The Ecuadorian coast & beaches

Ruta del Sol - The 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.

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