Machalilla National Park and Whale Watching, visits to local villages.

Machalilla is the only park on the Ecuatorian coast created on 1979 to protect one of the last remaining habitats of its kind. Covering approximately 60.000 hectares, it combines many different climatological zones: desert, tropical dry forest, rain forest, matorral and mountain wilderness areas and two off-shore coral islands that have some similarities to the Galapagos.

It is populated by a large variety of endemic flora and fauna like, guantas, iguanas and pumas, parrots, pelicans, frigates and a wide range of cacti, succulent bromeliads and flowering trees. Several natural bays and wide sandy beaches curve between the many rocky cliffs of its shores, the most famous being “Los Frailes”, a virgin, white-sanded beach with clear blue water. During our Machalilla national park tours we also show you the important archaeological sites such as Agua Blanca, the ancient seat of successive cultures, Valdivia, Guangala, Bahía, Chorrera and Manteña.

Day 1: Morning flight. Private bus to lodging. On the way south, our first stop is at the village of Pile in the area of Montecristi which, along with the community of Jipijapa, are the two main producers of the famous hand-woven Toquilla hats, made by local skillful weavers following their ancestral tradition. A truly painstaking craft that dates back to pre-Columbian times and persists to this day. We will have a chance to learn more about the origins and manufacturing process of the famous and unique Toquilla hat.

In the afternoon we visit an in-situ archeological museum at Salango. Return to lodge for overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Breakfast. Boat ride to Isla de la Plata, a 2-hour journey. From June to September we offer unique viewing of the Humpback whales off the coast of Machalilla accompanied by a naturalist local guide. Hundreds of whales come up from the Antarctic to breed in the tropical waters of the Ecuadorian coast. On the island of La Plata we can find a multitude of sea birds: Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate birds, Pelicans and Petrels.  After disembarking from the whale watching boat tour, we walk from Drake Bay to Playa Escondida, possibly seeing Albatross and Sea Lions on the way. After a picnic lunch we will go snorkeling looking for tropical marine life. Return to the lodge late afternoon. (B/BL)

Day 3: Hike through tropical dry forest to see the characteristically bottle shaped trees (Prosopsis Juliflora), Kapok trees, Figs trees, Laurels and Palo Santo trees. In this strange-looking forest, 119 species of birds, deer, Guantas, Anteaters, Iguanas and Lizards, among others, have been recorded. If time allows, visit the beach of Los Frailes for a refreshing bath before returning to the lodge. (B)

Day 4: Visit Montecristi, another town well know for the manufactory of Toquilla hats as well as many other kinds of handcrafts made of toquilla fiber and vegetable ivony.  After this visit we start our return to Quito overland. Evening arrival in Quito. (B)

• Location: Nature and Wildlife Tours combined with archeological sites and local cultural aspects.
• Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
• Start / End: Quito / Quito
• Activities: Whale watching, hikes and walks, snorkeling
• Highlights: Machalilla National Park, archeological site, large variety of endemic flora and fauna. Toquilla hat   origins. Also know as “Panama hats”
• Season: All year. Whale watching better from June to September
• Included: Meals mentioned in itinerary, accommodation. Bilingual guide, transportation, all visits mentioned in   itinerary
• Not Included: Tips, meals not mentioned in itinerary, drinks, personal expenses, airfare Quito-Manta.