HOSTAL EL EDEN — Hotel in Baños de Agua Santa

We found this by accident and immediately moved from a more expensive Hostal not near as nice. El Eden is clean, comfortable and just a couple of blocks from the Virgin Public Baths. It was only $15.00 per night for a single room with a private bath. It is right in town and easy walking distance to everything you may need, including the mercado and a large supermarket, but it is set back just enough so it is also quiet. There is no community kitchen, but within walking distance to many, many restaurants. I gave only 4 stars because my room had a slight stale nicotine odor, so be sure to ask for a non-smoking room. Also, there was no wi-fi in the room, but good access in the hostal reception room, which was always available. Sandra is a manager and was very helpful with everything, including great information. Her English is limited, but we were able to communicate with our limited Spanish. She told us, along with other townspeople, that the public baths (two, each on opposite ends of the town) are the only natural hot springs. The "Virgin", which we visited, was the bomb. It is located under the grande waterfall. Adults: $2.00 during the day, and $3.00 at night. You can stay as long as you like, and it was heavenly! Make sure you bring a bathing cap, which is required. But if you don't have one, you can buy one there for $1.50. Also, we were advised to go during the week, since weekends at the public baths are...

I traveled to Banos with a group of friends in March of 2004. I remember Hostal el Eden as a good deal. I may be mistaken, but I think they might have charged $7 per head. Or maybe it was $7 total, but it's still a great deal in either case. Nothing fancy, but clean, and they had hot water.||I heard from a few people that, while Banos is a popular resort town among all Ecuadorians, it's particularly popular among young adults who are looking for a romantic getaway away from their parents in the city. I'm not sure how true that is, but the walls are pretty thin, and the night before I arrived, my friends were complaining of the evening noises coming from a nearby room. For this reason, this hostal may not be for you if you want a quieter stay (or are bringing children)--or if you want more privacy for yourself.||There's a shared walkway from room to room. We stayed on the second floor, and the walkway is nice to hang out on if you want to look out over the town and surrounding mountains. Also, the showers have VERY hot water (no need to worry about freezing), but they don't have any type of racks inside, so you have to put your toiletries on the floor. The room I stayed in had a small night table, as well as a TV affixed to the wall somewhere up near the cieling. A decent value for an overnight stay, but I would probably look for another place if I were going to stay...

The Hostal El Eden is listed as a mid-price place by the Lonely Planet Ecuador guidebook, and I stayed there one night in Feb 2006. I had room 10 (up one flight) from ground floor . . . small room w/double bed, tv, bath w/fair shower. Rate: $7 inc. taxes.||Two problems . . . when I asked about the nearest laundry, they said they would do it . . . they returned my clothes still damp and with brown spots all over them that were not there originally. And, that night, a pipe under my sink started leaking. They were not concerned and said, "Manaña." Not only did I have a VERY wet floor but I had to listen to drip, drip, drip all night.||So, the next morning, I decided to spend some extra bucks and move "up town" . . . to the Hostal La Flor de Oriente . . . $10/night and that inc. taxes AND breakfast! Got to love Baños!||El Eden is in a good location (but so is everyplace . . . Baños is s-m-a-l-l)! I might stay there again but I would want a better shower and a dry floor . . . have to admit, though, the price was right!||Sandy...