we should probably mention that it is always better to hike at least as a couple when it comes to safety, just in case, but we felt safe here.
Closer to the top of the hill, we grabbed a stick just to have something in hand because of wild dogs, but we did not have to use the stick this time (unlike in Playa de Belen, Colombia).
From the viewpoint, the steep zig-zag trail continued up.
We followed the path on our right-hand side.
The trail led in the forest, and from time to time, we were awarded by wonderful views over the town and hills around.
After approximately 45 minutes, we reached a crossroads where we turned right, and in a couple of minutes, we joined a paved road lined with scattered houses.
Here we also finally got the views of the other side of the valley. From this point, it was only a short walk to Casa del Arbol.
We spent by Casa del Arbol probably an hour, as we were taking in the views, but those of you looking only for a photo opportunity will need less time.
Once you enjoy the swing, vistas from the viewing platforms, and small zip-lines in the park, it is time to go back.
Of course, this time, you can hop on the bus, but we decided to hike back to Baños.
You can either follow the same route or choose a different one.
We checked the Maps.me app and saw there is another way to get to Baños, so we decided to take it.
We returned to a crossroad, and instead of walking to the forest, we turned right, walked around Columpio Fantasias de Volar, which is another park with a swing, then went around Cafe del Cielo, and here we could choose how to continue.
We could go either left and get back to Mirador la Virgen or right.
We took the right path that led us downhill to another junction.
At the junction, we turned left (if you want to extend your hike, turn right, and the trail will take you to Mirador Cruz de Bellavista) and appeared in Baños in Pedro Vicente Maldonado.
HIKE LENGTH & DIFFICULTY
The whole trek was 7.2 kilometers long, and it took us approximately five hours with some time spent in the park of Casa del Arbol.
The elevation gain was almost 800 meters, and we would rate this hike moderately difficult.
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HOW TO GET TO CASA DEL ARBOL
The town of Baños is 1820 meters above sea level, and Casa del Arbol is located even higher in elevation of 2600 meters.
So it is pretty clear you must work hard to get to the famous swing.
But in case you are out of shape or pressed for time, it does not mean you won't be able to enjoy this ultimate experience as there are more alternatives to get to the top of the mountain.
Here is a list of possibilities to get to the swing at the end of the world.
Hike | You can make a nice loop from Baños to Casa del Arbol and back, and as we are avid hikers, we did not even think about other alternatives.
Car | Although it is not that common to rent a car for traveling in Ecuador, it is for sure possible.
If you decide to get around the country this way, you can also reach Casa del Arbol by car. A narrow (but paved) road leads there, and you can leave your car at the small parking lot.
Your destination is approximately 15 kilometers from Baños (it will take you around 30 minutes because the road is curvy). Follow the main road E30, and just before you reach Ulba town, turn right and follow Via a Runtun, which will take you to Casa del Arbol.
Taxi | Every taxi driver in Baños will be happy to take you for a ride. Always settle for a price before you sit in the car, and also discuss whether you want the driver to wait for you or not (the price will vary accordingly).
Tour | Every tour operator in the city will offer you a short trip to Casa del Arbol. The price depends on the number of people in the group, but if the swing is the only place to visit on the itinerary, you should not pay more than $5 for a short trip.
The only downside of taking a tour is that you arrive simultaneously at the tree with others and will have to wait for a photo opportunity.
On the other hand, you can book a more personalized tour in advance that will take you to Pailon of Diablo (waterfall), and it also stops by the Casa del Arbol. You can check out this tour here: Banos Day Tour.
Local Bus | There is a bus from Baños to the Swing at the End of the World several times a day. This is the most budget-friendly option you can choose after hiking that is free as the bus ticket costs only $1 per person.
The bus leaves from the corner of Pastaza and Rocafuerte at 5:45 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2:15 PM, and 4 PM (always check the time before your departure the day before as the first and last buses are not guaranteed), and the ride takes approximately one hour.
Bike | If biking down Ruta de las Cascadas ignited your passion for biking, you can for sure rent a bike the next day and cycle to Casa del Arbol.
The hike was challenging enough, so we can imagine that the cycling will be pretty similar as you need to gain height. On the other hand, getting back to Baños should be fine.
Always check the quality of your rental bike, though.
ENTRANCE FEE
It is not free to get to Casa del Arbol, yet it is still a budget-friendly activity.
The ticket costs $1 per person, and you can stay inside as long as you wish.
Because of the immense popularity of the Swing at the End of the World, many more swings and theme parks appeared in the past few years around Baños, and if you want to see more of them, have cash ready.
But in our opinion, visiting Casa del Arbol is absolutely enough.
And hiking to the top of the hill did not cost us anything either. There are restaurants and cafes near the parking lot, but the prices are unsurprisingly inflated, so it is only up to you if you decide to dine here or you will pack a snack.
PHOTO AT THE END OF THE WORLD
And now comes the intriguing question. Is the grueling climb to the tree with a swing worth it?
Well, in our opinion, the swing does not live up to the hype, and its fame is absolutely exaggerated.
But we do not say this activity is not fun. It, for sure, is.
First of all, we loved the hike, and secondly, we had a great time in the small park of Casa del Arbol. We just do not think it is worth it to travel to this tree solely to take a photo of yourself taking a swing.
There are so many wonderful places in Ecuador where you do not have to wait in a line just to take a staged picture, such as Quilotoa Loop or Laguna Cuicocha.
We were lucky enough to arrive in the park when not that many people were around, and we did not have to wait to enjoy the swing.
If you would like to have a similar experience, travel either out of season or avoid times when groups and local buses arrive.
WHERE TO STAY IN BANOS
Baños is a small town, so no matter where you decide to stay, it won't be too far from the beginning of the trail or a bus stop.
We did not have to use public transport or a taxi for the whole length of our stay and got everywhere on foot.
Ecuador is still quite a cheap country, so that every traveler will find a great hostel or hotel according to travel style and budget.
We've handpicked the best three hotels in Baños for every type of traveler; feel free to get inspired.
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 | La Casa Verde Eco Guest House - Rooms are bright and spacious, breakfast is included, the location is quiet and a bit outside of Banos with a gorgeous view of the mountains and the river.
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
The hike to Casa del Arbol and back to Baños will take you for sure a couple of hours, and you should also take into consideration the fact that the weather in the hills can change quickly.
That's why you should pack accordingly.
Bring a comfortable daypack with a waist strap, leggings or hiking trousers, functional t-shirt, rain poncho (it can really start raining any time of the day) or a proper rain jacket.
Parts of the trail can be muddy, so we recommend you to wear at least trail walking shoes or proper hiking boots instead of sneakers.
Sunscreen, sunglasses and a water bottle should be in your backpack as well. Stay hydrated and use the sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
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.
