Baños is a small city in the Andean highlands in Ecuador, under the smoke of volcano Tungurahua. Situated amidst mountains and thermal hotsprings it's no wonder that it's very popular with foreigners as well as the Ecuadorian people. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and tour agencies. Although it seems a bit touristy and artificial, lots of people love it and it's definitely worth a visit. It's an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.

Sightseeing
Several agencies rent out mountain bikes, a popular ride is 61 kilometres, mostly downhill, to Puyo. Most agencies also provide a little map. Make a stop at Rio Verde to visit the impressive waterfall- Pailón del Diablo. From Puyo there are frequent buses back to Baños. It is also fairly easy to hitch-hike your way back on a pick-up truck. You can also sometimes include a small bungee-style jump off a bridge some 30 minutes from Baños. ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) and motocross bikes abound in the town and you can easily rent one for a couple of hours or days. The hills surrounding the town provide good views of the town and the volcano and climbing to the antenna or to the cross are both good options. You can also drive down to Puyo if you don't feel like biking.

Getting there
The small bus terminal is within walking distance from the centre, where most of the hotels are. There are frequent connections from Baños to Quito, Riobamba and Guayaquil.

Getting around
No where is more than a 15 minute walk from where you start and usually even less. It is relatively flat in the city centre. Also check out the mountain biking section should you wish to explore further afield. There are also plenty of taxis around should you need one.