Baños de Agua Santa (ˈbaɲoz ðe ˈaɣwa ˈsanta), commonly referred to as Baños, is a city in eastern Tungurahua Province

Tungurahua Province

Tungurahua is one of the twenty-four provinces of Ecuador. Its capital is Ambato. The province takes its name from the Tungurahua volcano, which is located within the boundaries of the provinces.-Population:...

, in central Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

. Baños is the second most populous city in Tungurahua, after Ambato

San Juan de Ambato

Ambato is a city in located in the central Andean valley of Ecuador. Lying on the banks of the Ambato River, the city also sits beneath several tall mountains. It is the capital of the province of Tungurahua, at an elevation of 2,577 meters above sea level. The population is 180,000 , making it...

, the capital, and is a major tourist center. It is known as the "Gateway to the Amazon", as it is located on the Pastaza River

Pastaza River

The Pastaza is a large tributary to the Amazon River.It has its headwaters in the province of Tungurahua, where the Tambo River joins the Latacunga River, near the foot of the Volcano Tungurahua, flowing south-east towards the Amazon Basin...

 in the Amazon River

Amazon River

The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...

 basin, and has a newly paved road to Puyo

Puyo

Puyo refers to;* Puyo, Pastaza, the capital of Pastaza, a province in Ecuador* Buyeo , or Puyo, an ancient Korean kingdom* Buyeo County, in South Korea* Puyo , a Japanese manga artist* Puyo Pop/Puyo Puyo, a Japanese video game...

.

Etymology

Baños (Sp. baths), is named after the hydrothermal springs of mineral water located around the city.

History

The city is also a Roman Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 religious center, as some Catholic believers say that the Virgin Mary appeared nearby a waterfall

Waterfall

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...

. So a sculpture of the virgin, called Virgen de Agua Santa, was placed in the cathedral

Cathedral

A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...

. The history of the town is intimately linked with the highly active Tungurahua volcano. In October 1999, all 17000 + residents were forced to evacuate the city for weeks.

Economy

Baños is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ecuador and is known for its production of taffy

Taffy

Taffy can refer to any of the following:* Taffy , a type of chewy, often colored, candy* Taffy is a sometimes pejorative term for a Welsh person or thing...

 ( melˈkotʃa) made from cane

Sugarcane

Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...

 sugar, and for small shops that sell the town's famous wooden parrots.

Geography

Baños is located on the northern foothills

Piedmont (disambiguation)

Piedmont is a region of northwestern Italy, but may also refer to:-Cities:United States*Piedmont, Alabama*Piedmont, California*Piedmont, Missouri*Piedmont, Oklahoma*Piedmont, South Carolina*Piedmont, South Dakota*Piedmont, Virginia...

 of the Tungurahua

Tungurahua

Tungurahua, , rahua : "Throat of Fire" or from Panzaleo) is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of Tungurahua...

 volcano

Volcano

2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...

.

Along with Pillaro

Pillaro

Píllaro is a city in Ecuador, located in the province of Tungurahua. It is the capital of the Píllaro Canton and stands about 19 km northeast of Ambato, the provincial capital ....

, Baños is known as a good starting point for exploring the remote Llanganates National Park

Llanganates National Park

Llanganates National Park is a protected area in Ecuador situated in the Cotopaxi Province, Napo Province, Pastaza Province and Tungurahua Province. The name, "llanganates" supposedly comes from "beautiful mountain" in Quechua. Located within the park is the similarly named Cerro Hermoso which...

 and its attractions including Cerro Hermoso. The city itself boasts a beautiful main central park across from the cathedral. Nearby waterfalls include Virgen de Agua Santa, Inés María, Agoyán, El Manto de la Novia, Pailón del Diablo, Machay

External Links

Baños Travel Guide

See photos of Baños

5 star spa hotel in Baños

la casa verde - eco guest house (Top hotel in Baños by guest's Trip Advisor ratings)