Located four hours by road from Quito, Banos offers hot springs, a perpetually mild climate, a pleasant atmosphere and a great location, completely surrounded by mountains. Midweek, Baños is a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity. However, on weekends and holidays, Baños explodes with tourists from all over the world and becomes a lively town with all kinds of street vendors and tables spilling out of cafes onto sidewalks. Locals arrive to Baños to immerse in the curative natural hot springs and to pay respects to the Lady of Holy Water. Try the sugarcane juice, fresh toffee and "firewater" sold everywhere. Baños is built on the shelf under the steep slopes of the Tungurahua volcano.