Private Full Day Experience at Papallacta Hot Springs

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Quito, Ecuador

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

7 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Cori_O ·

Dec 2025

The drive to the hot springs is very scenic, the grounds were beautiful, and the spa was a nice add on. Andrés was the best guide and an excellent driver. He knew all the spots for great photos and the best place for a delicious lunch on the way back. I would highly recommend this trip with Andrés as your guide.

· Emily_S ·

Sep 2025

This was a great trip. My child and I didn’t feel rushed while we were at the hot springs and the place we visited for lunch was delicious. They were even able to accommodate my picky child who does not care for seafood and he ended up with an equally tasty seco de pollo.

Overview

What's Included

Private transportation
guide

Lunch
Gratuities
Entrance fee - Entry

$24.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We will communicate by WhatsApp to give basic instructions before the start of the tour and to coordinate the meeting point. The tour is done by private transport, in a white Chevrolet Grand Vitara with all the biosecurity measures. It is suggested to go with comfortable clothes and a jacket for the cold, sunscreen is also necessary, even if there is no sun it is recommended to use it and water to hydrate.

What To Expect

Termas de Papallacta

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Transportation is wheelchair accessible

Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Elizabeth_C

Andres was a good driver and answered all our queries. We stopped in a couple of mirador areas. Beautiful. The Termas springs was a relaxing experience.

Reviews

5.0

based on 48 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great experience with hot...

Eugene_C, Apr 2026

Great experience with hot springs, very relaxing. The dinner at local restaurant was fantastic ! Simple bur bur very tasty. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks Eugene!

Relaxing day with a phenomenal guide

Kimberly_R, Apr 2026

Day 2 in Quito and we chose the full day experience at Papallacta Hot Springs. Shortly after booking, Andrés was in contact to introduce himself and provided us with what we needed for the visit. The night before he provided the pick up time. On the day of the trip he promptly arrived to our hotel and we were on our way. He provided insights about Quito, his home since he was born. Our trip through the Andes to get to Papallacta was stunning. We were very lucky when Andrés spotted a bear and cubs. We stopped for some photos and then on our way. After arriving to the Hot Springs, we scheduled our spa treatments (which were awesome) and then spent time in the thermal pools and cold pool. Upon leaving, Andrés took us to a local family restaurant (Casita de Palo) he and his family had visited. My wife had the chicken soup, I had trout and we shared a Pilsner. We lucked out once again because there were some local friends playing music and singing. What a pleasant surprise and enjoyable late lunch. We left full and arrived back to the hotel about 7 and 1/2 hours after the day began. Andrés was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, easy to talk to and his English is spectacular. He never rushed us at the hot springs and because of this he made the day a total enjoyment. Can’t recommend him enough. We’ll definitely be in touch with him should we return to Quito.

Andres was a good driver...

Elizabeth_C, Mar 2026

Andres was a good driver and answered all our queries. We stopped in a couple of mirador areas. Beautiful. The Termas springs was a relaxing experience.

Andres was an absolutely...

Shanthi_M, Dec 2025

Andres was an absolutely wonderful guide for my visit to the Papallacta Hot Springs. He reached out to me three days in advance to introduce himself, which immediately put me at ease and showed his professionalism. On the day of the trip, he was right on time for pickup and throughout the day was incredibly sweet, warm, and easy to talk to. He took amazing photos of me at the hot springs and never made me feel rushed. I had prearranged a massage and body wrap, and Andres was so patient and relaxed about timing—I never once felt stressed or hurried, which made the entire experience even more enjoyable. He is an excellent and safe driver, and what truly set him apart was how caring and attentive he was beyond the tour itself. When I became anxious about finding a taxi for my very early 4:15 a.m. airport ride, Andres went out of his way to arrange transportation for me, giving me complete peace of mind. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Andres is kind, professional, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about his guests. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a seamless and memorable experience in Ecuador.

Great trip to beautiful hot springs

Cori_O, Dec 2025

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thanks Cori!!

Great escape from Quito

Myron_M, Nov 2025

I had a fun morning tour to the Papallacta hot springs with Andrés! He was an awesome communicator, he was knowledgeable, and he was gracious enough to take pictures while we were at the spa. He also took me to a local restaurant for lunch where we had caldo de gallina.

Must do tour if you’re in Quito

Matthew_G, Nov 2025

My wife and I had a layover in Quito before we went to the Galapagos. We had a long travel day the day before and needed to get acclimated to the elevation. We HIGHLY recommend this spa day tour with Andres. You get a local’s perspective of the whole area and the thermal baths exceeded our expectations. We got massages that we booked as soon as we got there so no need to book ahead and we went on a Saturday. After the spa, Andres brought us to a local lunch spot called Mí casita de palo. We got the chicken soup and fried trout. Before lunch we got a quick tour of the farm where they have sheep, chickens, and farmed trout. We saw the cook/farmer catch the trout and fried it on the spot. Everything was delicious. Nothing like a local meal with a local guide watching soccer in the mountains of Ecuador. Andres is the man and can’t recommend this tour enough. Thank you Andres!

Mom Approve

Djoanna_C, Nov 2025

Andres was so nice and very knowledgeable. It makes me want to visit Ecuador again and explore other regions. He let us go our own pace and we never felt rushed. The hot springs and the massage was so relaxing. He also took us to a local restaurant which I loved. He was so helpful to my mom who needed assistance. She said this was the best part of our trip so far. This is coming from a lady who is hard to please!

His was a great trip. My...

Emily_S, Sep 2025

Spectacular Tour

Natasha_B, May 2025

This made my whole trip! The Tour Company is extremely professional and organized a well thought out experience. The flexibility and attention to detail made this really standout! The staff at the Spa and Hotel were exceptional and very friendly and accommodating. The spa was a true gem. The surrounding nature trails were very well manicured. An incredible local lunch was even included at the end and the food was delicious. Thank you so much!

