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Get in touchThe coastal area of the Pacific Lowlands offers natural beauty, diverse flora and fauna and a rich cultural heritage. A short flight from Quito brings you to Manta, the country’s second most important port.
Two hours drive south of Manta, along a picturesque coastal road, is Puerto López, a small fishing town set in its own bay. The area also has some small, quiet sandy beaches which are well off the beaten track.
En route is Machalilla National Park, Ecuador’s only coastal national park. At 137,500 acres, the park protects the unique coastal land and marine habitat as well as small archaeological sites. In the cloudforest area of San Sebastian the landscape changes to one of lush vegetation including heliconias and orchids and is home to howler monkeys and over 350 species of birds. The park also encompasses a number of beautiful beaches, most notably Playa Los Frailes, with its white sand and dramatic cliff backdrop.
37 kilometeres off the coast of Puerto López lies Isla de la Plata (Silver Island) which derives its name from the local legend that Sir Francis Drake buried treasure here. A large number of marine birds populate the island including frigates, waved albatrosses and blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies. The waters around the island are one of the prime sites along the coast for viewing humpback whales from June to September. Day trips to the island include a guided hike to appreciate the flora, fauna and birdlife, and time is allowed for swimming and snorkelling.
Altitude
For those clients sensitive to altitude and prefer to stay at sea level, Guayaquil makes for a good ‘gateway’ to Ecuador and a stop before/after a visit to Galapagos Islands.
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14 hours 15 minutes. From London Heathrow via Amsterdam (KLM)
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