PACIFIC COAST

Visit to Ben Haas, who has been tracking watching whales since the 1980s and founded the Whale Museum in Salinas.

We’ll continue towards the Northern area, we’ll visit the artisanal fishermen town of San Pablo and we’ll have a chance to see the characteristic handicrafts as Panama Hats and Tagua nuts, better known as vegetable ivory all over the way. We’ll pass through the surfer’s town of Montañita on our way to Puerto López area for overnight. Accommodation and dinner.

Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Plata Island is surrounded by the Machalilla Marine Reserve that protects coral reefs where marine life is varied and exciting and between July and November receives the magnificent Humpback whales.

The island has two routes or hiking trails, both with spectacular views, where you can find interesting colonies of blue footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds and albatrosses, the reason why it’s been locally known as “Little Galapagos”. It has a desert climate in which plant species have adapted forming an interesting dry tropical forest.

The Plata Island became named after “the silver” seen in the distance, caused by the reflection of the sun on the abundance of guano which covers the site. Some pre Columbian vestiges from native and Inca cultures have been found in site, evidence of an interesting past as research port for the exploitation of the Spondylus priceps shells, precious ornament for ritual use by the Amerindian peoples.

After the hike, we’ll enjoy a light box lunch and have an opportunity of snorkeling in this beautiful marine reserve. Return to Pto. López.

Meal plan: Breakfast/ Box Lunch/Dinner