Ecuador Travel

Los Ríos Attraction

• Haciendas

The province of Los Ríos has long been a major agricultural center, churning wealth out of the rich soils. In an earlier era, the planters and landowners constructed fine homes and haciendas, some of which still stand today. The Hacienda La Isla was built over two hundred years ago, during the cacao boom that transformed the region. The house is built entirely of pine that was brought over from Europe at great expense. Near Babahoyo, the Hacienda La Victoria, is a grand building with a long history. It was the home of José Joaquín Olmedo, a president, poet and songwriter who is the namesake for Guayaquil's airport.

• Cerro Cachari

The Cerro Cachari is a geological oddity 9 kilometers (6 miles) from Babahoyo. Though scientists believe that the vaguely shaped rock was formed by the intrusion of volcanic rock millennia ago, the Cerro Cachari was once the subject of an indigenous myth about an enchanted princess. These days, visitors can climb along the rock, which reaches hundreds of meters above the surrounding countryside. The hill holds a variety of plants, including many flowers, and it is traversed by a number reptiles.

• Vinces

Dubbed “Little Paris,” Vinces has been enchanting visitors for centuries. Originally a wealthy town of cacao planters, Vinces still has many of the fine, traditional buildings constructed during the late-nineteenth century. These buildings still stand and are now accompanied by whimsical constructions, like the bridges spanning the Río Vinces and even a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower. The city comes alive in late March for the Guayaquil-Vinces Regatta, a famous river race for lanchas. To reach Vinces from Guayaquil, you must take Highway 21 and then Highway 46, or catch one of the buses from the main terminal.

• Reserva y Estación Cientifica Río Palenque

Encompassing forest lands at the boundary between the Chocó and Tumbesian habitats, the Río Palenque reserve and research center preserves an important environment for birds and other wildlife. Visitors have spotted toucans, warblers, thrushes and fly-catchers. There are 3 kilometers (two miles) of trails through the reserve, and nature guides may be available to help birdwatchers spot the avian life. Accommodation is available at the research station. The reserve can be reached on the Quevedo-Santo Domingo road, about an hour south of Santo Domingo.

• Babahoyo

Babahoyo is the capital of Los Ríos province, and is a cultural hub. It is located on the banks of the Río Babahoyo, which is formed by the confluence of the rivers San Pablo and Caracol. The city is a buzzing commercial hub and an important hub on the transit routes between Guayaquil and the Sierra. Babahoyo is centered around the leafy Parque 24 de Mayo, and the nearby cathedral is noted for its massive murals. The town is especially pleasant to visit during its numerous festivals, including the Virgén de la Merced celebrations in September and the rodeo in October.

El Oro Attractions

• Zaruma Gold Mines
• Machala
• Isla Jambelí

Isla Jambelí has one of the few beaches south of Guayaquil. With soft sand and gentle surf, the beach attracts visitors from Machala and beyond. Behind the shoreline, there are some simple guesthouses and hostels, as well as a variety of humble seafood restaurants cooking up the day's catch. If you tire of lounging on the beach, you can visit the mangrove forests around Jambelí. Isla de Amor, protected as part of a community eco-tourism project, is a particular popular destination. Some of the Ecuadorian coast's best snorkeling is found among the mangroves. To reach Jambelí, travel to Puerto Bolívar and catch a boat to the island.

• Puyango Petrified Forest

One of the largest petrified forests in the world, Puyango Petrified Forest is worth the trip inland from Machala. This spot was once an ancient forest, but when the trees died, the cellulose inside was converted into hard minerals. It is possible to not only see the trees, but also other ancient plants like ferns, which were all captured for eternity as they fell millennia ago. It is a serenely dry, and located in a semi-arid valley several hundred meters above sea level. Admission to the forest is $5, which is collected in the village of Puyango, and the best way to get there is to follow the Loja road from Machala. Puyango is on a turn-off from this road.

• Reserva Buenaventura

Although the western slopes of Ecuador's southern Andes are mostly arid, there is a narrow band of cloud forests, at an altitude 400 to 1100 meters (1,3000 to 3,600 feet), protected by the Reserva Buenaventura. Because of its location near both the Chocó and Tumbesian ecological zone, Buenaventura is blessed with a great diversity of bird species. The forest is one of the best, and only, places to spot the El Oro parakeet. Animal life includes howler monkeys, giant cats, armadillos and wild boars. There are over 250 species of butterflies within the reserve. Accommodation is available at a lodge here, and transportation can be arranged from the nearby town of Piñas, about an 80 minute drive inland from Machala.

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