It was a great...

Abbey_W, Apr 2025

It was a great experience! The hot springs was so relaxing and lunch was delicious! Would recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thanks Abbey!

Excellent tour

Anita_G, Apr 2025

Andrés was a great tour guide and our trip to Papallacta Hot Springs was a lot of fun. On our way to the hot springs, he stopped at a little stand for Helados de Salcedo, a delicious ice cream treat very popular in Ecuador. Papallacta was a wonderful, relaxing experience after our long travel to Quito. There were multiple pools at the Hot Springs, all at varying temperatures. The scenery around Papallacta was stunning with the steep Andes and beautiful flora. We also had the hot stones massages. They were great! The best massage I’ve ever had and at a very reasonable price. Highly recommend the massage. We were there during the week and it was not crowded at all. Following the hot springs, we stopped at a little family-owned eatery for some delicious chicken soup. I highly recommend Andrés and this tour.

Andres is Fantastic!

rebecca_k, Feb 2025

Andres is great….knowledgeable, kind, easygoing. Nice trails outside entrance buiIding are nice. I booked my massage a day ahead (first by phone and then online). Locker is about 4’ tall. Flip flips/crocs recommended for pools bc of the mist.

Fantastic Tour & Guide (Andres)

Maria_M, Feb 2025

Our guide (Andres) was amazing!! It was like traveling with a long time friend as he provided us with an overview of Ecuador and stopped along the way so we could see various points of interest. The Papallacta Hot Springs was the best hot springs we have ever visited with five pools with varying temperatures. It was a very relaxing day which is just what we needed after a hectic day of travel to Quito. On the way back to our hotel Andres took us to a farm to table restaurant where we had some delicious chicken soup and rainbow trout freshly caught by the restaurant owner. My wife and I loved this tour and our guide (Andres) made the day even better!!

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thanks Scott, I really enjoyed the trip with you and Maria, it was great. Enjoy Galapagos a lot!!

It was amazing! Picked us...

Lizbeth_L, Jan 2025

It was amazing! Picked us up on time, food was very good. Highly recommended! Price well worth it for sure.

Like chilling with a friend

Emmy_P, Jan 2025

This was my first time using viator, so I was a little apprehensive, but the trip with Andres was like hanging out with a friend for the day. He is a timely and safe driver, attentive to my needs, and knowledgeable about the area. Though its an early start and a long yet scenic drive, the spa in the morning was great as we practically had the whole place to ourselves at first. Afternoon seems busy. Lunch was fresh and delicious at a cozy, local family spot. Just a note, if you book this "private" tour, you may be with one or two other people. Luckily, if you're joined by someone interesting, it makes the tour more fun. Andres answered my hundreds of questions about Ecuador with patience. The nice part about booking a tour like this instead of a bus full of people is being able to accommodate my needs with personal and specific recommendations and information. Would totally rrecommend. Thank you for this wonderful experience. (=

Nice half day trip to relax

Anastasia_L, Dec 2024

An excellent half-day trip to relax after trekking in Quilotoa and Cotopaxi. Even the road to the hot springs is stunning, making it a pleasure just to gaze out the window. Andrés was very attentive; he contacted us on WhatsApp in advance, provided recommendations on what to bring, and clarified details for lunch. Throughout the trip, he was very friendly, answered our questions, and gave us space to rest and enjoy the scenery when we wanted. For lunch, he suggested stopping by a local family’s home. While the place might not look particularly appealing, the chicken soup was the best I’ve ever had—absolutely delicious and incredibly filling for just $4. Overall, we highly recommend this tour as the perfect conclusion to your trip to Ecuador, and we strongly recommend Andrés as a guide for any of your adventures!

Very Relaxing in a beautiful location

ReginaBonnette, Jul 2024

When you come to Ecuador, this spot is a must! The hot springs are amazing and the massage was excellent. It would be sad to miss this spot!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thanks Regina!!

Lovely and relaxing

Jan_L, Mar 2024

We had a lovely time with Andres going to Papallacta. The weather was foggy and rainy, so the views along the way were not as great as expected, but that was not Andres' fault. He did an excellent job of introducing us to Papallacta and made sure we felt comfortable taking as much time as we wanted at the spa. The rain actually made the hot springs even more enjoyable, and another highlight of the trip was the lunch at a small local farm. This was a great relaxing day for us even though we would normally choose something more active.

My lead

Reza_G, Jun 2023

My lead guy was amazing , helpful, knowledgeable, professional, punctual and very friendly ! I highly recommend this tour by Andres 🤙🏻

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thanks Reza, we share a beautiful day and good experiences too!!

Great Outing topped by a Fine Dinner!

Matt_G, Jun 2023

My wife and I had a wonderful afternoon outing with Andres at Papallacta. He is a great guide. He is communicative, punctual, and has a warm personality. Everything about the trip went smoothly, just as described. We went in the afternoon ... on a Monday. The place was nearly empty, which made it feel like a private spa. We also enjoyed the dinner Andres arranged at a nearby restaurant featuring the local trout. The place doesn't look like much, but the food was good, the helpings large, and the price a hell of a lot less than at the hotel back in Quito. All in all, we had a wonderful outing and I would recommend Andres' Papallacta trip to anyone.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

We have an amazing day Matt, I really enjoyed meeting you and I´m very happy that you and your wife have a good experince.

Great experience with Andres

Simon_P, May 2023

Andres made this trip absolutely incredible. The springs were super relaxing, and easy going. Being with Andres was just like going for a fun night with a friend, except he had so much knowledge of the area and Ecuador, and GREAT dinner recommendations. Can’t wait to hang out with him more, see more of Ecuador, and keep having fun.