Puerto López is the tourism heart of the Manabí coast: a fishing town that in season becomes Ecuador's whale-watching capital. It's just 17 km (20 minutes) from Ayampe.
Humpback whale watching
From June to September, boats leave the Puerto López waterfront for one of the Pacific's best natural spectacles. It's the number-one reason to visit. Here's the full season and tours guide.
Isla de la Plata: the "poor man's Galápagos"
An hour away by boat, this island in Machalilla National Park offers blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, trails and snorkeling — Galápagos-style wildlife for a fraction of the price. Full-day tours often combine it with whale watching in season.
Los Frailes and Machalilla Park
Puerto López is the gateway to Los Frailes, considered Ecuador's most beautiful beach, and to Machalilla National Park with its dry forest and archaeological sites.
Food
The waterfront is lined with fresh seafood restaurants: ceviches, grilled fish and coconut encocados. A great place to eat with your feet almost in the sand.
Where to stay: the Ayampe advantage
Puerto López is ideal for tours but can be busy. Many travelers choose to sleep in quiet Ayampe, 20 minutes away, and drive down to Puerto López just for excursions. It's the best of both worlds: action by day, silence by night.
