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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- South America
- Ecuador
- Banos
Banos
The small town of Banos, a holiday favourite for its hot
springs, is framed by majestic mountains and volcanoes and is the
gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Dangerously situated on the
slopes of the active Tungurahua volcano, however, Banos is also on
constant alert for signs of activity from 'the Black Giant'.
The town is popular with Ecuadorian and international travellers
alike, as a place to relax in unspoilt, peaceful surroundings. The
best known of Banos' therapeutic hot baths is the Piscina de La
Virgin, which is next to a waterfall. For the traveller looking for
more holiday action, there are numerous activities, including horse
riding, hiking and mountain biking. It is also possible to organise
trips to the Oriente, the forests of the Amazon Basin, where one
can see wildlife, visit indigenous communities deep in the jungle,
and experience life in the isolated far reaches of the country.
There are many bars and restaurants throughout the town, often
with live folk music. Banos is also home to Ecuador's most famous
candy, taffy, which is made from sugarcane; hanging from hooks in
the doorframes of almost every shop, it is an integral part of the
Banos landscape.
Information & Facts
Language
Spanish is the official language, but Quechua is the main
language spoken among the indigenous people.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency in Ecuador. In 2000
the sucre was replaced by the dollar as the legal currency, but
despite dollarization, the sucre will likely persist in rural areas
for a while longer. It is recommended that travellers bring both US
dollar notes and travellers cheques as other foreign currencies are
difficult to exchange outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Small
denominations in good condition are the easiest to exchange outside
of the main cities. In the main centres most currencies can be
exchanged at banks and exchange houses (
casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are
available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in
tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6-8% is
often charged.