Baños a magical town full of legends

Baños de Agua Santa, known as the 'Little Piece of Heaven' for its breathtaking natural beauty and diverse opportunities catering to both extreme adventure enthusiasts and those seeking moments of relaxation, is immersed in a fascinating world of legends and traditions. This canton, rich in mysteries, leads us to explore the parish of Río Verde, located on the Baños-Puyo route, where local narratives intertwine to form a tapestry of captivating stories.

Among all the legends heard in the area, the most well-known is that of the "Sanctuary of the Virgin of Baños." According to the legend, one night, the church sacristan in Baños witnessed a small statue of the Virgin moving in the air, accompanied by two beautiful youths, descending towards a spring flowing from the mountain. As the event repeated several times, the parish priest and the faithful gathered in the chapel to ask the Virgin to reveal her intentions.

The following night, the Virgin appeared and asked the priest to build a chapel next to the spring, promising the healing of lepers who bathed in the waters. The construction was carried out, and when it was time to transfer the image to the new temple, the priest and the faithful found that it had disappeared.

Some time later, a mule arrived at the town square carrying a crate. No one knew where it had come from or for whom the charge was intended. The crate was handed over to the priest, who decided to open it in the presence of several witnesses. To their amazement, they discovered a statue of the Virgin inside the crate, which is the one venerated in the sanctuary of Baños today.

Since then, the fame of "Our Lady of the Rosary of Agua Santa de Baños" began.