4 reviewed party hostels · from €5.38/night · Hostelworld rated
Baños sits at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano in central Ecuador, and its nightlife punches well above its weight for a town this small. Calle Oriente and the streets around it fill up with backpackers most nights of the week, with cheap cocktails, salsa beats, and travellers fresh off the Route of the Waterfalls comparing notes over a beer. The hostel scene is compact but lively, and you'll find social common rooms and rooftop terraces that keep the party going long before anyone heads out to a bar. Erupción Art Hotel and Hostel is one of the standout names for backpackers who want both comfort and a crowd. Mama Tungurahua is another regular favourite, known for its communal vibe and proximity to the main drag. Hostel dorm beds typically start around $8 to $12 a night, which leaves plenty left over for the local firewater, canelazo.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Erupcion Art Hotel & Hostel is Baños's ultimate party spot, featuring a buzzing rooftop bar and regular events. From Latin Social Nights to beer Olympics and legendary pub crawls, there's always something happening. Their Famous Dinners are perfect for meeting fellow party-goers, while the central location puts you steps from the best bars and clubs.
Great Hostels knows how to party in Baños, offering free Saturday night cocktails (Canelazos) and social spaces perfect for pre-drinks. The games room with pool table keeps the fun flowing, while Sunday movie nights help cure hangovers. With multiple lounges and garden areas for socialising, it's ideal for party-loving travellers.
Mama Tungu Hostel offers a unique party experience with its bar serving delicious cocktails against a backdrop of waterfall views. The swimming pool and hot tub are perfect for daytime parties, while the Giant Hammock and Tree House provide extraordinary spots for social drinking sessions with mountain views.
Papachos Hostel's rooftop terrace is party central, hosting regular BBQ nights under the stars. With multiple balconies perfect for sunset drinks and mountain views, plus table tennis for drinking games, the social vibe is always buzzing. The fully equipped kitchen and communal areas are ideal for pre-party gatherings.
How Banos's nightlife zones break down
The grid of streets surrounding Parque Central is where most backpackers base themselves. Calle Oriente and Calle Ambato hold the majority of bars, hostels, and cheap restaurants within a few blocks of each other. Everything you need for a night out is walkable from here.
Running parallel to the main park, Eloy Alfaro has a slightly quieter feel during the day but comes alive at night with several of the town's most popular bars and live music venues. It's a short walk from the central hostels and sits close to the market area.
The eastern edge of Baños near the start of the Ruta de las Cascadas is more relaxed and better suited to travellers who want to combine day trips with social evenings back in town. A few guesthouses sit in this direction, and it's around a 10-minute walk back to the centre.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
One of the most reliably busy bars in Baños, Jack Rock draws backpackers and locals alike with its rock and reggaeton playlist and cheap local beer. The bar fills up fast on weekends and often keeps going well past midnight. Pitchers of beer are a solid deal and the bartenders are friendly with recommendations.
An Irish-style pub that has become something of a Baños institution for travellers. It's louder and more social than it looks from the outside, with pool tables, strong cocktails, and a crowd that mixes long-term travellers with fresh arrivals. Sports are screened regularly, and the bar stays open later than most spots in town.
A relaxed but social spot that picks up as the evening goes on. Buda Bar serves solid cocktails at fair prices and has a laid-back terrace area that's good for meeting other travellers early in the night before things move elsewhere. The caipirinha is a go-to.
Not the international chain, but a locally run bar with the same rock-heavy vibe. It's a good stop for live music nights and tends to attract a younger crowd looking to dance. Check with your hostel for which nights live bands play, as the schedule changes.
A simple but popular spot for cheap canelazo, the warm cinnamon and sugarcane spirit drink that Ecuador does best. This is where locals and travellers mix most naturally, and you'll pick up far better stories here than at a tourist-facing club. Go early to get a seat.
The closest thing Baños has to a proper club, Cascada plays a mix of salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton and stays open until the early hours on Friday and Saturday nights. The dance floor gets genuinely packed on weekends, and entry is usually a couple of dollars. Go after midnight when the crowd arrives.