Isla de la Plata and Ecuador's Coast
Did you know the Galapagos Islands are off the coast of Ecuador? Did you know there's a cheaper, closer version you can visit called Isla de la Plata? Isla de la Plata, or Island of the Silver, is only an hour by boat from Puerto Lopez, Ecuador, and has a great array of sea life as well as the famous Blue and Red Footed Boobies and some other island birds. Today I'll be discussing our visit and what you can expect.
We hired a local English speaking guide to drive us the 5 hours from Cuenca to Olón with a stop in Salinas for brunch. I had the tigrillo which is made from mashed plantains then combined with egg and your choice of meat and potatoes. Our guide told us that there was a Tik Tok competition between Peru and Ecuador for the best tigrillo at the time and I thought the mixed tigrillo was quite good for a great price!
In Olón we stayed at the Sea Garden Inn where David and I got the top floor room overlooking the ocean. We spent the remainder of the day at the beach where I collected some rockets and even saw a hermit crab. Street dogs are still common even on the coast, where we were joined by a beach dog for about an hour before he left us. The inn was so peaceful and even offered breakfast starting at 8. We're thinking of returning for a beach getaway in this sleepy town.
The next morning we left early and headed out to Puerto Lopez to catch the tour to Isla de la Plata. At Puerto Lopez there are many small tourist shops lining the beach and you can watch the boats come in to the pier and shore. While on our way to the island we whale watched, as early September is prime season for the coast of Ecuador. We were able to catch sight of breaching whales and the boat made sure to stop and circle every time we saw them. The tour was through Palo Santo and was very professional and well done while having English translation (and a bathroom!).
When we arrived to the island the boat pulled up directly to the shore and they collected our shoes in a bag so we could wade from the boat to the sand. Others chose to stay on the boat to tour around the island with the company's biologist and learn about the local sea life. On the island the guide showed us a map of the available trails. All trails started with a short but steep hike up to a view point which included 150 stairs, so be prepared that and make sure to wear sunscreen! The weather in early September was approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit and overcast. At the viewpoint we then decided which trail to take. We opted for the shortest trail which had the best view of the Blue Footed Booby birds. We were able to see them nesting and courting and even saw a baby still white from youth. Only 200 people a day are allowed on this protected island, so it's definitely a special experience.
After the hike we returned to the boat and traveled around the island where we had the option to swim/snorkel. There was a reef and many saw rays, sea turtles, and schools of fish. The tour company also provided lunch of a sandwich, fruit, and banana bread. The entire tour was from 9 to 5 so be prepared for a full day.
The next day we headed out and stopped by Agua Blanca National Park to view some historic artifacts, such as these carved heads and the inside of the conch shell which they used as a drill, and burial sites dating from the Incas and Cañaris and even earlier. The Cañaris buried their dead in large pots in the fetal position as they believed in reincarnation. However, our guide explained the concept of Antimonio, which is believed to be a sickness that someone catches when they interact with these artifacts. The sickness is a curse that protects the artifacts from wrong doing. He told us a story of his grandfather who fell ill with stroke-like symptoms after finding a clay pot on his farm one afternoon. He could only be cured by a shaman.
On the safer side of things, the museum had a small shop for local crafts and I was able to pick up a bracelet made from Spondylus, a local shell found only in the region. I also recommend picking up some Palo Santo, a fragrant tree which you can buy wood or oil from.
Finally, we stopped by Los Frailes, or The Friars, Ecuador's white sand beach with clear waters. The waves were somewhat high here and we were ready to head back to Cuenca so we only stayed long enough to grab some pictures. We even managed to spot a squirrel and a deer on the drive in, which was a welcome sight to my American eyes.
In my next post I'll discuss visiting Ingapirca, Ecuador's Incan and Cañari ruins. Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to subscribe for updates and check out my Instagram :)
