(3000 years bc) A dormant volcano that bisects the valleys of Quito, full of ancient stories and evidence of local life of Tumbaco's valley through Ruta Viva highway.
Very close to Quito or the airport; in north/east direction the jungle starts! Napo province is the one that connects Quito to the begining of the amazonas forest, and water reserve that supplies this valuable resource to the hole city!
We will pass through the town of Papallacta showing the Sierra / Amazon climate change, as well as being the center of trade for their products. If we are lucky and it is not cloudy we will be able to see the Papallacta Lagoon on the way, which is the main source of water for the city of Quito. They also have good food options if you want to have lunch or buy any product. It depends on visiting hours so if it is of interest, let me know in advance.
After an hour and a half of travel, we arrive at the Papallacta hot springs. Where the magic happens! Feel the powerful sulfuric water! Rainwater infiltrated into the Chacana volcanic caldera, where they acquire heat energy, magma, and their mineral-medicinal priorities. Restart muscles, improve blood pressure, skin, and relaxing properties, being the perfect solution for traveler's body well-being! I am in charge of letting you know the facilities as well as giving you recommendations, I can also enter the pool with you and so we chat for a moment. (pay on-site) $24
Or depending on the agreed place to drop you off, I return to Quito in a relaxed way with good music and always looking for comfort.
I had a wonderful day of promenade and relax with Daniel. He is a well-informed, diligent and nice guide, and the trip was perfect. We had first an stimulating ride to Papallacta crossing through very high mountains, then a exciting walk around La Isla path, and finally I had three hours of a relaxing bath and massage at the tidy spa. It could not be a better excursion.
Daniel’s tours are fantastic. His knowledge and passion for Ecuador are clear, his suggestions were perfect for us and he tailored the tour to suit our needs and interests. The spa and pools were beautiful and I highly recommend this luxurious experience.
I had a great experience during my tour to Papallacta. Daniel organised everything for myself, picked me up from my hotel and drop me off at the end of the tour. He explained all details of the Spa to me and advised what I should take with me. I had a great day - thank you!
Great relaxing day at the thermal springs, exactly what the trip promised. Daniel was amazing - Very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable, happy to answer all our questions. He gave us a really nice experience and so much information about Ecuador! Highly recommend :)
Daniel was very knowledgeable and easy to converse with!! He brought positive energy and great recommendations outside of the tour. We would highly recommend going to Papallacta with him and any other tours he offers
Daniel was an exceptional guide. He made certain that we had a good understanding of the layout and services provided at the thermal springs. During the journey I was informative about what we were seeing and Ecuador as a whole. It was an enjoyable, relaxing day.
This was a wonderful day trip from Quito and was so relaxing on our last day after 2 weeks of non-stop activity. The hot springs were very relaxing and there were many affordable services at the spa. Daniel was a wonderful driver with a clean vehicle, thought of our needs and even had a specialized playlist. He was a great conversationalist and knowledgeable about Ecuador. Highly recommend this trip
Our tour to Papallacta’s Thermal Springs with Daniel was truly outstanding. He arrived in a clean, new and comfortable vehicle that made the journey even more enjoyable. Daniel is friendly, knowledgeable and full of great suggestions and information. Highly recommended!!
Such a beautiful place to relax before my long flight home. The springs were clean and hot with a cold plunge pool. The setting was beautiful with mountains all around. The spa is lovely with very attentive staff and the facial treatment I had was very nice. Daniel was able to pick me up from my hotel and was very helpful and friendly. He is a great driver!
We had a fabulous relaxing day at the Papallacta Thermal Spa! The hot tubs, massage and lunch were perfect in every way. Daniel was a wonderful tour guide. He shared his knowledge and love of Ecuador and Quito as well as recommendations for our visit. We hope to revisit some day and will reach out to him to guide us on an immersive cultural tour.
While visiting Quito in Jan 2025, I hired Daniel to take me out to Papallacta Thermal Springs. Every aspect of this tour was positive. Hotel pickup was punctual, in a well-maintained new vehicle. Along the route Daniel explained the different elevations we were passing through and the variety of plants and animals from each. A nice touch was soothing local music in the car, perfect for a spa day. When we arrived at the thermal springs, he helped me with the check in process, and allowed me all the the time I wanted to enjoy the thermal springs. Definitely choose the spa option, it is $24, more expensive than general admission, but worth it. It is a secluded area with several pools, all at different temperatures. When I was finished, he was waiting for me for the return back to Quito. In all it was a great overall experience, and nice contrast from the bustle of the city. I highly recommend Daniel and this tour.
Daniel was a knowledgeable and excellent guide for the region. We went through the Andes mountains and I spent half a day at the volcanic spa before heading back to London. Highly recommend Daniel .
