Digital Nomad Trip Report: Baños de Agua Santa

Quick Facts about Baños de Agua Santa for Digital Nomads

Introduction

Baños de Agua Santa (“Baños”) is arguably the touristic capital of Ecuador, thanks to having in excess of sixty waterfalls dotted around the town.

Often referred to as the Gateway to the Ecuadorean Amazon, this picturesque town features a subtropical highland climate, at an altitude of 1,820 metres on the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano.

Baños isn’t what I would call a prime co-working destination, there’s not a single co-working space in the city, but if you’re in Ecuador, no trip is complete without a visit here.

In the absence of being a co-working hotspot, it’s an adventurer’s dream-come-true, with options for rafting, kayaking, canyoning, bridge jumping, hiking, biking, horseback riding and much, much more.

As regular readers of The Nest will have comfortably established by now, my priorities for a nomad base are simple: walkability, decent cafés, reliable internet, somewhere green to move around and a vibe that doesn’t make me feel like I’m living in a co-working advert. And Baños passes the test with relative ease, you’ll just need to make sure you have an accommodation option with decent WiFi, although there are plenty of spacious cafés from where you can work.

Baños is one of, if not the, most popular cities in Ecuador, so whilst the population is only around 14,000, it’s packed with tourists, national and international, all year round. Let’s dive in…

How to Travel to Baños

Getting around Ecuador is a little tricky but if you’re used to travelling in South America, it’s not that different to other countries on the continent. The nearest airports is Quito, the country’s capital and main airport, from here it’s a 2.5h drive in a car (slightly longer by bus) to the heart of Baños. Ecuador is fairly well connected by bus as well, so if you don’t find yourself near Quito, head to your nearest terminal (“Terminal Terrestre”) and ask for buses to Baños de Agua Santa.

✈️ Fly to Quito Airport MOST CONVENIENT
Quito is Ecuador’s capital, with a huge variety of international flights departing and arriving daily. If you’re coming from outside of Ecuador, this is the most convenient option, you can fly into Quito and there are a whole host of overland options, just head to Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe in the south of Quito and find a bus for Baños, there are options as regular as every hour.

🚄 Travel by bus BEST OVERLAND OPTION
There are a number of bus options throughout the country and obviously it depends where you’re coming from. Amazonas operates a twice-daily service from Cuenca which takes about 8 hours as well as an hourly service from Quito, Cooperative Baños offers a huge amount of options from places such as Guayaquil, Manta, Montañita and Loja, whilst a host of providers operate routes from Quito.

🚘 Rent a car BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY
If you need complete flexibility (and speed) then renting a car is the way to go, just note that Ecuador isn’t famed for its infrastructure. Coming from any direction you’ll want to follow signs for Riobamba, which is to the south, or Ambato, which is to the north until you start seeing signs for Baños.

Can I work remotely from Baños, Ecuador?

Ecuador is a great option for digital nomads and often over-looked for more popular countries in LATAM. Ecuador has a fairly liberal visa policy with citizens from over 150 countries permitted entry to Ecuador visa-free for 90 days within a 12-month rolling period, and you can extend for another 90 days too.

Note that your “12-month period” starts on your first entry into Ecuador and you have 90 days total (multiple entries are fine) for the next 12 months. Your allowance will reset once 12 months have passed. Note that if you extend to 180 days, the second 90-day period is not multi-entry.

Example:

• You enter Ecuador on 1 July 2026.
• From that date, you have 90 days to use until 30 June 2026.
• It does not reset when you leave Ecuador. It is counted from the entry date, over a rolling year.

How to extend your tourist visa in Baños, Ecuador

You can extend your tourist visa for an extra 90 days within a 12-month period, the cost of which (as at May 2026) is $80. The process can be done entirely online and can only be done in the last 10 or so days of your 90-day period (note that rules change all the time). Whilst the initial 90-day period is multi-entry over a 12-month period, once you extend, it becomes a single entry, so once you leave that’s it until next year, even if you have days left over.

Does Baños, Ecuador have a digital nomad visa?

• • Advice

Your Ultimate Guide to Ecuador’s Digital Nomad Visa (2025)

• James
• 5 August 2025

Last updated APRIL 2025  Yes, Ecuador has a digital nomad visa and this is probably the only guide on the internet that actually has the right links of where to go. This is the official resource for the Ecuador Digital Nomad Visa and it’s associated application.

The official name is Visa de Residencia Temporal Rentista para Trabajo Remoto (or Visa Nómada for short) or in English, that’s Renter Temporary Residence Visa for Remote Work (Nomadic Visa). I think.

