DETAILS

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Two to three hours away from Manta, Machalilla Park was created in 1979 to preserve a 50-kilometre stretch of beach, tropical dry forest, cloud forest and several offshore islands. It is home to a variety of interesting trees and bird species (over 200 species have been recorded in the area), including parrots and parakeets and a variety of seabirds on the coast. The visitor sites of the Machalilla National Park include the Los Frailes Beach, a pristine beach (probably the most beautiful on South America’s Pacific Coast) surrounded by dry forest vegetation and palo santo trees; Agua Blanca, with a small community managed site museum, showing some of the pre-Hispanic pieces that have been found in this area (some of the oldest found anywhere in South America) and Salango, a tiny fishing village with an interesting archaeological museum. Salango was a very important place for the Manteño pre-Hispanic inhabitants of this region, so many pieces have been found at the beach and in the surroundings of the village.

An Ecuadorian buffet lunch will be served at the Mantarraya Lodge, or similar. In the afternoon, return to Manta and the pier.
 
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Explore Machalilla, Ecuador’s only coastal National Park. Created to preserve the beach, tropical dry forest, cloud forest and several offshore islands, the park is home to a variety of interesting trees and bird species, as well as a small community-managed museum showing pre-Hispanic pieces that have been found in this area.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN
00:00 - 02:30 Drive from pier to Agua Blanca; Panoramic stops made en route
02:30 - 03:10 Tour of Archaeological Museum; Bathrooms available
03:10 - 04:00 Drive to Puerto López; Panoramic stops made en route
04:00 - 05:30 Lunch at Mantarraya Lodge; Bathrooms available
05:30 - 08:30 Drive back to pier

Approximate duration: 8½ hours

OPERATIONAL NOTES
- This tour involves some leisurely walking and is not suitable for guests with extremely limited mobility
- This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs
- Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are recommended
- The chronological order of this tour is subject to change
- Activity level is Moderate

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