One of the biggest reasons we wanted to visit Baños, Ecuador, was because it is one of the easiest places to take a day trip to the Amazon rainforest with kids.
And after our kids learned about the Amazon rainforest the year before listening to their Yoto Mini, they both really wanted to see it for themselves.
Not just read about it in a book.
Actually touch it, smell it, hike through it, swim in it, and experience what the Amazon rainforest feels like in real life.
So while we were staying in Baños, Ecuador, we decided to book an Amazon rainforest tour from Baños to Puyo with our kids.
This ended up being one of the highlights of our entire Ecuador trip.
It was exhausting. It was a very long day. But it was absolutely worth it.
Booking an Amazon Rainforest Tour From Baños, Ecuador
We booked our tour the day before through a company called Turismo Ecuador 24, which has a storefront office right in Baños.
While staying in Baños, you quickly realize that almost every other storefront is a tour operator. There are endless options for an Ecuador Amazon tour, canyoning, rafting, biking, and everything else you can think of.
You can absolutely walk around, compare prices, talk to different companies, and get a feel for who you want to book with.
Ultimately, many of the tours probably do similar things, but after talking with another traveler earlier in our trip, they strongly recommended Turismo Ecuador 24. We stopped in the day before, talked with the owner for a while, got a good feeling from them, and decided to go with it.
We booked and paid in cash because using a credit card added an extra fee. There are ATMs in Baños, so we just pulled out cash beforehand.
The total cost for our family was:
- $35 per adult
- $20 for our 6-year-old
- free for our 3-year-old
So in total, we paid $90 for the entire day, including lunch.
Our youngest was free, although she did not receive her own lunch plate, which was completely fine for us because our girls shared food anyway.
For what was included, we thought this was an incredible value.
Starting the Tour From Baños
The tour started around 9 a.m., and we met at the tour office in town before loading into a van with the rest of the group.
In total, there were eight people in the group plus the driver/guide.
The drive from Baños to the Amazon region near Puyo took about two hours total, with a stop along the way in Mera.
The roads were manageable, and nobody in our family got carsick, including the kids.
If you are considering an Amazon rainforest day trip from Baños, the drive itself is actually very easy compared to many mountain roads in Ecuador.
Stopping in Mera Before Entering the Amazon Rainforest
Our first stop was in Mera, which had a scenic overlook with views over the river basin and the Amazon landscape in the distance.
This was definitely a touristy stop, but it was still worth it for the break alone.
There were bathrooms, drinks, snacks, and a few staged photo areas, including a glass viewpoint and swings overlooking the scenery.
This was also a really good opportunity for the kids to stretch, use the bathroom, and reset before continuing deeper into the tour.
We stayed here for around 30–45 minutes before continuing on.
Hiking in the Amazon Rainforest With Kids
Once we arrived at the rainforest hiking area, we changed into hiking clothes and grabbed the rain boots that the tour operators provided.
This was honestly a huge help because it had rained heavily the night before, and the trail was muddy.
On the drive out, the guides stop at a location where everyone gets fitted for rain boots, so make sure you know your shoe size beforehand.
And absolutely bring bug spray. You are going into the Amazon rainforest.
Luckily for us, there were not too many bugs during our hike, but that can obviously change depending on weather and season.
The hike itself was very manageable with kids.
It was probably around 30 minutes each way and was not strenuous. There was no major elevation gain, no climbing, and no scrambling over rocks. It was mostly a gradual incline following a stream through the rainforest.
Our 6-year-old handled it completely fine on her own.
We brought our child carrier backpack for our 3-year-old, and I would highly recommend bringing one if you are visiting the Amazon rainforest with kids, especially younger toddlers.
Seeing, Smelling, and Experiencing the Amazon Rainforest
One of the coolest parts of this experience was that it was not just hiking.
The guide was constantly stopping to show us different plants, traditional medicine practices, insects, and local rainforest knowledge.
Right at the beginning, they gave us a plant-based medicine to clear our sinuses, almost similar to what Afrin nasal spray feels like when you are sick. And it worked incredibly well.
You could fully smell the rainforest around you, which sounds strange until you are standing there realizing how alive everything feels.
We also tried tiny ants that lived inside a plant pod that tasted like lemon, so we were essentially eating little lemon ants.
Then we used traditional clay on our skin as an exfoliant and skin treatment used by Indigenous groups in the Amazon. The kids thought all of this was fascinating.
This was a worldschooling moment where the kids were not just hearing about the rainforest, they were physically experiencing it.
Swimming at Cascada Hola Vida
The endpoint of the hike was Cascada Hola Vida, a large waterfall deep in the rainforest.
After hiking through the humid jungle, jumping into the cold water underneath the waterfall felt amazing.
The water was definitely cold and the waterfall itself was powerful, but it was incredibly refreshing after the muggy hike.
We had brought swimsuits and one towel with us specifically because we knew this was an option.
Nothing is provided for swimming, so if you want to get in the water, make sure you bring:
- swimsuits
- towel
- dry clothes if desired
Canoeing on the Puyo River
After the hike, we got into a handmade wooden canoe and headed down the Puyo River, which eventually feeds into the larger Amazon River system.
This ended up being one of the kids’ favorite parts of the day.
We were on the river for around 15–20 minutes, all wearing life jackets, and slowly floated through the rainforest surrounded by trees and birds.
The kids loved sticking their hands into the water, despite us joking that there were probably piranhas in there.
One funny moment was watching the canoe operator continuously shovel water out of the canoe while we floated downriver. It felt adventurous in the best way. And yes, it felt safe with kids.
