Upon our arrival in Baños, we were overwhelmed by the amount of extreme sport activities being offered and by the amount of tour operators offering them. We saw all the activities, and wanted to do them all. However, with that being said, canyoning was high up on our list. A day of jumping off waterfalls, swimming, and rappelling down a lush canyon was exactly what we needed to get our adrenaline fill.
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Which Company to Go With? Check out GeoTours!
As soon as we started researching online for companies to do our tour with, GeoTours soon clearly became our first choice. GeoTours has been around for 25 years and having met the owner himself, it was obvious that he and his team exuded adventure. GeoTours high regard for safety and the well-experienced guides made all the difference to us. Soon, we found ourselves booking a couple of days worth of adventures with them. Every time we arrive in their office, all the guides are hanging around, joking with their customers, and over all just loving their job.
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Our Canyoning in Baños Experience
Together with four other people, our day started in the GeoTours office where we were issued wet suits, canyoning shoes, helmets, and other safety gear. This alone showed us that GeoTours meant business as during the last time I went canyoning in Dalat, Vietnam, I ended up having to throw away my muddy shoes which I used for canyoning. Wet, damp, and muddy shoes with no time to dry after is not a great combination. I was relieved that GeoTours provided us with gear to use! Soon, we were all on a bus together with the group of people who were going white water rafting.
After our drop off point, we were given the chance to change into our wetsuits and fit on our safety harnesses. After a short hike to the starting point, we were all given a safety instruction briefing on the basics of rappelling. Soon, we were on our way for an awesome few hours of extreme fun! GeoTours offers different canyoning experiences. We chose to do it in Cashuarco Canyon, which offers a complex system of waterfalls and canyons. Naturally, to get our blood pumping, first up was a 5 meter jump into the freezing cold water! Cold but pumped, we trooped on to another heart pumping 8 meter waterfall jump!
Despite the adrenaline rush, I couldn’t help but take a few seconds to take in my surroundings. The Cashuarco Canyon was stunning! Rich green foliage everywhere accompanied by the steady and strong stream of water flowing down. It was incredible! After the big 8 meter jump, we slowly scaled to the edge of a high cliff. Our guide quickly rappelled down this high cliff in a slightly odd angle which made us all worry how we were going to get down. Soon, we found out that they were installing a 35 meter zipline for us to soar through the canyon. WHAT! It was insane and incredible all at the same time!
Related: Rock Climbing up Lava Cliffs in Baños, Ecuador
At this point, our hearts were pumping and we were incredibly stoked. Our GeoTour guides were easy to be with and were very fun. We carried on making our way through the canyon finishing off by rappelling down a 23 meter waterfall and a 14 meter one. Each jump was a huge thrill and although I was a bit scared at times, it was definitely an exhilarating feeling. Naturally, the clutz in me had to come out at some point as nearing the end of the canyoning trip, I sprained my ankle. It didn’t even surprise Tom at this point. Luckily, it wasn’t too bad and I was still able to carry on walking.
We finished off the trip with some fun group shots then proceeded to hike back up to change into warmer clothes. Once we were all settled, the bus picked us up again and we headed towards a restaurant where we had lunch. For the price of the canyoning, I was amazed by the lunch spread. It was so different to the tour lunches that we are accustomed to. With GeoTours, we got an option of chicken, beef, fish, or vegetarian. We even had appetizers of bread and popcorn to go with our meal. So worth it!
What to Bring for Canyoning in Baños:
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Change of clothes
- Socks
- GoPro or waterproof camera (The GeoTours guides do take photos though, so don’t worry too much about this)
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Cost of Canyoning in Baños with GeoTours
As of 2016, the canyoning with GeoTours costs: $30 This includes the following:
- Canyoning gear (max shoe size is 44)
- Professional and experienced bilingual guides
- Transportation there and back
- Lunch
For up to date prices check out the GeoTours website.
Our Overall Experience Canyoning in Baños
Overall, we had a blast canyoning with GeoTours! Unlike our previous canyoning experiences, we felt much safer this trip. Although the whole experience was a lot more rugged, the guides went out of the way to ensure our safety. The guides knew what they were doing in terms of safety and equipment. Between all the jumps, rappelling, and wading through the cold but refreshing water, we had an awesome fun filled day!
Please note that despite receiving complimentary services from GeoTours, all opinions are ours and remain completely unbiased.
Want to read more about more adventures in Ecuador? Check out the articles below
- Paragliding Over a Volcano in Ecuador
- Getting Wet and Wild Whitewater Rafting in Baños
- Top Things to Do in Banos, Ecuador
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