Visiting Pailon del Diablo Waterfall from Baños, Ecuador
Pailon del Diablo waterfall alias Devil's Cauldron waterfall is a must-visit place when exploring the Baños area. This travel guide includes tips on how to get to Pailon del Diablo from Baños, how much is the ticket, what should you pack, or where to stay.
Baños de Agua Santa is a small town that sits in a valley and is surrounded by volcanoes, green hills, rivers, and that's why perfect views or superb waterfalls are often only a stone's throw away.
If you decide to travel around Ecuador, you will hardly find a better place for spending an active holiday than Baños.
A renowned destination in central Ecuador, Baños offers many things to see and do, so it has recently become a mecca of backpackers and, overall, all travelers who can appreciate the magic of nature.
In this travel guide, we would like to share with you tips on visiting Pailon del Diablo waterfall, one of the most famous and photogenic waterfalls in the area and the whole country.
Despite its sinister name that in translation means Devil's Cauldron, there's nothing that should put you off to include this natural attraction in your Ecuador travel itinerary.
PAILON DEL DIABLO
Pailon del Diablo is located only 17 kilometers from Baños in a small settlement Rio Verde, and depending on the mean of transport you choose, it can be a short visit or even a half-day trip.
This 80-meter waterfall is awe-inspiring, and the location on Rio Pastaza guarantees a constant water supply.
Simply put, Pailon del Diablo is one of the most powerful waterfalls you can find near Baños, and here we share with you tips on how to get there and how to plan your day to make your trip as smooth as possible.
HOW TO GET TO PAILON DEL DIABLO
Pailon del Diablo is located on the road from Baños to Puyo, and there are several options on how to get there. Being one of the must-visit attractions in Baños can be a curse or blessing.
Still, the advantage is definitely the accessibility and number of alternatives when it comes to transport.
Here's a list of ways how you can get from Baños to Pailon del Diablo - select the best option based on your budget and time.
Bus | Traveling by bus is the most budget-friendly option on how to reach Devil's Cauldron waterfall. Well, except for hiking, but it would be a very time-consuming and tiring hike.
Baños has a centrally located bus terminal where you will catch a frequent bus that goes to Puyo.
The bus leaves every fifteen to thirty minutes, and the ticket costs $1 one way. Just tell the driver your final destination; it is common that tourists want to be dropped off at Pailon del Diablo.
To get back to Baños, just wait by the road for the bus returning from Puyo.
Bike | Pailon del Diablo is one of the best attractions on the road known as Ruta de las Cascadas, which, as the name suggests, offers many stops with wonderful views of waterfalls.
Ruta de las Cascadas is usually explored on the bike, and it is also what we did. It is possible to bike the whole stretch of the road from Baños to Puyo, but we decided that the highlight, Pailon del Diablo, will be the end of the ride.
Renting a bike in Baños is super-easy; the price ranges between $5 and $7. Just make sure your bike has functional brakes as the ride leads downhill almost all the time.
To get back from Rio Verde, you can either bike back to Baños, but we decided to hop on a truck as we were lazy to bike the next 17 kilometers uphill. The truck ride cost $3 per person, but it was four of us.
Biking is actually one of the most common ways to visit Pailon del Diablo, and we can only recommend this activity as it is a lot of fun, and you'll have time to admire the scenery along the way.
Make sure you lock your bike in the parking lot before hiking to the waterfall.
Taxi | When short on time, hiring a cab is definitely an option, but it probably won't surprise you; it is the most expensive option.
To be honest, because of the number of frequent buses between Baños and Puyo, we do not see a reason why to pay for a taxi $10 - $20, but if you prefer your own comfort or travel with friends so you can share the cost, it is good to know this alternative exists.
The ride itself is usually not that expensive, but drivers charge a lot for waiting as finding an available cab driver in Rio Verde is challenging. Always agree on conditions before you get in the car.
PAILON DEL DIABLO TOURS
Getting to Pailon del Diablo independently is super-easy, but there's also the possibility to pay for a tour that will take you to the waterfall without the necessity to arrange your own transport.
Even though we prefer traveling independently, sometimes taking a tour makes sense. For example, if you are short on time, did not have enough time for planning, or simply want to enjoy one day without arranging everything.
In that case, check out this Pailon del Diablo Tour that also includes other awesome waterfalls along the way.
Even more popular tour is the one that combines the trip to Pailon del Diablo and Casa del Arbol.
