Banos, Ecuador

Capital City

Forget the picturesque waterfalls and adventure sports - with a population of just 14,100, Banos is a sleepy Ecuadorian town that offers little in the way of big-city amenities. The town sits at an elevation of 1,820 meters on the slopes of the active Tungurahua volcano, which has forced mass evacuations in the past. While the local cathedral and "Baths of Holy Water" may draw some religious pilgrims, the real headache for expats is the persistent bureaucratic hassle. This is a place for nature lovers and thrill-seekers, not those seeking an easy, cosmopolitan life abroad.