Sun and Surf

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From the South it was up the coast which was going to be quick seeing as I am not a beach person.

Puerto Lopez is a small fishing village with a fair few tourists because the main attraction is the whale watching. Funny how I lived in South Australia for so many years and never once went to Victor Harbour to do this. But this was different, these were Ecuadorian whales..!

I took a day tour and well, saw whales... but seeing them in the flesh (even if it was just a tail or a back) was beautiful, they seem graceful for such large creatures. One of them came quite close to the boat and of course I was on the other side, so didn't stop hearing about how amazing it was, Doh! We also saw a large pod of about 60 dolphins playing with one of the whales. Now that was cool!

After Puerto Lopez it was on to Montañita, a very famous beach in Ecuador that everyone loves - you guessed it, everyone but me - it was Very touristy, full of hippies and a pretty crappy beach. I know that it isn't the season for waves, but my next stop put it to shame.

Monpiche is quite literally a 2 street fishing village, with pristine beaches, really friendly people, great cocktails, fishing boats on the sand waiting for evening, little orange crabs scurrying out of sight. It was BEAUTIFUL... and I ended up staying there for a whole week. Chilling, hanging out, enjoying life.

I never made it to San Lorenzo, where the world's tallest mangroves are, but I hear they are awesome.

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Photos

Puerto Lopez
A small fishing village but popular with tourists because of the great whale watching opportunities and an island known as 'Poor Mans Galapagos'

Breakfast is ready!
These were interesting looking birds, rather terradactyl like, keeping a look out for guts n stuff

Whales!
They were beautifully graceful depite their size, a!d very hard to catch on film@

Dolphins too!
It was fabulous to see a pod of dolphins frolicking with the whales!

Mating season for the blue footed boobies
There were hundreds of them on Isla de Plata, and all paired up!

And their feet are really blue!
They really are the most adorable creatures...! The way they look, the way they walk..!

Snorkelling
Except after my little rafting escapade I was a little nervous about being in the ocen without any sort of floatation device... so I stayed on the boat

Ah Monpiche....
One of my favourite destinations in Ecuador...........

My first night
Getting some Caprinas made up

Reforestation
A bar that gave away little plants for you to plant and grow somewhere. What a cool idea!

Sun and surf
Monpiche is a 2 street town and known for its great surf, but I loved it for its lovely people and beach and ocean as far as the eye can see. Heaven.

Monpiche night markets
Selling fish right on the beach round about midnight