Of course, there are plenty of travel agencies and hotels in Banos that can arrange the tour for you as well.
PAILON DEL DIABLO ENTRANCE FEE
Pailon del Diablo is a waterfall located on private property, which means there is an entrance fee. The ticket costs $2 and is payable in a restaurant on the path that leads to the waterfall.
You won't miss it, and locals working on-site won't let you explore the place without paying this fee.
We are sometimes reluctant to pay for natural attractions such as waterfalls, especially in the country, where we could see plenty of them for free. And when we could already see so many stunning waterfalls along the way.
But Pailon del Diablo was well worth the fee.
We truly appreciated that the area is well taken care of, clean, and, most importantly, safe. The site is opened every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.
If you want to explore more waterfalls in Ecuador, check out cloud forest in Mindo, home to the Waterfall Hike, where we could see 7 waterfalls on one single trail for free.
WHICH ENTRANCE TO CHOOSE
At the moment, there are two entrances to Pailon del Diablo, but both are close to each other, and you can choose which one suits you the best. The newer path that leads to the viewing platform starts in Rio Verde near the soccer field.
Find the playground, and from here, you'll see a well-marked trail.
This trail is much shorter than the original one; it takes less than fifteen minutes at a slow pace; it is not that strenuous, and you will cross several suspension bridges before reaching the upper viewing platform.
This side offers a mind-blowing panoramic view of Pailon del Diablo, and you won't also get drenched. This entrance is great for travelers with a lack of time or those who do not feel like walking stairs up and down.
The original, older path starts at the parking lot that is surrounded by stalls and restaurants. The trail leads down for some time; it takes about twenty minutes to get to a restaurant from where the waterfall is only a short walk.
Even though this trail is longer, the path leads via the forest, which is very photogenic.
If you have more time and good knees, we definitely recommend this hike as we felt we could connect more with nature, and as we were able to get closer to the waterfall, the trip was, thanks to it a more adventurous.
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!
VISITING PAILON DEL DIABLO
As we've already mentioned, we opted for the latter option. We locked our bikes at the parking lot and started the walk. The well-maintained trail zig-zags through the forest, and we could not wait to spot the waterfall finally.
When we reached the restaurant where we paid for the ticket, we could either walk via a suspension bridge to a viewpoint, or we could turn right to get closer to the waterfall.
As there were not many tourists around, we took advantage of it and headed to the most famous spot, stairs cut into the cliff, from where you can get some of the best shots of the waterfall, especially if you play with a perspective.
It is also the place where you can get drenched, so keep moving.
We decided to walk a bit further to a point called La Grieta del Ciela. The path to La Grieta del Ciela is narrow, and the water runs down the cliff, walk swiftly and wear a rain poncho.
La Grieta alias cave is a cool place, but it is quite hard to crawl through it - we do not recommend it to people who don't like tight spaces or have bad knees. Always remember that there's a dead end, and you will have to walk the same way back.
At the end of the cave, awaits a small viewpoint for you, which was worth the effort.
After some time, we decided to walk back to the restaurant, and this time we walked across the suspension bridge, which revealed to us the view of Pailon del Diablo in the distance, falling into the gorge.
We stayed here for a while before we climbed stairs back to the parking lot. Overall, the trip to Pailon del Diablo was well worth it, and we spent there around two hours. Allocate at least one hour if you decide to go to the upper viewing platform.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAÑOS
Baños is a place that has a very relaxing atmosphere, and as one of the best travel destinations in Ecuador, it certainly does not have a shortage of accommodation.
Everything in the town is within walking distance either from the bus terminal, hot springs, or trailheads, so the only thing you have to consider is your budget.
Here's a list of the three best hotels 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 VISITING PAILON DEL DIABLO
This waterfall can be visited at any time of the year. It rains quite a lot in Baños, especially in the afternoons, but that's actually good for waterfalls sightseeing.
Pailon del Diablo is powerful, but it is even mightier after the torrential rain.
In case you want to get close to the falls, be prepared to get drenched. That's why, when packing for this trip, you should make sure you have your waterproof gear if it’s not a warm and sunny day.
Definitely pack a rain jacket, not only for the waterfalls, but also for the biking trip.
Before our trip to South America, we bought a waterproof dry bag altogether with dry sacks.
And this investment truly paid off at destinations similar to Pailon del Diablo such as Iguazu Falls or Catarata de Gocta because we were able to keep our valuables safe.
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.