• The maximum permitted time is 2 years, it’s extendable by another 2 years if you don’t spend more than 90 days outside of the country during the first two years.
• The whole process can be done online, you may be required to conduct an in-person interview

Requirements are as follows and if you’re looking for an in-depth guide on the visa and how to get it, from somebody who’s got it (me), you’ll want to read my guide, here.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Colour photography in JPG format maximum of one MB, 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches), updated, with white background, facial expression should be neutral (preferably), or have a natural smile, with both eyes open;
• Valid passport with a minimum validity period of six (6) months;
• Original certificate of criminal record from the country of origin or in which he had resided for the last five years, translated, apostilled or legalized. One hundred eighty (180) days of validity will be taken into account, counted from the date of issuance of the certificate to the last entry of the interested party into the country. Certificates issued by federal governments will be valid as long as they understand the criminal record at the national level. Document required only for people over 18 years of age.
• Payment of the fee set by the human mobility authority; and,
• Other documents that the authority requires in the cases that it merits.
• Accredit licit livelihoods under the Ministerial Agreement No. 70 of June 28, 2024. (Link: https://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0000070.pdf)

Special Requirements:

• Demonstrate income from a foreign source of at least three (3) Unified Basic Wages per month, of the three (3) months prior to the visa application, or have a total of thirty-six (36) Unified Basic Wages for each year , for which the foreign person must attach copies of their international account statements reflecting said income;
• Attach documents that demonstrate that the visa applicant works or provides services for a foreign employer, client or company, domiciled abroad, to
• Anyone who submits documentation that shows that they are the owner of a company or company registered and domiciled abroad may also apply to this visa; Nationals of the countries on the list who will prepare the Ministry of Tourism for this purpose may apply for this visa- (ALL COUNTRIES Oficios No. MT-MINTUR-2022-0920-OF and MT-MINTUR-2022-1173-OF, of February 24 and March 14, 2022, respectively).
• You must present a national or foreign health insurance in force for the same visa period. In case of being hired with a foreign company, the policy or the contract must indicate that it has coverage in Ecuador.
• In order for the holder of this category to protect other people, they must justify additional monthly income of two hundred and fifty (250) US dollars for each person covered.

Where to stay in Baños?

Baños is relatively small and to put it simply, you either stay inside the city limits or just on the outside. There are plenty of Airbnbs and hostels within the centre of the city if you want to be near the action, but the place that really stood out for me is a hostel called Mama Tungu. It’s about a 15-minute ($3) taxi ride out of the centre and is a huge hostel that can host about fifty, maybe more. It has a bar, swimming pool, jacuzzi and is in the heart of nature, I honestly couldn’t recommend it highly enough. There are private rooms with desks, but admittedly the wi-fi is absolutely pants in the rooms, I unfortunately forgot my Starlink and that would have saved my bacon. Otherwise, it’s a great option for nomads and if you’re happy working from the common areas, the wi-fi is perfectly acceptable there and you should get around 35mbps with minimal interruption.

Is Baños safe for digital nomads?

Yes — while Ecuador’s safety can vary wildly by region, Baños is pretty safe – in fact, one night I got lost and my phone had died and some locals picked me up and took me to my hotel, a perfect example of how kind Ecuadoreans are.

Where to work remotely in Baños

Baños, like much of Ecuador, doesn’t have a thriving nomad scene and as such, you won’t find any co-working spots here, but I found a few nice cafés that fit the bill just right;

• Baking Partners — This cute little bakery has an enviable 5/5 rating on Google Maps with almost 300 reviews, no easy task! They have some of the best cookies and bread you’ll find in Baños, definitely try their cinnamon rolls. It’s a little small here, so I’d say just be mindful not to hog a table for 3 hours whilst you nurse a single coffee.
• Andes Specialty Coffee — This was my personal favourite café for working from. Situated right in front of Parque Sebastian/Parque La Basilica (no idea why they have two names), with a huge window and great views. They have some of the best coffee in town, 100mbps wi-fi, ample seating and a great selection of food; sweet and savoury, too.
• Honey Coffee & Tea — This was another great café and I would say this is probably Baños most swanky café. They have a huge menu of food and drink with plenty of seating inside and outside. You’ll find this place next to Baños Parque Central, which is just a stone’s throw from Andes Specialty Coffee.
• Blah Blah Café — There are actually two Blah Blah Cafés, literally 5 minutes apart. Again, great menu, great wi-fi and plenty of seating.

There are plenty more cafés around town but in my short ten-day visit this was all I managed to see, but I would say there are at least another five cafés you could add to this list.