We had an 8 hour flight layover and found this as something to do. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was incredible! The thermal springs are so inexpensive but incredible. We also book a massage that was amazing. Daniel picked us up from the airport timely, had snacks for us and got us back safely and on time. Amazing experience to do while in Ecuador.
Papallacta is an incredible place with relaxing thermal springs. I went and stayed for a few hours at the springs, followed by an amazing massage. My tour guide, Daniel, was amazing and so incredible knowledgeable about his country, Ecuador. I would highly recommend this trip with Daniel as your guide!
Daniel picked us up from our hotel and whisked us through Quito to our rural destination of Papallacta Termal Springs. A fabulous experience to rest and rejuvenate on our last day in Ecuador. Every aspect of our outing was perfect from the guiding expertise of Daniel to the facilities at the Springs. We indulged in the hot springs and their beautiful gardens/grounds, a full body massage in their spa & had lovely refreshments at their restaurant.
My driver/ Guide Daniel Mucasel was excellent New clean suv prompt, on time very good English, excellent knowledge.
Papallacta is a wonderful place. We took a much-needed break from back to back tours to relax for the day and it was incredible. Daniel is an excellent guide who pays much attention to detail. He has a special playlist for this tour, is super knowledgeable about the areas you pass through, and even had local snacks ready for us when we were heading back from the hot springs. He helps you get acquainted with the place and gives you all the advice needed to make the most of your day. I'd highly recommend you check out the hot springs and the many spa treatments they have available. Thank you Daniel for a lovely day!
This was one of the best activities I’ve done abroad. The destination was amazing and I’ll definitely be back. A private massage is a must. Even more pleasant was getting to the destination. My guide, Daniel, was excellent. His knowledge of the area and history of Quito and Ecuador was mind blowing. He was the kind of guy you could imagine wanting to hang out with. He made the trip five times more exciting. The vehicle was spotless and new and nothing was forgotten in the planning of the day. Bottled water, a little chocolate treat from a local vendor and an thorough explanation of what to expect at the Thermals. Bar none, the best excursion I’ve take on any trip. Left me wanting more culture and history. Will definitely call upon Daniel with MufiTours for any trips in Quito. Deserves a 10 srmrar rating. Superior service.
Papallacta is a fun and relaxing day trip from Quito, including a beautiful drive there and back. Daniel was an excellent tour guide - he was flexible to our needs, and the drive to Papallacta was a great opportunity to learn from him on Ecuadorian culture, history, and politics. Highly recommend!
The tour was amazing. Daniel was a fantastic guide and I really enjoyed visiting Papallacta. If you're looking for a tour guide in the area I highly recommend!
Transport only but very knowledgeable guide, with lots of useful info but also context of Ecuador. Guide also took us to see the angel on the hill which wasn’t part of the tour which was great. Hot springs good, get there early as you get the place to yourself for an hour.
Daniel did such a good job! He is very knowledgeable about Ecuador and the culture. You can tell he is very passionate about his work. I definitely recommend booking with him.
Great day and excellent service from Daniel. He was on time pickup and great conversation on the drive to the spa. Spa itself is better than the pictures, surrounding mountain and nature are really beautiful and the spa pools are comfortable/very relaxing. Breakfast at the cafe (mole and club sandwich) were very good too. Definitely recommend using Daniel for this trip!
I had a great day with Daniel! Pick up was easy and he had so much knowledge to share on the hour and a half scenic drive to the Papallacta hot springs. He waited while I went to the spa (as a solo traveler). It was wonderful there, so relaxing and I was even able to schedule a massage because I got there when they opened at 9am. We ate lunch at a nice spot down the street, and he suggested some spots back in Quito for shopping before my late night flight, and he dropped me off there. Very flexible and chill, I highly recommend, especially for the last day of your trip!
Daniel was great! Friendly, very knowledgeable, open to changes to plans and accommodating. I would highly recommend a private tour with his local knowledge and love for Ecuador!
Papallacta is amazing and Daniel was truly awesome! Safe Door to door service as advertised with stops and some basic requests as needed and great info about the area and Ecuador itself. Daniel is super friendly, easygoing, knowledgeable, worldly, trustworthy and fun. I had a limited amount of time that didn’t match up to most other tours and I am SO happy I made the choice to go with Daniel and to Papallacta. It’s def a can’t miss spot when you’re in Quito and Daniel’s service made it easy, relaxing and enjoyable to get there and back. As a solo female traveller I’m very particular with what I book and it was a great decision and experience . Would def book him again next time I’m in Ecuador, feels like you’re traveling with a good friend. Thanks again!!
