6 Places to Visit on the Coast of Ecuador
Ecuador is a beautiful country in South America located between Peru to the south and Columbia to the north. Full of beautiful nature to explore and rich cultural heritage, this is an exciting country to explore. The stunning landscapes of Ecuador consist of the Andes Mountains, tropical coastlines and the Amazon Rainforest. Activities are plentiful in Ecuador including climbing mountains, whitewater kayaking, surfing and wandering around the lush rainforest. With friendly people, delicious food and untouched nature, Ecuador should be on your bucket list of places to visit in the near future.
One of the most beautiful parts of Ecuador is the Pacific coastline which offers a variety of different landscapes and ecosystems. With tropical beaches, diverse wildlife and coastal fishing communities, there are plenty of towns, beautiful beaches and sustainable organizations to visit. Check out Ecobadlandz’s top six places to visit on the coast of Ecuador to plan your next trip to South America to learn more about the environment, culture and enjoy the beauty of this tropical slice of paradise.
Olon
Ayampe
Empresa Elartesan
Isla De Plata
Rio Muchacho
Mompiche
Olon
Located 3 hours by bus from the airport in Guayaquil, Olon is a great first stop on your coastal trip to Ecuador. It is a nicer alternative to the busier neighboring town of Montanita, where most tourists usually visit. Two miles north of Montanita, Olon offers less crowded beaches, more local tourists and a quieter atmosphere. With several different restaurants to enjoy, street art on every block and a bustling beach with beautiful sunset views, the relaxed town is a great mix of a more upscale beach town and a place where people from the nearby cities come for a mellow weekend by the sea. Expect delicious restaurants and street food, acoustic street performers and a romantic atmosphere.
Ayampe
Ayampe is a small village about thirty minutes north of Olon which is a popular surf and yoga destination for travelers all over the world. With pristine beaches and jungles surrounding the village, it’s a great place to go off-the-beaten-path to explore the jungle and the near empty beaches. Prices for accommodation and food are more expensive than other places in Ecuador, but this quiet oasis of a village can easily pull you in for weeks. Expect traveling musicians, many plant-based food options, yoga classes, surfers lined up in the water and beach volleyball games at sunset.
Empresa Elartesan
Empresa Elartesan is a palo santo factory located in the small city of Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. At the factory, visitors are able to take a tour of the facility and observe the workers throughout the different stages of production. The palo santo is sustainably harvested with no impact to the surrounding environment and ethically sourced from a local farm. Make sure you touch up on your Spanish skills if you are interested in a tour of the factory since they are Spanish speakers. If you don’t speak any Spanish and still want to support Empresa Elartesan, feel free to stop by and purchase palo santo or other locally sourced goods in the factory store.
Isla De Plata
Isla de Plata is a small island off the coast of Puerto Lopez which is also referred to as the “Poor Man’s Galapagos”. Located in Machalilla National Park, it has a similar biodiversity as the Galapagos Islands with an abundance of albatross, blue-footed boobies and vibrant coral reefs. The island is a quick boat trip from Puerto Lopez and is great for snorkeling, hiking and observing the wildlife. Isla De Plata is stunning and should not be missed! Make sure to book your trip on a day when the waves are small since larger swells can lead to trip cancellations.
Rio Muchacho
Rio Muchacho is an eco-friendly farm and sustainable living project located near Canoa, Ecuador. This community-oriented establishment offers visitors a unique experience to engage in various eco-friendly activities while learning about permaculture and organic farming practices. They offer environmental education and take you on a tour around the property and eco-village. Enjoy a delicious home cooked meal harvested from the garden and take a cacao making class. If you are interested in sustainable ecotourism and permaculture, book a day tour or spend some time working on the farm and stay in the eco-friendly accommodation.
Mompiche
Mompiche is a remote fishing village on the northern coast of Ecuador that doesn’t see as many tourists as the southern coast. It’s a popular surfing destination with a main left point break that continues into the cove creating another small beach break with consistent lefts. This little town is full of fishermen, small restaurants and is very community oriented on and off the beach. It offers a slow pace of life similar to Ayampe, but with much less tourists and more affordable prices. Mompiche has been expereincing a lot of flooding and erosion in town due to storms and rising sea levels. Make sure to support the local community and to respect any closures that may be in effect due to these common natural disasters.
At Ecobadlandz, we love to explore new places in a sustainable way. If you are interested in reading more travel stories from around the world or learning about electirc vehicle travel in the Pacific Northwest, check out the EBL Journal.
