The Ecuadorian coast & beaches
- The Sun's Route
Ruta del Sol (Sun´s Route)
This
route guides us through the nature, history, entertainment,
water sports and excellent services of the coastal provinces
of Guayas, Manabí and Esmeraldas .
Nature lovers have the opportunity to explore unique dry
forests with their two contrasting seasons, cloud forests
and their rare fauna and flora, to observe the gigantic
whales in the wild during their mating season, to dive within
coral reefs surrounded by exotic sea life, to admire the
numerous bird species of the region, and submerge in the
most isolated and exotic beaches. The "Chongón-Colonche"
Mountain Range that is at the north of the Guayas province
holds unique ecosystems with an amazing diversity of endemic
plants and birds: one can climb from very dry forests at
the coast to lush cloud forests at the top of the hills,
only a few kilometers away.
For those who are sports inclined, there are opportunities
to fish, sail, surf, ski and dive. There is plenty of entertainment
for all ages.
In addition, these two provinces hold vestiges of an amazingly
rich history. The most antique cultures of America settled
on the Coasts of South America.
Finally, if you only wish to rest, suntan, and watch the
sunset... along this route you will find accommodations
and services that will allow you to just relax and comfortably
enjoy the tropical sun and beaches.
BIRD WATCHING
Along the Sun’s Route you can find unique spots for
bird watching. The "Tumbesina" region, which extends
from Tumbes in the North of Peru to the Northern coast of
Ecuador, holds 56 endemic bird species. Approximately 450
species of birds are found in the "Tumbesina"
region. That represents about 60% of all the birds of Latin
America. Along the Sun's Route, the presence of the Chongón-Colonche
mountain range and its proximity to the coast, as well as
the water currents that affect the climate, are factors
that contribute to the uniqueness of the ecosystems and
thus the diversity of birds.
Recently, Birdlife International designated the "Loma
Alta" reserve, located East of the town of Valdivia
(Guayas province), as a "site of international importance
for the conservation of birds".The reserve contains
300 species of birds, 42 of them endemic, five in danger
of extinction, and nine vulnerable. Different scientists
who wonder about the origin of this impressive diversity
conduct several studies at the site. "Fundación
Aves Ecuador" is currently
in charge of a project to develop tourism in this internationally
recognized site.
HANDCRAFTS
Typical handcrafts of the region include those made from
a natural straw called "paja toquilla". The famous
"Panama Hats" are made of this material. These
hats were first manufactured in the town Montecristi at
the province of Manabí, but because they were sold
to Panama during the construction of the Channel, they are
called this way. Some towns shine like gold with the paja
toquilla lay out to dry under the sun. Such is the case
of the town of Barcelona in the province of Guayas. One
can make special arrangements to observe the whole process
of harvesting, cooking, drying, and weaving the paja toquilla
hats in different towns around the region. Other typical
handcrafts are those made of "tagua", known as
the vegetable ivory. This material comes in clusters from
a palm tree. They are carefully worked by the locals to
make jewelry, decorations, and other handcrafts that replace
those made of ivory, and in this way favor the conservation
of elephants.
COMMUNITY LODGING
Locals who live in the towns along the Sun’s Route
are working towards creating community lodgings, offering
accommodation, food, and sharing their every-day life with
visitors. Although the accommodations are quite rustic,
sharing the lifestyle of these families, joining their communities’
traditions and assisting in the fabrication of typical handcrafts
can be very enriching and fulfilling experiences.
Article © by This is Ecuador Magazine
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