Daniel (and his car George) was the man! Picked me up right on time, He's a fountain of information about Quito, the culture of Ecuador, the Andean people, music, religion, politics...if you want to know more about it, Daniel can help. He even knows a lot about trout in the mountains...they do not live in ugly places ;-). The termas were beautiful and really relaxing. Daniel and I took a hike up to some waterfalls that were really beautiful as well. Also...his English is better than mine, and he let me practice Espanol without embarrassing me. Highly recommend!
Daniel is a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and accommodating. The hot springs are beautiful and relaxing, definitely recommend!
Daniel is a great guide, very knowledgeable about Quito and about local history, and was very flexible and accommodating to be sure that I was getting the best experience possible. Definitely recommend booking with him!
Excellent guide Daniel from Mufi tours - professional, knowledgable and fully fluent in English. Shared so much extra information which was interesting - love the visit to the thermal springs
Daniel is a fantastic professional guide who is different from others operating in Ecuador. He is fully fluent in English and has a unique international outlook which gives him confidence to present a different excursion for his clients. Readily capable of creating a beautiful experience for those on vacation, those with specific interests and corporate visitors - he quickly recognises his client's needs. Highly recommended
Papallacta termales at night is awesome! The Pools and all the place is very Clean and super modern. The most exciting termal bath I have ever been to. Daniel is a super driver and relaxed Tour Guide. Always felt very Safe and comfortable with him.
My tour guide was amazing, he was prompt in picking me up from the airport, He provided me with breakfast and made great conversations in the car. The drive was very scenic, with great views of the mountains and greenery. Despite me not feeling well throughout the day, he ensured I had a great time. He even took me to el mitad del Mundo and the museum which was not part of this tour’s itinerary. I highly recommend booking this for a relaxing half day !
I write this review as soak in the Termal springs. We stayed here at the resort for 2 nights, and had a wonderful time. It is a little bit pricey, but would say it’s worth it. We decided to stay here before continuing on to the Galapagos. We seemed to go through two different weather systems during our stay. For most of the stay (in early July) it was raining and cool (10C or less). But this made the thermal pools much more enjoyable. As I write this review, the sun has come out, and seems a little uncomfortable (as in too hot), between the sun and hot pools. The breakfasts that were included were enjoyable and plentiful. The hiking paths to the park was scenic. It is quite the hike up just to get to the beginning of the park. We tried to get guides, but they would not book us with rain in the forecast. So we just went on our own. The scenery of the thermal springs is beautiful. I’m specifically referring to the pools around the resort rooms for guest. We did not even bother to use the other areas of the property where people pay for day service (e.g., not overnight guests). The day use areas looked nice, but not as serene as the private room areas. Also, the day use area got busy, including with families and kids. I would imagine the weekends get too busy. There are plenty of restaurants right outside of the Termas property, at a fraction of the price at the Termas restaurant. We ate at those places during our stay, and they were great. Note that there are no televisions in the rooms. And when it gets to single digit temperatures, you can request a space heater, which worked great. Otherwise, your room will not be heated.
Andres was our guide for this trip as Daniel was having car troubles. Andres was very fun and informative. On the way to Papallacta he made a few stops for us to take pictures of Cotopaxi/Antisana volcanos and a lake closer to Papallacta. He was very accommodating and told us to take as much time as we wanted at the hot springs. We each got a super relaxing massage and had beers in their restaurant. Then of course the thermal baths were amazing! We spent a few hours trying the various temperatures and had a really great day. Andres found a local place for us to have chicken soup for lunch, and he gave us samples of local chocolates as well. I would highly recommend this affordable private tour!
Daniel was great! Very informative and a pleasure to be around. He brought us to the hot springs (which is a must) and had the best massage of all time. Fanny was my girl - literally amazing.
This was a last minute decision when we had an open day on our Quito trip, and it was absolutely perfect. Our guide was incredibly friendly, helpful, and informative, as well as being an excellent driver. Thanks so much to Danielle for setting us up with Andrés on such last minute notice! The thermal baths themselves are beautifully designed, tranquil and relaxing, located in a spectacular cloud forest valley, and are popular with people of all ages. Highly, highly recommended day trip from Quito!
I love Daniel. He actually became a good friend. The spa is breath taking and I highly recommend for anyone who is visiting
This was an outstanding trip! Our guide Daniel, and his car George, were wonderful! Daniel was very professional and provided a lot of information about Quito and the surrounding area. The hot springs were amazing! Heaven on Earth! The massages were amazing and the thermal pools were so relaxing. You must do the cold pool, too! It was a great experience all around!!
