Author: randy

Surfing capitol of Ecuador is a big party town. Clubs just start to get going around midnight into the morning. Check out club Alcatraz

Lots of money in this area. Let’s go fishing!

One of my favorites. Fishing village at the end of the road. Maybe 200 friendly people. Road stops at the football field then park in the street and walk. Produce man had the motorcycle loaded down. Beautiful place.

Left the coast this morning. Not sure how many beaches we checked out. Mauricio has been to at least 6 new places that he never heard of. Some very cool spots. I visited 4 different provinces for a total of 6 so far. Took a boat 20 miles off the coast to Isla de la Plata. The island is a national park. Hiked the trails the went snorkeling with manta rays, sea turtles, and all kinds of tropical fish. Saw lots of humpback whales all day.

This morning planning the trip back to Quito I picked a different route than was planned. Even Mauricio laughed half way through and said it was a great route. I saw some beautiful places early on that I want to get more information on but the places this afternoon were freaking amazing. Drove through the clouds into the sunshine simply breathtaking. Had a late lunch of grilled trout and potato soup in a small village at around 10,000ft. I booked a place to stay at the end of the road in a place called Chugchilan. It’s a touch chilly. The indigenous people have been wonderful and are more bundled up than me. I could spend a month just here fishing and hiking even though breathing is a chore. This is the Ecuador I really wanted to see.

Heading to Tambuco tomorrow to stay at Elena’s family B&B. It’s like a half hour or so out of Quito. I’m meeting Jonathan in the afternoon and he said he would drop me off. He said the road is not even marked and a driver would never find it. I think he’s joking but you never know. If so my kind of place.

So I haven’t been where I can upload any pictures and have no idea when I will be around a good Wi-Fi area. Maybe in Tambuco but I am not expecting it, if so I’ll do an update while I still remember where I was. Leaving for the Galapagos on Monday so after tomorrow I will be pretty much off the grid for almost two weeks. Yahoo!

Ya’all take care now ya hear!

Very small village. Spent the night here at Hosteria Guachapeli. Highly recommend this place. Sebastian the host is great. Great location and short walk to the beach. Had the beach pretty much to myself yesterday and this morning. Great breakfast included with stay. Love this place and will stay here whenever in the area.

Machalilla national park is named for a village inside it’s borders. Los Frailes beach is very beautiful. One of my favorites. Talin you were right a must see. They even checked my passport at the entry gate. Favorite spot for Ecuadorians for sure and I can see why.

Little village with great beach. Lots of litter.

Manta is the largest port in Ecuador. Home to around 500,000 people. Seemed like a nice city. Stopped at a beach on the way into town for a breakfast of fish stew and rice. The fish market is right on the beach. The men greeting the boat are bidding on the fisherman’s catch as he pulls to shore.