Baños waterfalls day trip from Quito: private tour with guide

Hike to Pailón del Diablo and swing out over the valley at the end of the world

A full-day private tour from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa includes hotel pickup, a national guide in English, Spanish or French, three waterfalls (Agoyan, Manto de la Novia and Pailón del Diablo), the Swing at the End of the World, and the Tree House. The drive crosses the Avenue of the Volcanoes with stops for photos and a local breakfast in Lasso village; the hike to Pailón del Diablo takes one hour down and back. Lunch, gratuities and optional adventure activities (zipline, crystal bridge crossing, Tarzan jumping) are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Baños Day Trip Waterfalls and Tree House

• Pick up from hotel at 7:00am
• Drive to Lasso village
• Enjoy local breakfast in Lasso
• Drive to Baños city with photo stops
• Welcome with sugar cane candies
• Visit Agoyan Waterfall
• Visit Manto de la Novia Waterfall
• Optional adventure activities (zipline, Tarzan jump)
• Hike to Pailón del Diablo Waterfall
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive to Tree House and Swing of the End of the World
• Take photos at Tree House and Swing
• Return to Baños town
• Enjoy traditional cocktail "Sánduche"
• Drive back to Quito around 8:00pm

The Experience

The day starts at 7am with pickup from your Quito hotel. The drive to Baños takes three and a half hours, but it is not empty time: you cross the Avenue of the Volcanoes, pass rose farms and fruit crops, and stop to photograph the majestic landscape and volcanoes. Breakfast happens in Lasso village, a local stop where the guide arranges a meal with people from the area — this is where you refuel before the waterfalls begin.

Once in Baños, you taste melcochas, the local sugar cane candies that welcome visitors to the town. The waterfall route starts at Agoyan, moves through Manto de la Novia, and ends at Pailón del Diablo, the most impressive waterfall in the area. The hike to Pailón del Diablo is one hour down and one hour back; you stand close enough to feel the spray and the power of the water. After the hike, lunch happens at a local restaurant the guide suggests.

The afternoon brings the Swing at the End of the World and the Tree House — a short drive from the waterfalls. These are the photo stops where the day becomes the memory: the swing hangs out over the valley, and the tree house sits in the landscape. On the way back to Quito, you stop for a traditional cóctel, a local drink made with sugar cane, lime, tangerine juice and a splash of local spirit. The return to Quito is around 8pm.

The tour is tailor-made, so if you want to add rafting, canyoning or paragliding, the guide can arrange it — just let them know before the day starts. Bottled water comes with you throughout the day, and your national guide handles all the logistics and the stories of the places you pass through.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and return to Quito.
• national tour guide in English, Spanish or French.
• bottled water.
• local breakfast in Lasso village.
• tasting of melcochas (sugar cane candies) and traditional cóctel.
• admission to Pailón del Diablo waterfall and the Tree House.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ecuador a Color tour operator

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private day with a guide who knows the region and can stop for photos and stories along the way — the fixed itinerary holds the waterfalls, the Swing at the End of the World and the Tree House inside a single day without you arranging transport or timing yourself.

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Top questions

What is Pailón del Diablo and how do I get to it?

Pailón del Diablo is the most impressive waterfall in the Baños area. You hike down and back up for one hour total to reach it and stand near the waterfall itself.

Can I do the zipline or other adventure activities on this tour?

Zipline, crystal bridge crossing and Tarzan jumping are available as optional add-ons (zipline 20 USD, crystal bridge 10 USD, Tarzan jumping 20 USD) — bring extra cash if you want to do them, as they are not included in the admission fees.

What happens during the drive from Quito to Baños?

The three-and-a-half-hour drive crosses the Avenue of the Volcanoes, passing rose farms, fruit crops and majestic volcanoes with stops for photos. Breakfast is served in Lasso village by local people.

Is the Swing at the End of the World included in this tour?

Yes, the Swing at the End of the World and the Tree House are both included. You visit them in the afternoon after the waterfalls and have time for photos.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast in Lasso village, bottled water throughout the day, a tasting of local sugar cane candies (melcochas) in Baños, and a traditional local cóctel on the return drive are included. Lunch is separate and eaten at a local restaurant the guide suggests.

What language does the guide speak?

Your national tour guide speaks English, Spanish or French — you choose when you book.