Things to see & do in Baños

Baños is the adventure capital of Ecuador and it absolutely leans into that identity. If you’re looking for a sleepy Andean town where nothing happens, keep moving. If, however, you want waterfalls, hot springs and the constant temptation to throw yourself off something (safely, ideally), you’re in the right place. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss:

• 💦 Route of the Waterfalls (La Ruta de las Cascadas)
  This is the main event. A scenic stretch of road between Baños and Puyo lined with waterfalls you can visit, hike around and in some cases swing directly in front of. You can do it by bike (mostly downhill, just remember you’ve got to come back), by taxi, rent a quad or a 4×4 (my personal choice) or as part of a tour. The star of the show is Pailón del Diablo.
• 🌊 Pailón del Diablo
  Ecuador’s most famous waterfall and for good reason, it’s properly powerful. You can take the short route or the longer trail depending on where you enter from. Expect wet shoes, mist in your face and loads of photo ops. Go early if you want fewer crowds. There was a café under construction when I went, so hopefully it will be finished soon, as that would be the ultimate place to work from.
• ♨️ Soak in the thermal baths
  Baños literally means baths and the town delivers. The most popular is Termas de la Virgen, right in town, with steaming pools and a dramatic mountain backdrop. Go in the evening when it’s cooler for maximum cosy vibes.
• 🌋 Visit Casa del Árbol and the Swing at the End of the World
  Yes it’s touristy. Yes you should still do it. No I didn’t do it haha. The viewpoint is stunning and the swing certainly looks fun, especially if you go at sunset. There are also other swings nearby with fewer crowds if you want the same vibe with less queueing.
• 🧗 Adventure sports
  Baños is the easiest place in Ecuador to organise canyoning, ziplining, rafting and paragliding. You can book everything on the day from local agencies, but shop around as prices vary. If you’re going canyoning, expect to get absolutely drenched and love it.
• 🌄 Hike to viewpoints (or cheat with a taxi)
  There are loads of miradores around Baños with big views of the valley. Some are hikeable from town, others are better reached by taxi. Mirador Bellavista is a popular one and there are plenty of smaller viewpoints too if you just wander uphill and follow your instincts.
• 🍬 Try the melcocha and sugarcane sweets
  Baños is known for its melcocha, a stretchy sugarcane toffee that vendors pull theatrically on hooks outside their shops. It’s peak tourist theatre and a classic Baños moment. Get a little bag and call it cultural immersion.

When To Visit Baños de Agua Santa

Baños sits in a valley on the edge of the Amazon basin, so the headline is this: it’s green, it’s humid and it can rain at any time of year. The good news is that temperatures are fairly mild year-round, so you’re rarely dealing with extreme heat or cold, just the occasional soggy day.

Best Time to Visit Baños
If you want the best balance of decent weather and fewer downpours, aim for June to September. These months are typically the driest, which makes waterfall missions, cycling the Ruta de las Cascadas and outdoor activities far more predictable. It is also a bit cooler, which is perfect for being active without melting.

Other Times to Visit Baños
October and November can be a great shoulder season. You still get pleasant temperatures and everything is open, but rain starts creeping back in.

January to April is generally wetter, with January often being the rainiest month. The upside is that the waterfalls are absolutely raging, and the hot springs hit even harder when the air is cool and misty.

Climate by Month in Baños de Agua Santa

How to Keep Fit in Baños de Agua Santa

Baños is basically an outdoor gym with a town attached. If you like hiking, trails, and anything that involves a viewpoint and a bit of sweat, you’re going to have a field day here. The only real threat to your fitness routine is getting distracted by hot springs and melcocha.

Hiking in Baños
Hiking is the main event. There are loads of trails that start right from town or a short taxi ride away, ranging from short climbs to longer, more demanding routes. The best part is the scenery, you’re never far from waterfalls, lush valleys, or a volcano backdrop. If you want the classic Baños hike, head up to a mirador for sunrise or sunset, just take it slow on the steep sections, especially if it has rained recently.

Waterfall walks
Even if you don’t do a full hike, the Ruta de las Cascadas offers plenty of shorter walks and stair-heavy viewpoints that add up to a decent workout. Pailón del Diablo in particular will get your heart rate up just through sheer number of steps alone.

Cycling in Baños
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to stay active here without overthinking it. Most people rent a bike and ride the waterfall route downhill, stopping at viewpoints and attractions along the way. Just remember that you’ve got to come back uphill, which will certainly be a workout in itself.

Running in Baños
Running is a bit trickier, mainly because Baños is compact and the streets can be busy. That said, I did see quite a few runners using the main road heading out of town (Avenida Amazonas/Vía a Baños). Early morning is your best bet before traffic ramps up, and stick to well-lit stretches if you’re running in low light.