Best Places To Stay in Baños: Baños Hotels Guide [2024]
With a breathtaking mix of adventurous activities, stunning landscapes, and all-natural ways to relax and unwind, there are few destinations in the Andes Mountains as appealing to visitors as the tiny town of Baños, Ecuador. As you plan your visit to this sought-after retreat, there are a few things to keep in mind to have the trip you’re dreaming of.
During the years we spent living in Quito, Ecuador, Baños quickly became one of our favorite weekend trip destinations for all it has to offer. Read on for our local tips on all the best places to stay in Baños, including our top Baños hotel recommendations and where to stay in Baños on every type of travel budget.
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Where To Stay in Baños
The undisputable adventure sports capital of Ecuador, the small town of Baños de Agua Santa – more frequently, just called Baños – sits nestled between the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains and the rich Amazon Rainforest.
Given the small size of the town, there are only two real options to consider when deciding where to stay in Baños: in the town center or in the hillsides outside of Baños. Each has its own draw.
Baños Town Center
The small, walkable downtown area is where to stay in Baños if you’re traveling on a budget or just appreciate the convenience of having all the local bars, restaurants, and tour offices within just a block or two.
There’s a strong backpacker party scene in Baños, so keep this in mind as you consider staying in the town center. While there are certain accommodations that are quieter and more secluded than others (El Jardin Escondido tends to be particularly lively, while La Posada del Arte sits on a quiet side street, for example)
Outside of Baños
In the lush hillsides that surround Baños, a number of refined and romantic hotels and hosterias await travelers looking for a bit more seclusion. This is where to stay in Baños if you’re looking for more of an escape than an adventure, with Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa being the number one spot.
However, affordable taxis into town mean these places to stay in Baños can offer the best of both worlds if that’s what you’re looking for.
Plan a Trip to Baños, Ecuador
Best Places To Stay in Baños
Looking for a few quick recommendations for the best places to stay in Baños? These are the places that we recommend to travelers – of every budget! – looking to enjoy a trip to Baños:
- Best Hotel and Spa in Baños: Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa – $$$
- Best Hostel in Baños: Erupción Art Hostel and Hotel – $
- Best Hotel in Baños: Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba – $$ – $$$
Our top recommendation is the incomparable Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa – not only is it the nicest hotel in town, but its spa is next level. Plus, the incredible, sweeping vistas over all of Baños and Tungurahua Volcano make it a destination you’ll never forget.
Looking for even more recommendations and details on the best places to stay in Baños, Ecuador? Read on for our complete reviews of these places to stay in Baños and more, as well as photos and tips to help you decide where to stay in Baños.
Plan a Trip to Ecuador
Baños Hotels and Hostels
Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa ($$$)
Best Hotel and Spa in Baños
The best hotel and spa in Baños is perched on a hillside overlooking town, offering panoramic vistas you’ll have to see to believe. Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa is part spa and hot springs destination – visitors looking to enjoy this incredible spot without staying the night can enjoy a day pass – and part luxurious hotel.
Spacious rooms feature private terraces and thoughtful amenities, but the extras that this hotel offers, from unforgettable spa treatments and delicious food to the incredible pool area, mean it is hard to find something wrong with this hotel. Prices at Luna Volcán are a little high for a small city in Ecuador, but well worth it for this memorable stay.
Reviews and Bookings: Luna Volcán Hotel and Spa
Erupción Art Hostel and Hotel ($)
Best Hostel in Baños
Backpackers and budget travelers alike will love Erupción Art Hostel and Hotel, which is our top recommendation for the best place to stay in Baños on a budget. Located in the center of town and close to everything, it has fantastic amenities like bike rentals, yoga classes, plenty of organized group events, and an excellent rooftop bar with a gorgeous view.
Dorm beds cost less than $10 per night at Erupción Art Hostel and Hotel, and the private rooms are quite affordable as well, yet feel hotel-like. A good mix of a social atmosphere without the noise and disruption of a party hostel makes it a good fit for almost anyone.
Reviews and Bookings: Erupción Art Hostel and Hotel
Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba ($$ – $$$)
Best Hotel in Baños
Located among lush forests not far from the heart of Baños, the secluded Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba is one of the best places to stay outside of Baños. Unique design with natural materials and interesting architectural details makes it feel like it grew out of the hillside, making exploring the property its own adventure.
This fairy-tale-like spot is romantic — you won’t want to leave — but its location, within walking distance to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Baños, makes it even more appealing.
Reviews and Bookings: Hosteria Finca Chamanapamba
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Selina Baños ($ – $$)
Selina Baños is the cool Baños outpost of the hip Selina collection of coliving and coworking spaces found across Ecuador and in cities around Latin America. It’s one of the best places to stay in Baños for affordable accommodations and tons of amenities thrown in, whether you’re just looking for a place to spend the night or for a week-long or month-long rental.
One benefit of the appeal of Selina Baños with short-term travelers is that its organized events, tours, and excursions are the perfect way to meet other travelers and explore Baños at the same time.
Reviews and Bookings: Selina Baños
La Posada del Arte ($ – $$)
Colorful La Posada del Arte is located on a quiet side street in the center of the town of Baños. In many ways, this affordable hotel is the best of both worlds for those deciding where to stay in Baños: it’s within walking distance of all the best places to eat and things to do in Baños, while feeling like its own little world away – rooms facing the back of the hotel even have waterfall views.
Rooms are spacious, colorful, and clean at La Posada del Arte, but the real highlights here are the rooftop terrace and spacious outdoor patio; you’ll lose yourself to the sounds of the nearby waterfall.
Reviews and Bookings: La Posada del Arte
La Floresta Hotel ($$)
A side street in the heart of downtown Baños hides La Floresta Hotel, one of the best hotels in Baños that offers comfort, space, and reasonable prices that everyone will love.
The lush garden hidden behind the walls of La Floresta Hotel is a true gem. Hammocks and hidden spots to sit and enjoy offer mountain views. Comfortable rooms with modern fixtures and amenities make it memorable, and great food and service are just extras!
Reviews and Bookings: La Floresta Hotel
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Spa Hosteria Miramelindo ($$)
A relatively affordable spa and hotel in the hillsides outside of Baños, Spa Hosteria Miramelindo has awesome indoor and outdoor spa spaces and pools that make it more of a destination than just a place to spend the night. If Luna Volcán is pushing your budget or you’re looking for something a little less flashy, this is our top recommendation!
Close enough to the town of Baños for a quick cab ride, Spa Hosteria Miramelindo has colorful, unique rooms with murals and hand-made furniture. The hotel’s restaurant and laid-back common spaces, many with waterfall views, will mean you won’t have to leave to experience the best of Baños.
Reviews and Bookings: Spa Hosteria Miramelindo
Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual New York-based travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Explorers Away and Home to Havana. Carley is an expert on all things Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and worked in four different countries in the region. Her writing has appeared on the Associated Press wires and in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, MSN, Euronews, The Weather Channel, and more. When she's not writing about her travels, find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.