Parque Machalilla in Ecuador is located just north of Puerto Lopez and just south of Puerto Cayo on the souther coast of Ecuador.

Frailes Beach, Ecuador

Within the National Park are many things to do. You can stay for the night with a local indigenous community, just ask for the town of AguaBlanca once in the park.

Once in the town you can take a cultural tour, mud bathe, or bird watch in the dry, tropical forest.

Parque Machilla also boasts one of Ecuador’s TOP beaches, Los Frailes, where most feel as if they were in the Galapagos, not on mainland Ecuador.

The beach is secluded and a wonderful day trip from Puerto Lopez. For a few dollars you can pay a motor taxi to take you there. The park does not have an entrance fee, unless you go to the Frailes beach, in which case the cost of entrance is a few dollars for Ecuadorians, and a little more for foreigners.

Parque Machalilla Ecuador

Buying property within the park limits is not permitted.

Traditional Villas in the Town of AguaBlanca in the Park, Stay for around $8 per person per night and help support the locals

You sleep among some livestock in the Aguablanca village

The mud pond in Machalilla, said to have healing powers

bird watching in the park, a favorite pass time for many

Get weekly updates on all the latest insider investor and expat happenings by joining the Ecuador Newcomers Club now below (you can unsubscribe at any time):

Puerto Lopez is a small town on the southern coast of Ecuador in between Montanita and Manta. (Refer to this map for details.)

It is famous for it’s whale watching tours in July and August each year.

The dry, sunny season is from December to April. The wet, cloudy season is from late April to November.

An overcast day in Puerto Lopez

Hanging out at the beach in Puerto Lopez

The beach of Puerto Lopez Ecuador

The beachfront line of shops and restaurants in Puerto Lopez

Get weekly updates on all the latest insider investor and expat happenings by joining the Ecuador Newcomers Club now below (you can unsubscribe at any time):

Ayampe is a small town on the coast of Ecuador, just north of Montanita and just south of Puerto Lopez…beautiful, virgin, enjoy…your host, Dom…

La Tortuga beachfront hotel-cabana in Ayampe Ecuador

the beach in ayampe

ayampe ecuador real estate is still a great buy...

ayampe ecuador surf...nice waves and few surfers, what more could you ask?

ayampe ecuador on a typical lazy day

Welcome to part 3 of my on going Ecuador photo diary series…enjoy, post comments at the bottom…Dom

locals hanging out in Montanita Ecuador

a popular restaurant near the beach in Montanita

the clubs and nightlife is world class in Montanita

the montanita beach and surf on an overcast day

did you know you can deep sea fish near montanita, write me for more details...

Montanita...I love you too...

you can still find land lots like this for sale in Montanita

a montanita cabana style hostel

This is part 2 of my ongoing Ecuador photo diary series, enjoy, and for comments please post at the bottom….domenick…

an overhead view of the city center, close to the Guayaquil airport

the beautiful las penas area of Guayaquil

guayaquil : the riverfront or malecon, always sunny with warm weather

guayaquil malecon 2000

The Guayaquil riverfront

an overhead look of the guayaquil ecuador slums