Day 133: Banos, Ecuador
Heading to Banos was a change of pace for traveling; while we loved the jungle tour, most people come to Banos for the spa treatments. On our first day we had already taken advantage of the cheap massages and facials; we had discovered the hostel jacuzzi but what really intrigued us was Hostal Chimeneas‘ in-house steam baths, particularly as the day was a bit cold and rainy and we weren’t brave enough to venture to the thermal pools in cold weather.
An hour long steambath sounded perfect for a lazy afternoon but we realized that we had no idea what a steam bath entailed, it’s not simply sitting in a steamed room for an hour but jumping into a box of steam. And that’s only the beginning, Veronica, from our hostel, timed us so that every five minutes we got out of our little box to wash ourselves down with ice cold water.
After 45 minutes of the hot/cold torture treatment, which Veronica seemed to enjoy a bit too much, she told us we just had one more left. We jumped out of the steambath one final time and she hosed us down for 5 minutes with more ice cold water.
Afterwards we moisturized and our skin was feeling rejuvenated after the torture treatment for a bargain price of $3.50 each.
I'm Ayngelina and in my mid-thirties. I left an amazing job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America. I'm creating a new life choosing what I want instead of what other people think I should do.
Ahhh, so jealous! I bet your skin was amazing after that!
We can think of two other things to do in a place named Banos.
@The Jetpacker
Well it’s about time someone brought potty humour to my blog
Wow, what a wonderful thing to do together!Well, maybe not the cold water part!!Ha Ha
How fun!! And horrible at the same time.
I love random spa treatments – especially when they’re cheap!! I tried a body wrap in Cozumel and it was weird but fun. 
@Andi @Ann @Krista
After 5 months of travel my skin was in a horrible state. The cold water wasn’t fun at all but my skin felt amazing afterwards.
OMG, that picture of the two of you in the boxes, with just your heads showing? Priceless!
This was a combo of pleasure and pain…and alot of laughing……