Chiva Night Tour - Other Activity Baños - Ecuador

As you walk around Baños, you are bound to see signs announcing an imminent volcano eruption: The natural phenomenon is predicted nightly at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Don’t be worried, though, as the signs are simply advertising the chivas (open-sided party buses), which take tourists on a ride to see Volcán Tungurahua. Most of these chivas head up to the Bellavista viewpoint, 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 the free canelazo (a hot beverage made with water, raw brown sugar, 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 A Martínez; 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:

Other Activity Types:
Sightseeing bus tour

Price Description:

around $4

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
US dollar

About this Page

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...

Updated: 26 Nov 2012