One thing to note is that very small toddler-sized life jackets may not always be available, so if you have a very young child, you may want to ask ahead of time before booking your Amazon rainforest tour from Baños.
Lunch Included in the Tour
Lunch was included in the tour price and was very good.
We chose chicken, although there was also an option to upgrade to local fish from one of the nearby fish farms.
The meal included:
- chicken
- rice
- vegetables
- fried plantains
- drinks
This was also a nice moment to sit and talk with the other people in our group.
Some travelers were from Italy, others were originally from Ecuador but currently living in Germany, and it was fun hearing everybody’s stories and travel experiences throughout the meal.
Visiting an Indigenous Village in the Ecuadorian Amazon
After lunch, we visited an Indigenous village that regularly welcomes tour groups into their community.
This was probably the most complex part of the experience to describe because it was both educational and performative at the same time.
You could tell that tourism is a significant source of income for the community, and they have clearly built experiences around visitors coming in.
But at the same time, it was still incredibly interesting to experience.
The guide explained that only within the last year or two had the road and bridge been built to access the village directly. Before that, visitors would have needed to travel much deeper into the Amazon rainforest over multiple days to reach the community.
While there, we:
- learned about traditional face painting
- watched traditional dancing
- participated in a ceremony
- tried using a blow dart gun
And if you wanted to, you could eat a cooked grub.
Steven was the only person out of roughly 30 visitors there that day who actually ate one.
At the end, the village offered crafts for sale and accepted tips and donations. We left a tip but did not purchase any crafts.
Overall, it was a really interesting experience as long as you go into it understanding that this is part cultural exchange and part tourism-based livelihood.
Mirador Indichuris Was One of the Best Parts of the Entire Day
This stop was technically an optional add-on and cost extra:
- $3 adults
- $2 kids
Cash only.
And absolutely do it.
This ended up being one of the highlights of this day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids.
From the parking area, you hike about 20 minutes uphill to the overlook. Our 6-year-old did the hike herself, and we carried our 3-year-old in the child carrier.
At the top, the view opens up over the Amazon basin for miles and miles.
It is hard to explain how massive and endless it feels until you are standing there seeing it in person.
There are hammocks at the top overlooking the rainforest, covered seating areas in case it rains, snacks, drinks, and one of the famous tree swings where you can swing out over the Amazon basin.
At one point, the clouds briefly broke and revealed a massive volcano towering in the distance over the rainforest.
It was jaw-dropping.
You feel very small standing there looking out over just one tiny section of the Amazon rainforest.
Making Chocolate at a Cacao Farm
Our final stop of the day was at a cacao farm where we learned the process of turning cacao into chocolate.
The kids were definitely getting tired at this point, but it was still a really cool experience.
They showed us:
- the cacao fruit
- how to open it
- how to eat the sweet coating around the seeds
- how the cacao seeds are roasted
- and how they are ground into chocolate
At the end, there was an option to try chocolate and tea made from the cacao.
Most of the group participated, but our kids were completely spent by this point and honestly just needed some decompression time away from the group, so we skipped it.
And that is one thing to know about taking a day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids.
It is a long day.
A very long day.
Was This Amazon Rainforest Day Trip From Baños Worth It With Kids?
Absolutely.
This day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids ended up being one of the highlights of our time in Ecuador.
It was exhausting, it was 12 hours long, and it pushed our kids more than we normally like to with tours.
We typically avoid long organized tours because we prefer slower travel and more flexibility with kids.
But this experience was worth it.
And the next day, we intentionally did nothing major. The kids played at a playground, relaxed, and just existed without an agenda.
That balance matters.
What to Pack for an Amazon Rainforest Day Trip From Baños
If you are taking an Amazon rainforest tour from Baños with kids, I would recommend bringing:
- snacks
- bug spray
- water
- child carrier backpack
- swimsuit
- towel
- first aid kit
- antihistamines or Benadryl
- small cash bills
Rain ponchos and rain boots were provided for us by the tour company.
We also always travel with our 3-liter Osprey water bladder, which helped a lot because water was not consistently provided throughout the day.
Would We Recommend This Amazon Rainforest Tour From Baños for Families?
Yes.
I would absolutely recommend this day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids for families who want their kids to truly experience the Amazon rainforest instead of just seeing photos of it.
Your kids get to:
- hike in the Amazon rainforest
- swim in waterfalls
- canoe down rivers
- learn about plants and wildlife
- experience Indigenous culture
- and physically connect with the environment around them
That is something they will remember.
I would not recommend this tour for families expecting a relaxing day, though.
It is long. It is stimulating. And younger toddlers or babies may struggle more with the pace and length of the day.
But if your family enjoys adventure, nature, and worldschooling-style experiences, this is absolutely worth doing while staying in Baños, Ecuador.
FAQ: Amazon Rainforest Tour From Baños, Ecuador
Can you do a day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids?
Yes. It is very possible to do a day trip from Baños to the Amazon rainforest with kids, especially if your children enjoy nature, adventure, and active experiences. Just be prepared for a long day.
How much does an Amazon rainforest tour from Baños cost?
Our family paid $90 total for two adults and one child, while our 3-year-old was free. This included transportation, lunch, rainforest hiking, canoeing, Indigenous village visits, and multiple stops throughout the day.
Is the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador family friendly?
Yes, many parts of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador are family friendly, especially guided tours near Puyo and Baños. However, families with toddlers or babies should prepare for long days, humidity, and changing weather conditions.
What should you pack for an Amazon rainforest day trip in Ecuador?
We recommend bringing bug spray, snacks, water, swimsuits, towels, a child carrier, small cash bills, and a basic first aid kit. Rain boots and ponchos were provided by our tour company.
