Hotel Donde Marcelo

Hotel Donde Marcelo is a budget-minded choice in Banos, the sort of place that suits travellers who plan to be out of the room from morning until dusk. Ecuador's adventure capital is built around activity: rafting on the Pastaza, canyoning in the side valleys, cycling the Route of the Waterfalls and walking up to viewpoints above town. If your plan is to fill the days with those, a simple hotel at a modest price is often the smartest use of money, leaving more to spend on tours, thermal baths and good meals. A low-cost hotel is not about extras. It is about a clean bed, a private or shared bathroom as described, reliable hot water and a location that makes getting around easy. Facilities and room types differ, so check when you book whether the room has a private bathroom, whether breakfast is included and what the arrangements are for early departures. Be realistic about the standard, too: rooms at the budget end tend to be small, walls can be thin and heating is often limited, though blankets are usually provided for the cooler nights.

Location and noise are the main things to weigh. Banos has a busy centre with restaurants, bars and tour agencies, and staying close means short walks to everything. The trade-off is sound after dark, especially at weekends. If you sleep lightly, request a room away from the street and bring earplugs, which cost almost nothing and can transform a night. Staying a few blocks out is often quieter and still convenient, since the town is small enough that nothing is far.

Budget travellers often use a place like this as a base for a short run of days. A typical plan might be one day on the waterfall road with a stop at the famous bridge swings, one day for rafting or canyoning, and a rest evening at the thermal baths. Because tour agencies sit on almost every central street, you can compare prices and itineraries on foot, and many will pick you up from your door. Ask the front desk for recommendations, but do compare a couple of options before paying.

A few habits help on a tight budget. Eat the set lunch known as almuerzo at a local restaurant, which is typically the best-value meal of the day, and try the sweet taffy and fresh sugarcane juice the town is known for. Carry cash in small notes, since some small businesses do not take cards.

Keep valuables out of sight, use any lock or safe the hotel provides and store luggage at the front desk on tour days. Book ahead for holiday weekends, when prices rise and rooms vanish, and consider a midweek stay if your dates are flexible, since it is quieter and cheaper.