We were picked up from MSJ on the first day at 8:30 am by our driver and host Aude. We found out that Aude is here with her boyfriend a diving instructor from France. Aude speaks fluent French, Spanish and English WOW, but especially needs the Spanish to be working for the huge tour company.
We drove about an hour to get to our hotel Hostera Oceanic where we are staying for 2 nights during the excursions just outside of the town Puerto Lopez. Google map of hotel and area
We unpacked and got ready for our first excursion Los Frailes Beach, our driver drove for about a half hour through a grove of trees that looked like an enchanted forest. Got to the beach had to sign in and listen to all the rules and regulations of the Parks of Ecuador. Asked for our passports, OOPS! Our host had not told us to bring them, I did my looking sad and smiling and the agent said we could go through. Drove on winding roads for about 5 km, parked brought water bottles and knap sack and camera equipment. Another tour guide stopped us inspected all of our gear inquired if we had food, cigarettes, etc (if you had any it had to be left behind with him to pick up later) and walked down to an amazing white beach with this indescribable surf. We walked from one end of the beach to the other, Leo took some amazing pictures. Los frailes beach
By the way I decided not take my big canon camera and was having problems with my tiny camera, every day we had some rain, extreme heat and humidity. I depended on Leo to take all of the pictures that is why I have added the web sites. I am in a way sorry that I had no camera because Leo does not like taking ie the village or people pictures because he feels he is invading in their privacy.
For lunch we went to our excursion at Aqua Blanca, it is a very small village made up of about 200 people that the government allowed to live there because of their historic background dating back to the Incas. We had lunch in a local restaurant, with the goats, chickens, dogs, and people in hanging hammocks SHEESH!!! We had a choice of fish and chicken, Leo and I choose chicken thinking since it was deep fried that might be the safest. Must say the lunch was delicious, also a little unnerving was the juice with the ice cubes. I could still hear the travel doctor saying “don’t drink anything with ice cubes”.
After lunch we visited the museum, did the long trek to the sulphur lagoon, we learned an awful lot of their culture and the people. Aqua blanca
First day is completed, back to the hotel to shower again to get the Sulphur smell off. It reminded us of the house in Corkery Woods that had Sulphur in the drinking water, within a week we had a water filtering system installed. We had a delicious seafood supper and ice cold beers at our hotel and collapsed in bed for a much needed rest to get ready for day two.
Day 2 – the most anticipated excursion – Isles de la Plata (‘poor man’s galapagos’ – we had researched both islands and decided there was no way we could afford the big Galapagos). We had also researched about sea sickness and read the best way not to get sick is to take one gravol (new chewable ginger non-drowsy) the night before and one in the morning and wear the motion sickness wrist bands. We were picked up at 8:30 and driven to Puerto Lopez where we were given instructions to walk to the peer where we would meet one of our tour guides. One of the couples who went with us are from Holland, as soon as they started speaking I understood the language, small world. Our boat arrived about a 27 foot with 2 – 150 hp motors, quite impressive looking. About 14 people are escorted on board, my heart is racing with anticipation. We are all asked to take off our socks and all foot wear (we all guessed not to make the boat dirty) and given life jackets. With a deafening noise of the engines we are off for an hour boat trip across the Pacific to Isles de la Plata. On the way one of the tour guides goes around with pieces of cake his Mother has made to give us energy when we reach the island. Three quarters of an hour we see glimpses of the majestic island. We arrived with the help of tour guides we jump into the water and walk to shore, we were are met with other guides. Bathroom and water breaks, retrieve our footwear and start our first hike to the top of the island. Absolutely grueling straight upward climb, I could almost not breathe. At the top we had a choice of which hike we wanted to continue on, Leo of course picked the most difficult and longest route and I stuck with the shortest and easiest hike. No point in fooling myself, there was no way I had the stamina to go on the long hike and I had also fallen two days before and still had the scrapes and bruises on my legs. Going to definitely work on getting more fit when we get home. The hike was absolutely exhilarating the blue and red footed boobies, lizards and views from the cliffs were amazing as you will see from Leo’s pictures. It was not the right time of the year to see whales but we did see a striped shark and a stingray. After about 3 hours our first group was back on boat waiting for the second group. We were given juice, sandwiches, fruit (pineapple and watermelon). After about a half hour the second group arrived, were fed and then you could go snorkeling. Because of my open scrapes and Leo not able to float and didn’t want to do it with a life jacket on we and about another 6 watched. We were very lucky to see three large turtles come right up to the side of the boat. The ride back to the mainland was a lot rougher than in the morning, arrived back on the mainland retrieved our runners and were driven back to the hotel. WOW what a day!!!
Day 3 – excursion #4 – The Rain Forest in Machililla National Park. We were picked up at the hotel at 8:30; it had rained again during the night and was very hot and humid. We were wearing long pants, socks, hiking boots and long sleeves which made it even hotter. None of the streets in Puerto Lopez are paved, it is incredible muddy, and you can really see the poverty in this area. Dogs and kids on bare feet running through the streets, big trucks roaring past everything on their way to fix other roads. An hour winding through the potholes and mud we arrive in a tiny village (Leo took a picture of the name) and our tour guide Wilmer, who with his parents have lived there all of their lives. Again I have a very hard time seeing past the broken down shacks and kids, dogs, cats, chickens running around everywhere.
Wilmer gave us each rubber boots, and rain ponchos for the trek through the rainforest. Our guide was very knowledgeable about everything from the birds, butterflies, monkeys, trees and flowers. After a 3 hour walk we had lunch in his family’s house, we right away noticed how much bigger their home was in comparison to others in the village. Wilmer explained that his father has been working on the house for the past 15 years building this home next to the original home his grandfather had built many years ago. He told us as his father gets enough money he will do the finishing touches ie windows, doors and a proper washroom. It is almost embarrassing to think what we have in Canada and still complain. The lunch his sister made was delicious, soup, rice, fish, salad and juice, most of the things from their garden. Wilmer’s wife is Canadian born in Vancouver, where she is now trying to get the paperwork done for them to move to Canada. Wilmer can see there is no hope for stability and to get out of the poverty and wants a better life for him, his wife and for their future children, very commendable. We hated to leave the Machililla Rain Forest but our driver had arrived and ready to take us to our hotel to retrieve our luggage and take us back to Mirador San Jose. Three days, 4 excursions that we will never forget.
Standard transport in most villages.
