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Town in Manabí, Ecuador
Photo: Saraedum, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Puerto López lies at the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. A fishing village, it is now also becoming a tourism hotspot and is most famous for being the departure point for visits to Isla de la Plata.
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Poor Man's Galapagos
Several tour agents organise trips (1½-hour boat ride, lunch included). On the island you will be able to see plenty of blue and red footed boobies, frigate birds, colorful fishes, sea turtles, and if you're lucky, sea lions. The tour is combined with snorkeling and whale watching trips, if it's the right season. The humpback whale season is from June to September. Diving is also possible. You'll pay $1 extra for the use of the pier. The trips to the island are heavily regulated by the local authorities so it does not seem to be possible to hire a local fisherman to take you to the island.
Poor Man's Isla de la Plata
Several tour agents organise trips (30-min boat ride). You will be able to see boobies on the way to the island. The boats drop you off at a beach on the island where you will be able to see frigate birds, and if you're lucky, sea lions. The tour is combined with snorkeling trips which are nice but not too spectacular. You'll pay $1 extra for the use of the pier. You can also go to Salango from the town Salango a $0.50 bus ride south, the prices there are however very similar.
The national park has several entrances and "themes". One of them is the Frailes which is free, there is a nice path that goes through miradors and beaches and end in the Frailes beach where you can swim and snorkel. Another is the Agua Blanca ($5pp) where you'll have a guided visit of the (small) archeological museum, a visit of the lands and finally a bath in sulfur water. You can go to either by taking any bus going north for 50¢.
You can join a horse (or mule) tour in the nature park. Most of the agencies in town should offer these tours when asked.
Very good pizza stand, one block from the Sol Inn.
Real Russian and European cuisine. Decent small European-style restaurant with real steak blood, Russian pelmeny and wareniky. Works till 00:00 which is extremely rare here. Run by a very friendly Ukrainian couple who speak Spanish and Russian.
Hostel with a big garden and about 20 very large cabins for rooms. Some rooms have kitchens. All rooms have fans, mosquito nets, and private baths with hot water. Wi-Fi is available throughout. The owners are an Italian-Swiss couple who are very ecologically motivated and decline to use air conditioning, TV or swimming pool. The hostel also has hammocks by the beach, plenty of board games and an extensive book exchange. Animal friendly establishment; dogs are present and welcome. Gated, covered parking. English, Spanish, French, Italian and German spoken.
Twenty-five spacious air conditioned rooms with private baths and hot water. Wifi throughout. Restaurant and bar. Gated parking.
A/C, en-suite bathroom with hot water. Wifi throughout. Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, pool table & parking. Sidewalk bar and limited-menu restaurant (breakfast=$3-6; pizza=$8-12; large salads= $6)
Very clean well maintained bamboo cabanas with wifi, mosquito net, fan, and bathroom with hot water. Gated parking in rear.
Tropical garden atmosphere across the Malecón from the beach. Wifi throughout. English, Spanish and Portuguese spoken. Restaurant in a raised cabana overlooking the ocean. Bicycle and surf board rentals. Gated parking. Hostel helps support Itapoa (rainforest) Reserve near Puerto Quito; ask about educational 2-6 day tours.
Seventeen nice bright rooms with private bathrooms, hot water, high ceilings, ceiling fans, mosquito nets and TVs. Wifi available throughout. Kitchen available to guests. Also has a nice central courtyard with hammocks and a patio up top with several tables with sun umbrellas. Limited gated parking.
Family hotel/hostel. Wifi throughout.
Offers eleven nicely decorated rooms in bamboo structures with private baths and hot water. It has outdoor kitchen in common area. Wifi in common area but may not reach most rooms. Gorgeous gardens and hammocks make for a great atmosphere. Limited gated parking.
Sixteen air conditioned rooms with cable TV, private bath and hot water. Some rooms with balcony (ask). Wifi throughout. Swimming pool in a garden patio. Yoga room and hot tub. Gated parking. Restaurant with Spanish/Mediterranean specialty and bar.
Fifteen rooms with fans, private baths and hot water, including some rooms for up to five persons. Wifi throughout. Three blocks from the beach. Garden area with hammocks. Common kitchen area. Gated parking. Four complete apartments are scheduled to open in February 2020. Family also owns and operates Aventuras La Plata tour company.
Puerto López has a new bus terminal about a mile north of town on the coastal highway. Tuc-tucs (mototaxis) charge $1 to take you to town. Information on bus schedules can be found at AndesTransit.
Read in the guideEverything but the bus terminal is in a walking distance. Taximotos should not cost more than $1 to get around town.
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Salinas/La Libertad · International · SNC
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