Baños’ hot baths are hydrothermal springs that are heated by the awesome power of the active Tungurahua Volcano. They range in temperature from lukewarm to blazingly hot (the hottest is said to routinely top 55 degrees Celsius), but all of them are comfortable to bathe in and are reputed to have profound healing properties. Particularly refreshing after a long day of travel in nearby areas, there’s no doubting the therapeutic value of a long, hot bath; ease yourself in the ochre coloured water of the Termas de la Virgin pools ( heated deep underground by molten lava and abundant in healing chlorates, sulphates and magnesium) and allow the rich water to work its incredible magic.

The city’s religious significance to Roman Catholics stems from a story of a sighting of the Virgin Mary, who is said to have appeared beside a waterfall which is now appropriately named Cascada de La Virgen (Waterfall of the Virgin). The city’s spectacular cathedral, the Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa, or Church of the Lady of the Holy Water, is also a reference to this event, and includes a sculpture of the Virgin Mary inside in order to commemorate the miraculous appearance. The city is also home to several other waterfalls of less religious significance, including the Manto de la Novia and the Pailon de Diablo. Unlike the hot waters of the springs, these waterfalls are columns of refreshingly cold water flowing down from the ice caps of the Andes.

Whether it’s a tour of the region’s awesome waterfalls or an expedition deep into the Amazon Jungle, Baños is the perfect starting point for a whole range of tours. Hiking is an obvious favourite, with many hilly and mountainous areas nearby that would suit beginners and experts alike. Tours into the Amazon Jungle for as long as two weeks frequently set out from the city, and sports such as rafting, kayaking, canyoning, bridge jumping, hiking, biking and horseback riding are all popular as well.

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