Ruta del Sol
Exploring the Ecuadorian coast
- 8 days
- min. 2
Highlights of the tour
- Beautiful beaches
- Archaeological sites
- Great wildlife
Overview
Travel along the famous Ruta del Sol. From South to North, this tour shows you Ecuador’s most beautiful beaches, important archaeological sites, an island with a hidden treasure and great wildlife, and much more.
Please note that during summer (from July to September) the weather is rather cold and windy on the Southern and Central Ecuadorian coast. However, it’s the best time of the year for whale watching. The most famous city for whale watching along the Ruta del Sol is Puerto Lopez in the South of Ecuador.
Please note that some parts of the Ruta del Sol were hit hard during the earthquake in April. However, the hotels on this tour are all operating, and tourism to the affected areas will be a great economic help in the reconstruction process.
Itinerary
Day 1: Guayaquil - Salinas
Arriving in Guayaquil the Ruta del Sol Tour begins. Your guide will meet you at the airport and will take you to a hotel on the beach. In this hotel you spend your first night.
Day 2: Salinas - Puerto Lopez
In the morning you can relax at the beach or by the pool, take walks and discover archeological sites or simply visit the friendly town of Salinas. Your next stop is Puerto Lopez. Enjoy the tranquility on the beach, or the bustling activity in the port, the great, fresh seafood and the laid-back atmosphere of the Pacific.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Isla de la Plata
The Isla de la Plata (Silver Island) was named after a silver treasure that Sir Francis Drake is said to have hidden there. It lies just off the coast of Puerto Lopez and is also called “Little Galapagos” because you can find some of the same animal species and birds here. A special highlight is the whale watching from the ship. During the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, the humpback whales come up from Antartica into the warmer waters.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Bahía de Caráquez
Follow the Ruta del Sol further north until you reach Bahía de Caráquez. On the way you will pass the Machalilla National Park where you can visit the Agua Blanca community, whose inhabitants guard 5000-year-old cultural treasures, which are testimony of the pre-Hispanic coastal cultures. Among other things you can find funeral urns, stone thrones, ceramic ornaments, and more than 600 remains from stone buildings. In the village you will also find a (rather smelly) sulfur lake, whose waters and mud, however, are very good for the skin. Spend the night in Bahía de Caráquez.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Jama
When the tide is low, you leave Chirije via the beach and travel further north to Jama, which was one of the most important pre-Hispanic cultures at the coast – the Jama-Coaque. Visit a small workshop/museum, enjoy the tranquil beaches, or just relax to the sounds of the ocean.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Cojimes
The Cojimes Peninsula is slowly being developed as a tourist destination, having the most beautiful beaches covered with coconut palm trees.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Tonchigüe
Today, you reach your final destination, on Ecuador’s Northern coast. The great thing about this area is that it is not as affected by the climate change in summer. Enjoy the hotel’s private beach and discover the surrounding wildlife in the Galera-San Francisco Marine Reserve.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Flight to Quito
Enjoy the morning on the beach, before you take an afternoon flight from Esmeraldas to Quito. You spend the night in the countryside close to the airport. In time for your flight, we will take you to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
- Included services
- 8 nights in double rooms with breakfast
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Private transportation
- Flight from Esmeraldas to Quito
- Not included services
- International airfare to and from destination
- Meals not described
- Cost of medical immunizations as needed
- Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Cost of optional activities
- Excess baggage charges
- Airport taxes (if any)
- Alcoholic beverages or soft drinks
- Optional gratuities to your guides
- Items of personal nature
Hints
Slots subject to availability at the moment of booking.
The travel times described are indicative and may vary depending on traffic conditions, weather, natural events or other cases of force majeure.
All prices are quoted in US dollars.
All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.
Traveling alone? No problem – we will be happy to provide you with a personalized quote upon request.
Travel Insurance:
To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Travel insurance is intended to cover medical expenses, trip interruption and cancellation, theft and other losses incurred while traveling domestically or internationally.
Visa and Entry Requirements:
Ecuador requires a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
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