Ecuador Travel

Guayaquil cathedral

Travel to Ecuador's southern coast region, which is known as a land of sun, sand and surf. With its famous beaches and dry, warm climate, the area draws thousands of visitors every year. The region is also one of the most populous and economically-important areas of the country.

The southern coast region is formed by four provinces: Santa Elena, Guayas, Los Ríos and El Oro. The area is comprised mostly of warm lowlands, bounded by the northern coast region in the north, the foothills of the southern Andes to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Peruvian border to the south and southwest.

The province of Santa Elena, which was only created in 2007, is a favorite destination among Ecuadorians and foreign visitors. Santa Elena is the home of two world-famous beach resorts: Montañita and Salinas.

Montañita, until recently a small fishing village, has become one of the most popular surfing spots in South America and part of the hot spots to surf in Ecuador Coast. As a result of its fame and populariy, the town has developed its infrastructure to accommodate tourists from all over the world. Further down the coast, the city of Salinas has long drawn visitors to its sandy beaches, pulsing nightclubs and high-rise condominiums.

Guayas, straddling the Guayas River, is the most populous province in the country. It also is the location of Ecuador's most populous city- Guayaquil. Guayaquil is an immense and cosmopolitan city, full of excellent hotels and restaurants, nightclubs and cultural institutions. Its waterfront has recently been restored and is a great place for visitors to explore. Outside the city, the beach resort of Playas is a popular spot for those hoping to soak up some sun and sand. The mangrove-covered Isla Puná, in the Gulf of Guayaquil, is an important breeding ground for bird and wildlife, and nature-lovers will find a visit deeply rewarding.

Los Ríos Province occupies an area of lowlands, inland from the coast. Most of its land is devoted to agriculture, and especially to the production of cacao, for which it is famous. It has two major urban centers, Babahoya and Quevedo, which serve as commercial and transportation hubs for the region. The city of Vinces is known as “Little Paris” due to the ornate old mansions built by the cacao and banana barons of the past. Much of the province is imbued with a cowboy spirit that shines most brightly during the annual rodeo celebrations.

El Oro province stretches along the southern coast, to the Peruvian border. Much of the province's shoreline is covered in mangroves, while inland, the province's warm terrain yields more bananas than anywhere else in Ecuador. The major city is Machala, a pleasant and fast-growing city. Tourist attractions in the province include Isla de Jambelí, a peaceful Pacific island with popular beaches, and the petrified forest of Puyango. The rich city of Zaruma, which was an important part of the gold fever of the early 1900s, is a unique place to see the rich architecture that the gold extraction brought to this small city

Many of the Southern Coast's attractions are linked together by the Ruta del Spondylus (“Route of Spondylus” in English). Visitors who can make a slow exploration of the region will be richly rewarded. From here it is also convenient to hop to Loja from Zaruma and enjoy a cultural visit to the southern Andes of Ecuador.