As you walk around Baños, you are bound to see signs announcing an imminent volcano eruption… The natural phenomenon is predicted nightly at 9 o’clock and 11 o'clock. Don’t be worried, as the signs are simply advertising the chivas (open-sided party buses), whichtake tourists on aride to see Volcan Tungurahua. Most of these chivas head up to the Bellavista view point, where on clear nights the volcano's lava can be seen. Unfortunately, most of the time you are unlikely to see Tungurahua erupting, or even be able to spot the volcano cone at all, due to cloud cover. However, the views over Baños,in addition to thefree canelazo (a hot beverage made with water, panela, cinnamon and, if desired, aguardiente) and a spectacular fire show combine to make this a worthwhile and inexpensive nighttime activity (most agencies charge just $4). Booking a trip is extremely easy and most tour agencies will be able to reserve you a seat in advance. The chivas leave from the corner of 16 de Deciembre and Luis Martinez; if you haven’t got a ticket, try turning up a few minutes before 9 p.m. and you might be able to bargain the price down for a last-minute seat.

Location:
16 de Deciembre and Luis Martinez
Baños, Ecuador

Other Activity Types:
Sightseeing bus tour

Price Description: $3 to $4

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
US dollar

By Tom Ravenscroft

Initially intending to just pass through Ecuador on his year-long sojourn across the world, Tom Raven Scroft decided to set up camp in Quito as an...

Created: 03 Mar 2009

Updated: 12 Mar 2009

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Reviews

Traveler Reviews of Chiva Bus

Danger and Drinking

The chiva bus in Baños is a great and cheap, albeit not safe, way to spend the evening. Drinking canelazo on the roof of a a bus as it speeds up a mountain is as fun and unsafe as it sounds. The roof top has the best views, but beware of the telephone wires!

Traveler from Chicago, IL on Apr 08, 2009