Casa del Árbol swing (Swing at the End of the World)
At 2,600 metres on the eastern flank of Tungurahua volcano, a wooden swing hangs from a treehouse on a steel-reinforced frame and points out over nothing — or what looks like nothing until the clouds part and the valley floor appears far below. The swing itself is modest: rope, a plank, a concrete runway to push off from. The drama is entirely geological.
Carlos Sánchez built the treehouse to watch the volcano. His family added the swing for weekend visits. A photographer came, then a National Geographic award in 2014, then the internet, and now you queue behind people from six continents for roughly ten minutes on a plank.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to do it on a Tuesday, before 9 a.m., when the Runtun bus is half-empty and the mist is still low. Order coffee at Café del Cielo before the swing, not after — the view over Baños town from the terrace is quieter than the swing platform, and almost nobody lingers there.
The story behind Casa del Árbol swing (Swing at the End of the World)
In 1999, Tungurahua erupted after decades of dormancy. Carlos Sánchez, a volunteer with the Military Geographical Institute, built a small treehouse high on the volcano's flank to monitor seismic activity. On family weekends, he hung a swing from a branch for his grandchildren.
Sometime around 2010–2012, photos of the swing — with Tungurahua's smoking crater filling the background — started circulating online. In 2014, one image won a National Geographic award and the site became a fixture of travel feeds worldwide. The original tree could no longer bear the load; the structure was rebuilt on steel beams and a second swing added. Sánchez still keeps 200-page guest books. His granddaughters run the ticket booth; his son operates the zipline.
Good to know
Blue buses marked 'Runtun' or 'Casa del Árbol' leave Baños four or five times daily ($2–3 round trip, 30 minutes). A taxi runs $3–4. Entry is $1. Opens at 07h00; mid-week mornings are the least crowded. Bring cash — no cards accepted on site.
The clearest skies tend to fall between June and September, the drier months in the highlands. Afternoons bring cloud cover year-round, so mornings give you the best chance of seeing Tungurahua unobscured. No visit is guaranteed cloud-free, and some people find the mist adds to it.
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What travellers say about Casa del Árbol swing (Swing at the End of the World)
The truth is. YOU MUST GO HERE! Such a cute place with a special atmosphere. Huge amount of hummingbirds in the many beautiful flowers. The swing was so fun - like a roller-coaster haha. It was cloudy and foggy when we went, but nonetheless cool. The entrance fee is symbolic low (THANKS🙏😍)
We had an absolutely wonderful morning at Casa del Árbol; nestled right by the volcano, the views are breathtaking, with lush greenery, open trails, and the majestic volcano looming in the background—perfect for capturing some stunning photos (we took dozens!). It's wonderfully pet-friendly, with plenty of space for dogs to roam and explore safely. Our dog absolutely loved it, running around with so much joy and energy the whole time. Highly recommend visiting in the morning when the light is soft, the air is fresh, and crowds are minimal. We had a great time and left feeling refreshed and relaxed. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! 🐶🌋📸
When you think of Baños, the first image that comes to mind is undoubtedly Casa del Árbol. Nestled high up in the mountains overlooking the town, this tiny treehouse welcomes travelers from all over the world with its legendary El Columpio del Fin del Mundo (The Swing at the End of the World). Located about 15 km from the town center, you can easily reach Casa del Árbol via local shuttles, buses, or organized tours. The entrance fee to the area is only 1 USD. While the site looks quite modest at first glance, you understand exactly why it is so popular the moment you sit on the swing. Swinging out over the lush green valleys, steep mountains, and rolling clouds makes you feel as though you are flying right into thin air. If the sky is clear and luck is on your side during your visit to Casa del Árbol, you might even catch a glimpse of the active Tungurahua Volcano, the dramatic backdrop of Banos. Tip: On the way up to Casa del Árbol, you’ll spot several other swings along the ridges. These canyon-facing swings are also highly adventurous and offer an incredible adrenaline rush.
This place is great, only $1 entry and you get to use the swings, tree house etc the cafe food and drinks are really reasonably priced, toilets available. There was heaps of birds, the place is maintained extremely well, it looked immaculate when we went. You can see the volcano Tunguharua as well. The staff were polite and helpful. There is much more to do here and it was easy to get via a taxi (cost us $4 from way in town).
Fun little spot on the edge of Baños. They had a beautiful flower walk and the views were awesome. We especially loved the swing! Pay the guy $1 and he'll push you to the edge!!!
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