Puerto Lopez is a community on the coast of Ecuador. This small village is Ecuador at "it's purest." It is located about 120 miles from Manta and merely the bus-ride to Puerto Lopez is an amazing cultural experience. You have never experienced the essence of a culture and the people of that land unless you have ridden in one of their buses and sat amongst the locals. Travel past the ancient town of Montecristi which has been and still is the original home of the Panama Hat! Jipijapa, a neighboring community, is another cultural center just on the opposite side of the coastal mountain range surrounding? Puerto Lopez.
Life in Puerto Lopez is laid back and, with the breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains, very poetic. Ernest Hemingway would have loved this country! One can sense the character of Puerto Lopez just by sitting in a bar, drinking some green concoction, and listening to the waves crash just across the street. Life is simple once more as you reflect upon this care-free marvel of existence that is not bogged down by cell phones, the latest craze to be found on the internet, or the cacophony of traffic and sirens.
The view from the veranda of the Whale Discovery Center looking towards the Pacific Ocean
Many eateries on the Malecon, a main road in Puerto Lopez
To Contact Us:
The Foundation for Center for Research of Whales
8810 West Skagit, Kennewick, WA 99336
Dr. James Lehmann
Phone 1-509-240-5029
Email: edecuador@yahoo.com
Website created and maintained by A.NYC
Although this is a tourist town, don’t expect the plush resorts associated with Maui or the theater and nightlife of New York City. You rarely see Americans in Puerto Lopez since they are more accustomed to the life of Maui but if they choose to come to Ecuador are more likely to be found in the big city of Quito. But here, you get a flavor of Ecuador at its purest. During the summer months when the humpback whale pod migrates from Antarctica to the region off Puerto Lopez, many green or eco-minded tourists from Germany, France, Italy and other areas of Europe are drawn. Many tourists hoist their backpacks from the bus to one of the many hostels that line the streets.
During the off-season, especially in January to March, Ecuadorian nationals outside of Puerto Lopez travel here to take in the awe of the beach, the sand and the sun. They come down from the colder highlands to experience this jewel on the coast.
While in Puerto Lopez, interns are offered Spanish lessons, as well as opportunities to tour some of the local towns for archaeology and visit the ghost island of Isla de la Plata (better known as the “poor man’s Galapagos”). Interns may also walk through Machalilla National Park and take an excursion into the jungle for an overnight stay or two. Guides can provide you with a bit of assurance you will get out!
