Pailón del Diablo
The name came first — Pailón del Diablo, the Devil's Cauldron — coined by a local man named Angel Lascano in the 1940s, a name so vivid it got him in trouble with the parish priest. Standing in front of the falls, you understand the instinct. The Río Verde drops eighty metres into the Pastaza in a continuous white roar, close enough that the mist soaks your clothes within minutes.
This is Ecuador's largest waterfall now — a title it inherited only after San Rafael Falls collapsed in 2020. It sits twenty minutes from Baños on the road to Puyo, near the small town of Río Verde, and it can be visited in half an hour or all day.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to pay the extra $2 after dark, when coloured lights hit the cascade and the whole canyon does something unexpected. They also learn to visit the short route first — the two asymmetrical suspension bridges on the Baños side give you the full eighty-metre drop in one unbroken view — then decide whether the longer lower route is worth a second ticket.
The story behind Pailón del Diablo
For most of the twentieth century, Pailón del Diablo was difficult to reach — poor roads kept it largely local knowledge. The city of Baños de Agua Santa changed that in the 1940s by funding a suspension bridge across the Pastaza, built mainly to move produce to market but offering, as a side effect, the first reliable glimpse of the falls.
The place as visitors know it today took shape in the 1990s. Wilo Guevara bought land on the Puyo side from his father-in-law and spent years developing it into a tourist centre called Pailón Grieta al Cielo, which opened in 2008. Around the same time, a Quiteño named Donald Wolfram acquired land on the Baños side and built the shorter route — Cascada El Pailón — that gives the panoramic view most photographs are taken from.
Good to know
Buses from Baños run to Puyo every fifteen to thirty minutes for $1 each way; trucks wait near the yellow bridge for the return at $2.50 per person. The two entrances have no internal connection — if you want both perspectives, you pay twice. Budget at least an hour for the upper platform.
The canyon stays wet regardless of season — the mist from the falls is constant and reaches far. Rain is possible year-round in Tungurahua Province; a light waterproof layer matters more than timing your visit to a dry month.
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What travellers say about Pailón del Diablo
This is a one in a lifetime place to visit. Very unique and connected with nature. Its a rather tough climb on your knees with stone roads and slippery dirt paths, so come with adequate footwear. Its a very imposing place, a good 2-3 hour visit with its fair share of exercise. You can always take the short path to Bruma coffee shop and enjoy an excellent view of the waterfall while sipping down a cup of coffee
What an incredible spot! The Pailon del Diablo view is absolutely breathtaking—powerful waterfall surrounded by lush greenery and misty air that makes everything feel magical. We captured some gorgeous photos along the trail, and the scenery just doesn’t disappoint. The park is very pet-friendly, and our dog had a fantastic time exploring the paths, and enjoying the fresh outdoor vibes right alongside us. The main trail was excellent—well-maintained, scenic, and a joy to hike. Only a bit of a wait in line at the cafeteria Bruma, but it was worth it and didn’t take away from the overall experience. Highly recommend this place for a refreshing day out with family and pets. Wear light clothes; the hike can be a bit rough for older people and little kids. Go early to beat any lines and enjoy the peaceful morning atmosphere! But they are open till 10pm; I heard it's romantic at night 🐶💦🌿
The whole adventure was just incredible. You get this awesome walk through nature on the way down, which is totally worth it. And when you finally arrive, it's just breathtakingly beautiful there. Imagine standing right at the base of that roaring cascade, feeling the spray on your face. It was an unbelievable experience, truly magical. You even get to crawl through some amazing spots to get closer. The sheer power and beauty of it all were absolutely breathtaking. You won't believe how close you can get to nature's spectacle.
The place has two independent entrances. Short one from the top, long one from the bottom, which is quite a hike up afterwards and has a challenging approach thru extremely narrow passageway. This is unsuitable for people that are larger or fear small places. The views are beautiful from both sides.
We’ve seen many popular waterfalls but this still exceeded our expectations! Access is wonderfully designed with a sloped pedestrian suspension bridge and steep steps that get you right up next to the powerful falls.
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