How to see the Incredible Pailon del Diablo, Baños, Ecuador

The most incredible waterfall near Baños, the Pailon del Diablo (or Devil’s Cauldron Waterfall) is a must see attraction and is one of the best waterfalls in all of South America. Hiking to this gorgeous waterfall is easy and there are many ways to get to from Baños to the start of the hike. The Cascada el Pailon del Diablo is a multilayered, powerful waterfall that shoots spray high up into the air. You can visit the waterfall from more than one direction and the entire site is well maintained with steps, bridges, and hiking trails.

Most people visit Pailon del Diablo while staying in Baños and we highly recommend this beautiful town in the Andes. See more about what to do in Banos.

For current updates/closures/cost visit the official site of Pailon del Diablo.

Hiking to Pailon del Diablo Waterfall

There are currently two entrances to get to the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall.

Shorter Route to the Viewing Platform

The newer path leads to the top of the fall via several bridges and is shorter. It takes only 15 minutes to reach this upper viewer platform. This is the preferred trail if you are short on time or simply don’t want to hike down and back up a lot of stairs.

To get to this entrance, look for the playground in town and follow the well marked trail from here.

Longer Route to the Base of the Falls

The older route is longer and takes about an hour to get to the falls. This path will also get you much more wet! To get to the start of the waterfall path, look for the entrance from a parking lot that goes through some stalls.

Distance: 1.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 450 feet
Difficulty: Moderate 

This hiking information above is for the hike to the base of the waterfall. There is no way to drive right to the waterfall, so if you want to see the base of the falls you will have to hike.

The trail initially descends down a steep hillside before traversing and climbing back up along the base and side of the waterfall. The path leads to a beautiful lookout at the base of the falls. From here it is possible to scramble up a narrow and low tunnel to get right below the top of the falls – you will want a raincoat or poncho for this part of the hike!

You can see more details on visiting the waterfall below.

How to Get to Pailon del Diablo

The Pailon Del Diablo waterfall is located 17 km downhill from Baños in the town of Rio Verde. The waterfall is on the river Rio Pastaza and is a powerful waterfall all year long. The waterfall is found on the road between Baños and Puyo and many tours to Puyo stop at the waterfall along the way.

As one of the most popular attractions near Baños, Pailon del Diablo can be reach in multiple ways. The easiest way is to visit on a tour that will arrange all the transportation for you. It’s also possible to arrange your own transportation via bus or even bike.

Guided Tour of Pailon del Diablo

You can book a tour that includes a visit to Pailon del Diablo, and most general tours of Banos will include a stop at this waterfall. If you are short in time or want to visit multiple sites all at once, a tour will likely be your best option.

If you are looking for an inexpensive tour, you can book a tour of the Ruta de las Cascadas in one of the converted trucks. This typically costs just $10 and stops as a number of other waterfalls in addition to Pailon del Diablo. These trucks are a bit like party buses with loud music if that sounds fun. You can see some other options of tours that visit this waterfall in the links below.

Take a Bus

We spent most of our time in Ecuador traveling around by bus. The public bus system in Ecuador is generally well run and the buses are comfortable. To get to Pailon del Diablo take the bus from the main bus station in Banos to Puyo. Buses leave for this route every 15-30 minutes. Tell the driver that you want to get dropped off at Pailon del Diablo.

This is a common route and many travelers do this so the bus driver will know when to drop you off. The bus costs about $1. To return to Banos, simply wait on the road and get the bus as it comes back from Puyo.

Rent a Bike

Renting a bike is a fun and popular way to reach Pailon del Diablo. There are several places in town to rent mountain bikes and you can simply follow the Ruta de las Cascadas from Baños, Ecuador. This route passes multiple waterfalls and is a relatively easy bike ride downhill.

The biggest negative of the ride is that most of the ride is on the highway so if you aren’t used to biking on a road this can be unnerving as large buses and trucks drive past. There are several sections on smaller roads and bike paths and this part of the ride is lovely.

To get back to Banos from Pailon del Diablo, you can pay on of the bike trucks that hang out in the parking lot. These trucks are waiting for bikers and will drive you and your bike back up the hill to Banos for a few dollars.

Of course you can bike back uphill to Banos, but this is a long uphillride.

See more about How to Travel the Ruta de las Cascadas from Baños, Ecuador.

Take a Taxi

This is probably the last option to consider when planning your visit to Pailon del Diablo. The bus is so inexpensive and easy that if you are looking to get a ride your best bet is the bus or a tour. If you do want a taxi – expect to pay between $10-$20. This is a good option if you are short on time or are sharing the taxi with others.

What to Expect When you Visit Pailon del Diablo

Pailon Del Diablo Entrance Fee

There is a fee to visit the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall Ecuador. The waterfall is on private property and the fee helps upkeep the well travelled paths, bridges and boardwalks. The fee is just a few dollars and is worth it to see this impressive waterfall.

You can find the entrance station when you walk down the path and you can pay here in cash.

Which Entrance is Best?

Both entrances have their own advantages. If you are short on time, take the path to the upper viewing platform. The walk to get here is shorter and less steep and you can see the falls from above.

If you have the time you should take the longer path that leads through the small area of stalls down the hill and back up to the base of the falls. The view here is incredible and you get to enjoy the beautiful walk through the forest. From the base of the waterfall it is also possible to scramble up a narrow and low tunnel to get right to the top of the waterfall. This is a bit tricky but fun and our kids loved it. Bring your raincoat of poncho!

What to Pack for Visiting Pailon del Diablo (Devils Cauldron Waterfall)

Depending on how you are getting to the falls, you will likely have a small bag. Since the hike is relatively short, you don’t need to huge list of gear. Below are a few items that you should bring in addition to the clothes you are already wearing.

• Hiking Boots/Shoes: The path is not difficult, but it is recommended that you wear a sturdy and good pair of hiking boots or shoes. This is helpful when you are near the waterfall and the rocks get slippery. You can see some suggestions on our favorite hiking boots under $100.
• Quick Dry Clothes: You will likely get wet so wear something that can dry quickly.
• Camera/phone in a Waterproof Pouch: This is a beautiful waterfall and you will want to take some photos.
• Raincoat or Poncho: If you are planning to do the longer hike to the base of the waterfall, you will likely get wet. My kids loved getting wet (as you can see in the photo below) and chose not to wear their raincoats.

Other Things to do in Baños

Baños is an incredible adventure town in the highland area of Ecuador and there is so much to do. You can see a few amazing things to do in Baños by exploring the links below:

• The Best Things to do in Baños Ecuador
• How to Travel the Ruta de las Cascadas from Baños, Ecuador
• All You Need to Know About Parque Aventura San Martin, Baños, Ecuador

Other Things to do in Ecuador

Ecuador is an amazing country with so many different environments. Below you can see a few of our favorite places to explore in Ecuador.

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