The Best Hot Springs in Équateur
Nestled between Colombia and Peru, Équateur is a volcanic country that attracts travelers for the stunning landscapes offered by the Andes Cordillera.
Nestled between Colombia and Peru, Équateur is a volcanic country that attracts travelers for the stunning landscapes offered by the Andes Cordillera. The country is home to numerous thermal springs, ideal for relaxing and unwinding during your travels. In this article, we invite you to discover the most renowned hot spring spots in Équateur.
The Hot Springs of Quito
Located on the outskirts of Équateur's capital, the El Tingo Hot Springs are highly appreciated by locals and passing tourists. The complex features two large outdoor pools and an indoor pool whose waters of volcanic origin are prized for their therapeutic properties.
An hour from Quito, the El Merced Hot Springs are far more popular. The thermal complex boasts a large heated pool, water slides, and green spaces as well as family-friendly facilities.
The Hot Spring Spots of Baños
The city of Baños has six municipal thermal stations fed by the mineral and sulfurous waters of the Tungurahua volcano.
The Virgin's Hot Springs, located right downtown, are the most famous because the baths sit at the foot of the spectacular Cabellera de la Virgen waterfall. Just 100 meters from the waterfall, the Las Peñas thermal station is the city's largest. It features multiple pools and water slides. These two popular thermal stations are very crowded on weekends. It's therefore better to visit on weekdays or arrive early at opening to avoid the crowds.
Southeast of the city, the Santa Clara Hot Springs and El Salado feature several hot water basins, ranging from 18 to 42 degrees.
High above Baños, the luxury hotel Luna Volcán SPA offers premium private hot springs with exceptional views of the city.
The El Refugio Spa Garden establishment also has its own thermal pools. You can notably try the « baños de cajon », a quite unusual individual hammam.
Papallacta
Perched at 3,250 meters altitude, Papallacta is a small Équateur town located two hours from Quito.
The Papallacta thermal site is renowned as one of the most beautiful in Équateur. The place is very well maintained and offers a magnificent panorama of the mountains surrounding the hot springs. A true postcard view! The hot waters that feed the thermal springs of Papallacta come from the Cayambe and Antisana volcanoes. They are renowned for their medicinal, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic properties and have no sulfurous odor.
The Papallacta hot springs feature multiple basins of different temperatures, ranging between 35 and 40 degrees. The establishment also has a spa and a luxury hotel with 35 rooms and private heated pool facilities.
Just like Baños, the town's hotels have their own thermal water pools. The Papallacta Hotel, located just steps from the hot springs, can be a nice alternative for lodging and relaxation at lower cost. The establishment has several heated basins and remains far less crowded than the town's hot springs.
North of Papallacta, the Oyacachi hot springs are also well-regarded but fairly difficult to access.
Cuenca
A few kilometers from central Cuenca lies Piedra de Agua, a large high-quality thermal complex surrounded by mountains. The establishment offers numerous facilities: several pools of hot water, Turkish baths, sauna, and hammam. A true paradise to unwind and enjoy waters with therapeutic properties for rheumatism, respiratory issues, and skin conditions.
The establishment offers the « Spa Circuit » which allows you to discover several treatments in two or three hours. The program includes: hot springs with red and blue clay treatment, a Turkish bath, a red mud pool, a blue mud pool, a steam box, and a Japanese bath.
The Pumamaqui Hot Springs are among the most appreciated in the surroundings of Cuenca. Located 10 minutes from the Cajas National Park, this thermal site is nestled in a paradisiacal setting, with a superb panorama of the lush mountains surrounding the hot springs. The Pumamaqui thermal site has direct access to the Yanuncay River, ideal for easily switching between hot water baths and cold water baths.
Agua Blanca Spring
Agua Blanca is a small indigenous village located in the heart of Machalilla National Park. The community lives in self-sufficiency and its cultural and natural heritage is managed by families native to the area. You will need to pay an entrance fee that includes admission to an archaeological museum and access to local lands.
By taking a small scenic path from the village, you will have access to a beautiful sulfur lagoon where you can bathe for free and even enjoy a mud bath. Relaxation guaranteed!
Frequently asked questions
Among the most renowned hot spring spots in Équateur, Papallacta stands out as one of the country's most beautiful, perched at 3,250 meters altitude. The Baños hot springs, fed by the Tungurahua volcano, and the Piedra de Agua complex in Cuenca are also highly appreciated by travelers.
Papallacta is approximately two hours by road from Quito. You can reach it by bus from the Quitumbe terminal or by taxi/rental car. The route crosses magnificent Andean landscapes before reaching the thermal site at 3,250 meters altitude.
The six municipal thermal stations in Baños are paid, but their rates remain affordable. It is recommended to visit on weekdays or at opening time to avoid weekend crowds. Premium private options like Luna Volcán SPA are also available for a more exclusive experience.
Yes, it is possible to enjoy a free thermal bath at Agua Blanca, an indigenous village located in Machalilla National Park. By taking a path from the village, you access a sulfur lagoon where bathing and mud baths are offered. An entrance fee to the village (including the archaeological museum) is however required.
Équateur's thermal waters, of volcanic origin, are recognized for their numerous properties: anti-inflammatory, antiallergic properties, and benefits against rheumatism, respiratory issues, and skin conditions. The waters of Papallacta, sourced from the Cayambe and Antisana volcanoes, have the distinctive feature of having no sulfurous odor.
Yes, several hot springs are located close to Quito. The El Tingo Hot Springs are situated on the capital's outskirts. An hour's drive away, the El Merced hot springs offer a large heated pool and water slides, ideal for families. Papallacta, two hours from Quito, remains the region's most renowned site.
