The Manabí Coast
Beaches
You
can explore many beautiful Pacific beaches near the reserve, on foot or within a short
bus ride from the reserve. The Manabí coast from Pedernales to Jama is lined with
white sand beaches that are virtually deserted. We especially recommend the beach
at Punta Prieta, a lodge owned by Alonso Ordoñez and his wife, located just
a few kilometers south of the reserve. This beach has showers, bathrooms and a superb
restaurant and bar with breathtaking views of the ocean.
Another
great beach is at El Arco del Amor, a huge stone arch carved by the action
of waves. To get there, head south from the reserve on the coast road for 3 km to
the town of Tasaste. Take a right toward the ocean in the middle of town (near the
soccer field). Closer to the reserve is the beach at Hacienda Camarones,
just a 20 minute walk south on the road, then right through the iron archway. Here,
Leonardo Loor operates several beachside cabins and a cafe for visitors.
The
entire Manabí coast is rich with beaches and striking rocky shorelines. The
city of Pedernales has a large popular beach lined with small shops, restaurants and
hotel. It is a lively local scene on the weekends. Heading southward, other
coastal towns such as Cabuya, Don Juan, and Canoa have nice beaches and offer varying
levels of tourist infrastructure. In the southern portion of the province, you can
find the splendid beaches and interesting coastal scrub vegetation at Machalilla National
Park.
Whale Watching
Pacific
humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) spend June - September in Ecuador's
warm coastal waters, mating and giving birth to their young. These whales then travel
to Antarctica to spend the rest of the year (October - May) feeding in the cold, but
nutrient-rich polar waters. Whales can be seen in Manabí waters throughout
the summer mating period, but are easiest to spot during the southward migration in
August and September.
Many boat tours can be found operating out of coastal cities such as Manta, Puerto
Lopez, and Bahia de Caraquez. However, the whale migration also can be observed from
any point along the coast. A particularly good spot is the Punta Ballena ("Whale
Point"!) just south of the town of Jama.
Lodging and Restaurants
The northern Manabí coast still is relatively untouched by tourism. However,
extremely good hotels, guest houses and restaurants already have been established
in the region. Excellent lodging can be found at Punta Prieta, Punta Blanca, Don Juan
as well as the main cities of Pedernales, Bahia de Caraquez and Manta. All these lodges
offer good local cuisine, of course rich in seafood. Other noteworthy places to eat
include Il Peperoncino in Tabuga, owned by an Italian ex-pat, and not to be left out,
the fantastic yogurt produced by Lalo Loor and sold outside the reserve!
Manabí Coast Map
This map depicts the northern portion of the coast of Manabí, from Pedernales
to Jama, and points out the location of some of the attractions mentioned above.
There also are additional maps of the Lalo Loor reserve
trails and general location.
