Balneario Aguas Hediondas

Near the northern Ecuadorian city of Tulcán, in the highland province of Carchi, the Balneario Aguas Hediondas carries a candid name — literally "stinking waters" — that speaks frankly to the strong sulfurous character of its natural springs. Far from deterring visitors, this directness signals the geological authenticity of a site fed by deep volcanic activity beneath the Ecuadorian Andes, within sight of the snow-capped peaks that define this high-altitude borderland.

The water surfaces at 42 °C with a mildly acidic pH of 6.5, its pronounced mineral presence creating a bathing experience that feels elemental and unfiltered. Against the cool air of the Andean plateau — where temperatures drop sharply even on sunny afternoons — the warm, sulfur-rich water provides a contrast that generations of local bathers have found restorative. The site retains the unpretentious character of a community bathing spot, making it an honest and memorable stop on the road between Quito and the Colombian border.