Daniel was a knowledgeable and friendly guide who know the best places to take us. He was easy going despite it being a very long day. I highly recommend his services. Daniel fue un guía amable y conocedor que conoce los mejores lugares para llevarnos. Fue tranquilo a pesar de ser un día muy largo. Realmente recomiendo sus servicios.
Daniel was so kind, considerate and quirky and made me and my 2 friends feel welcomed and safe. He was always communicating with us and it was a blast. We also met reliable George (His car :D) it was so fun. I definitely recommend Daniel and this tour for one of your days in ECUADOR. He picked us up from our airbnb and we headed out from there. Here’s some tips: 1. The spa was incredibly relaxing. We booked spa services in advance! You HAVE TO BOOK IN ADVANCE. GO TO THE WEBSITE OF THE HOT SPRINGS AND EMAIL THEM!! THEY ALWAYS HAVE SPOTS AVAILABLE AND BOOK EVERYTHING YOU WANT. We booked a deep body massage and a wine wrap and god…it was blissful. Daniel recommended we jump into the polar ice pool for blood circulation and skin benefits…you bet I did. Three times! It was great! 2. Clothing: Papallacta is chilly! Bring your swimwear underneath your clothes for an easy start. Bottoms: So bring leggings, sweats or joggers. Tops: Bikini or swim wear underneath your sweatshirt or hoodie. Shoes: sneakers will do and bring Sandals for the spa. 3. PACK THESE: - Towels -Extra pair of clothes (after showering at the SPA) pants, tops, socks, shoes. - lotion! - a hair spray for the gals ( a mousse or styling leave in conditioner) -chapstick or lip tint fo the gals. -water, Gatorade, snacks!! (TRUST ME) The spa has towels for you, but they work on tabs (as in you have a tab for thing you get if you do get any) we wanted the towel robes but they only rent them for about $6. They have sandals and swim wear too.
Daniel is an amazing person and knows a lot about the history and culture of Quito. The hot springs is a MUST. They are gorgeous! Next time I will stay there!
Daniel was a great guide and the drive from Quito was beautiful. The thermal springs and spa itself were amazing! I did the 45 min deep body massage and I highly recommend. If you go on a weekend, I would recommend leaving early, Daniela will work with you to figure out what time you want to leave and how long you want to stay, he is very flexible. If you're interested in Spa treatments, I would schedule them in advance or as soon as you arrive so that you can get the time slot you want. I waited a few hours and it started to get a little more crowded (not full but there were others there) and I hate to wait til the afternoon for my massage. Overall, it was a very relaxing day.
Daniel is an excellent guide and puts out 100% to please his clients. I had a wonderful time at the Thermal springs which is truly amazing.
Daniel was very communicative. He made sure that he picked me up right in front of my hotel. Extremely friendly, professional, knowledgeable and very willing to accommodate me. He picked me up exactly the time allotted, he took all the precautionary steps as far as wearing masks and using hand sanitizer. We drove about an hour and once at the springs, they let him in thankfully for I was traveling alone and kept me great company. he gracefully waited for me as I got my mud treatment, also entertained me by taking pictures of myself for my page. After we were done he took me to one of his favorite local spots for lunch. Fresh grilled trout with rice, french fries and side salad. Delicious! we drove about the same time returning but took me on a scenic route back, and drop me off right in front of my appointment location. I definitely would recommend this tour to everyone.
This place was amazing, as was Daniel. He did exactly as we asked and couldn't have had a better time. Definitely recommend!
Daniel is a great guide, knowledgeable about its history and customs; the way he teaches makes you truly immerse yourself in Ecuador. Thank you very much
There was no stay in Papallacta as stated in the tour description. In the end, it was a transfer from Quito and back. I expected more from the tour. The thermal baths are great. It was super relaxing. Unfortunately, it was so cold that I couldn't enjoy a break on the loungers, and unfortunately, there was no opportunity to relax indoors. I think that one should try to get to the thermal baths in a less expensive way.
in this agency I look for a chollo.com I made a reservation of a travel package on January 6th on the 8th of the same month I made a request to change dates of the 16th of the same month, and they answer me that said change has a cost of 360€, I speak with customer service and it is as if the party was not with it they do not care, considering that the documentation of flights and accommodation send them 48 hours before the trip , it seems to me a scam, and little empathy with the customer, I will never book with it again.
Recommended 10/10. If you prefer a private tour, the tour included a visit to the Papallacta hot springs, a truly magical and relaxing place in the Ecuadorian jungle. The car was completely clean and included a sample of high-quality Ecuadorian chocolate! The best part was the guide, Daniel, who not only guided me safely and played great music, but also explained the entire Ecuadorian culture to me with great passion and knowledge. He also took me to try typical food from the country, which was delicious. A 100% recommended experience!
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