TravelToEcuador.com The Coast

·The Galapagos Islands ·

·Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest ·

·The Coast ·

· The Andes ·

· Best Links·

· Contact Us ·

· Search·

· Tour Operator ·

· Ecuador-Pictures ·

· Ecuador-Travel-Guide·

THE COAST
If you haven't visited the coast of Ecuador, you haven't experienced Ecuador!. With an average temperature ranging from 24ºC (80ºF) to 32ºC (96ºF) and the ocean water temperatures make it perfect for swimming. The thatch-roof bars in the sand and shading spots of the palm trees on the beach are just some of the typical scenes here. Check out our packing list for suggestions on what to bring to the beach.

Climate
Dry season runs from June to December. The temperature can drop to 16ºC and sometimes it overcasts with a damp mist called "garúa" settling in. However, the rainy season is fairly humid and from December to May is sunny. Generally it's hot all year round, but just a little muggier during the rainy season.

The Province of Esmeraldas

While today's Esmeraldas harbors few esmeralds; it does live up to its other name, the "Green Province." The northernmost of the coastal provinces, Esmeraldas is also the lushest, lined with mangroves and flooded tropical forest. Its wild and remote inland areas, accessible only by canoe, make Esmeraldas the ideal staging ground for a classic river safari.
If you're not feeling up to the jungle, Esmeraldas also boasts some of the coast's most stunning beaches, most bordered by small settlements living on what they catch. The Esmeraldas' waters are rich in shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, lobsters and other crustaceans, which like in the rest of the coast, are very cheap, especially if you buy them directly from the fishermen as they're taking in their catch. When walking on the beach, you will usually encounter someone, dragging in their day catch, or someone offering to sell cheap "fresh" fish. Be careful, because you can easily get very sick with local foods, especially seafood. And please take a look at our Health & Safety section for more details on food safety in Ecuador.

The Province of Manabi
South of Esmeraldas lays the coastal province of Manabi. This can be a great place to relax, but you'll likely end up getting-up soon to go out to enjoy your self and dance. Manabi is well known in Ecuador, for its late night distractions and its people's delightful appearance.
The beaches along the coast of this province are very popular. During holidays and summer season, many Ecuadorians head to beaches such as Bahia de Caraquez, Canoa and Puerto Lopez, as well as Machalilla National Park, with its gorgeous nearby beach of Los Frailes - considered one of the best beaches on South America's Pacific Coast.

The Province of Guayas The Province of Guayas houses the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city and main port. Guayaquil's Maritime Port was opened in 1964 and now handles approximately 90% of Ecuador's imports and nearly 50% of its exports. Mostly recognized for its commercial and industrial reputation instead of a vacation spot, historically Guayaquil has not been a very popular site on a list of places to visit. One of the most ambitious projects on the year 2000 was the renovation of Malecon Avenue. This well-known pier that runs along the riverside includes a number of parks, restaurants, a theatre and its purpose it to increase touristic interest. In addition to Malecon, the picturesque Las Peñas district and the Centenario Plaza are worth a look. These are just a few of the attractions that visitors should visit while staying in Guayaquil. Taking a closer look at what the province of Guayas has to offer, you will find great beaches as Salinas, Montañita, Punta Blanca, Playas (General Villamil), and Puntas Arenas; many in which you can practice water sports.

		The Province of El Oro El Oro stretches from Guayaquil to Peruvian borders. Considered by many as just a way station between Ecuador and Peru, El Oro can surprise those willing to spend a few days exploring it. The thriving banana and shrimp producing city of Machala divides El Oro's portion of coast in two. While not an appealing destination in itself, Machala is a great jumping-off point to explore the mangrove circled town of Puerto Bolivar, the markets of Santa Rosa, and the delightful gold-mining community of Zaruma.

The Highlights and Attractions

There are countless things to do and see in the coastal region of Ecuador. If you want to spend time just kicking-back there's Montañita, Ecuador's premiere surfing spot and a great place to meet more "gringos" or "extranjeros". The Santa Elena peninsula near Salinas is known for its world class yacht harbor and deep-sea fishing. As a contrast, the traditional fishermen can be seen sailing the waters in balsa rafts, catching fish for the local population. There are several comfortable hotels and hostels to choose from and the long, golden beach makes the area a popular place for tourism.

From June to September humpback whales migrate to La Isla de la Plata, which is part of the Machalilla National Park. Once a year these whales come all the way from Antarctica to this island to breed. Sailing from Puerto Lopez you can easily view these giant creatures of the deep. The journey includes a stop at Isla de la Plata, home to pairs of waved albatross, as well as other sea birds, including boobies, frigates, tropicbirds and much more.
Archeological excavations based near the village of Salango center on the Valdivia culture, which inhabited this region 3000 years ago. Nearby the Machalilla National Park are sulfur springs and an unusual tropical dry forest, which is an exceptionally good area for bird watching.
Aside from these things there always is the vibrant nightlife of the cities and towns of the coast. See our sections of Ecuador's Nightlife and more specifically, our sections on cities of Guayaquil, Manta, Salinas and Esmeraldas.