Ecuador Pacific Lowlands

Introduction

The north coast and lowlands, which are located west of the Andes and north of the route from Manta to Quevedo, are among the most biologically varied areas of the nation. It only takes a few hours of driving away from the highland chill to see one of the steaming woods that are home to birds from the Pacific Northwest and other exotic plants and creatures. Along with that, the forest opens up to reveal miles of warm, sandy beaches. Even the locals appear to be different, with a considerably more laid-back and unconstrained environment than in the Sierra, which is further enhanced by a distinctive fusion of indigenous Chachi and Tsáchila and Afro-Ecuadorian traditions.

Details

With a coastline that stretches over 2,200 kilometers from Colombia to Peru, the coastal region extends from the Pacific to the Andes Mountain foothills to the east. The Pacific Equatorial Forest, which includes tropical dry forest, tropical moist evergreen forest, tropical wet forest, cloud forest, and mangrove forest, is made up of the remaining forest remnants.

Parque Nacional Machalilla

The sole national park on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast is Parque Nacional Machalilla. The area around Agua Blanca is a dry coastal forest that is home to many endangered bird species, including the Whooping Momot and the Peruvian Screech Owl. Blue-footed and Red-footed Boobies, as well as two species of Frigate Birds, nest on Isla de la Plata, a different area of the park. Many of the beaches in the area draw this and other water-loving birds to the area.

Yasuni National Park

Yasuni National Park’s subtropical jungles may appear to be difficult to observe birds in. Birds avoid humans because of fear of being hunted, therefore many sightings come from a shaky seat in a canoe. Despite this, there are numerous species that can only be found in this remote national park. The best part of any journey to Yasuni is definitely a stop at the Parrot Clay Licks.

Isla de la Plata

The offshore island of Isla de la Plata, sometimes referred to as “the poor man’s Galápagos,” does have many characteristics with the arid islands of the Galápagos archipelago, such as in terms of the birds. On the island, birds including Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies build their nests without concern for people.

Zaruma

The life in this hilltop hamlet, which is located in the southern Andean foothills, is reassuringly slow, and it is best appreciated with a cup of coffee (which is supposedly the best in Ecuador). Zaruma has beautiful hills where you may go for a wonderful hike. Monkeys and 24 different species of hummingbirds are among the wildlife that may be found in the neighboring Buenaventura reserve.

Puyango Petrified Forest

The Puyango Petrified Forest, the largest in South America and covering over 6,000 acres in the south of Ecuador, is only five miles from the Peruvian border. According to experts, petrification is what caused the volcanic eruption and subsequent flood. By following the tracks, you can see Cretaceous-era fossilized plants, fish, and ammonites embedded in the tree trunks. The neighboring tropical dry forest is home to about 130 different bird species, and a refreshing dip in a stream is always welcome.