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Los Frailes – Ecuador’s most beautiful beach
Los Frailes Beach is often referred to as Ecuador’s most beautiful beach for good reason. With pristine sand on a gently sloping beach surrounded by cliffs on either end of a crescent shaped bay, Los Frailes Beach provides an environment perfect for relaxation. Located a few minutes north of Puerto Lopez, Los Frailes Beach is inside Machalilla National Park and often free of people. Rare July blue sky On an unusual sunny day in July, the beach is as full as I have seen it since February’s Carnaval holiday. Typically, the Ecuador coast has sun during the rainy season (explanation here) and clouds during the dry season. By “clouds,” I…
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Horseback Riding – Las Tunas to Ayampe, Ecuador
Want to go horseback riding on Ecuador’s coast? I found the perfect spot in Las Tunas, Manabí, a few minutes south of Puerto López. During our two hour ride, we galloped on a beach, crossed a river, watched butterflies on a forest trail, and rode along the top of a hill with a spectacular ocean view. Finding horses to ride in coastal Ecuador Finding horses to ride in Ecuador is not difficult. Finding good, healthy, well trained horses to ride in Ecuador is not easy. I rely on Tsafiki Resort to find good horses. They scout area horses and guides so they are always up to date regarding who…
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Workout on Puerto Lopez beach, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
After a few days in Puerto Lopez, you have snorkeled, dived, hiked, ridden horseback, swum and kayaked. Now you are wondering where you will do your pullups and rope climbing. I have great news for you! You can do them right on Puerto Lopez beach! If you are looking for more diversity in your workout, you can pull some large tires around in soft sand. Recruit a friend and make it a competition! The folks in the next photo even had people sit on the tires. Start children young and workouts become part of their routine. I admire the dedication these folks have. Many of them show up every day…
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Visitor Center, Machalilla National Park, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Machalilla National Park surrounds Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. Two monkey species and more than 270 bird species, including the endangered Waved Albatross live in the park. Whales mate and birth just off the coast and turtles hatch on the beaches. If you like active outdoor vacations, this is the place for you! Activities in Machalilla National Park Hike, bike and horseback ride Dry forests – from sea level to midway up the hills, the dry desert-like flora is brown for about half the year, waiting for water Cloud forests – always green hills where monkeys, orchids and a wide variety of birds live Hike beaches – Playa Los Frailes is often referred…
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Ultralight Flight Over Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Sunday, 5:29 PM “You did what?!” “I know you’ve said they are deathtraps, Dad. Before I went, I… “Ultralights ARE deathtraps, Emily!” “…weighed the risks verses my desire to see Puerto Lopez from the air…” “It’s not worth your life!” “…and decided it was more likely I would land safely on the beach than crash into the ocean.” So it went when I told my retired pilot father about my first ultralight flight. Friday I first saw the plane Friday afternoon. The pilot took off, looped the bay, and landed on the beach. I watched several takeoffs and landings, timed the flights (about 4 minutes), and yearned to…
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Rainbows and the rainy season in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Puerto Lopez sunrise rainbows are most common during the coastal Ecuador rainy season. The same is true for Puerto Lopez sunset rainbows. The rainy season, December through May, is also the time for cerulean blue skies. This causes confusion when people are planning their visit. They see blue skies on social media photos yet all of the guide books say it is the rainy season. When does it rain during the rainy season? Rain usually falls at night though certainly not every night. The above photo was taken at the Victor Hugo Hotel in February at 10:00 pm. Hours earlier, I walked there in the sunshine. I was drenched when…
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Kayaks, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Puerto Lopez bay is a good spot for kayaking. There is even an annual kayak race. While contemplating what to write for K, I wished I had photos from the race. Then I looked at my April photos. What a nice surprise – I found several Puerto Lopez pictures with kayaks in the background. Perhaps “Kayaks in the Background of Puerto Lopez Beach Scenes” would have been a more appropriate title for this post. Kayaks are not the focal point of any photo here. Do you kayak? Several locations around town rent kayaks. Contact me when you are coming to Puerto Lopez and I will give you up…
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Hammock Time on Puerto Lopez Beach #AtoZChallenge
Even a broken hammock is correct twice a day. Wait, that’s not right… Relaxation Recipe Bring book Buy fruity drink Find hammock Enjoy sea breezes and waving palms A Note on Theme Changes Before the A to Z Challenge began, I loved the idea of sharing one Puerto Lopez photo per day and writing a 26-word description. I placed both restrictions on myself. Now that I have used this theme for a week, I sometimes want to use a few more words. This paragraph alone has 55 words. Also, I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to decide on just one photo. Announcing AtoZ Challenge…
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Fish Market – Puerto Lopez #AtoZChallenge
Add the fish market to your Puerto Lopez bucket list. Fish, shrimp, octopus are weighed, sold and loaded on trucks. Fresh seafood for your next meal! __________________________________________ A look back Last year, I wrote Fireworks – Any time is the right time The photo for Coconut Water on Puerto Lopez Beach was also taken at the fish market.
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Coconut Water on Puerto Lopez Beach #AtoZChallenge
Hot day + coconut water = super refreshing! Mom loved her beach coconut water. The coconut guy sells all over Puerto Lopez and opens them with a machete. ____________________________________________________ Around Puerto Lopez in 26 words. A look back Last year, I wrote Currency – coins over bills
