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Ruta Spondylus

Formerly known as the Ruta del Sol, this coastline has much more to offer than just sun and sand. The area’s geography runs the gamut from dry scrub and cactus to lush mountainous cloud forests, beautiful beaches and offshore islands teeming with unique flora and fauna. It's easily accessed by buses from Guayaquil in the south to Puerto López and Manta in the north.

The name derives from the spondylus mollusk, commonly known in English as the spiny oyster. Now endangered, Ecuadorian law prohibits their collection and consumption. The shells were used extensively in trade and ceremony by the country's pre-Colombian people.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Ruta Spondylus.

  • See

    Parque Nacional Machalilla

    Preserving isolated beaches, coral formations, two offshore islands, tropical dry forest, coastal cloud forest, archaeological sites and 200 sq km of ocean, Ecuador's only coastal national park is a marvelous and unique destination. Within its nature-rich, strange-looking forest are more than 200 species of birds, including coastal parrots and parakeets, and seabirds such as frigates, pelicans and boobies – some of which nest on the offshore islands. Animals include deer, squirrels, howler monkeys, anteaters and a variety of lizards, snakes and iguanas.

  • See

    Agua Blanca

    A visit to this small indigenous community and its surrounding territory is a chance to escape tar-and-concrete modern Ecuador. You’ll find the turn-off, where you pay an entry fee (which covers museum admission and a guide), about 5.5km north of Puerto López on the right. From here it’s another 6km down a dusty, bumpy road to the village. Once there, you can see pre-Colombian art, soak in a sulfur pool, get a free mud mask,pick from three types of massage, and hike the surrounding forest.

  • See

    Archaeological Museum

    Well worth a visit. Spanish-speaking guides explain the significance of the artifacts, including well-preserved ancient tools, ceramics and funeral urns. The informative tour continues a short walk away at the Manta site, believed to have been an important political capital of the Manta people, with approximately 400 buildings, some waiting for more complete excavation. In 2016 archeologists started excavating one house, where they found more than 250 objects. You can peer right into the structure.

  • See

    Salango Archaeological Museum

    A fascinating collection of more than 245 ceramics pieces is exhibited here. Objects date from 3000 BC to 1500 AD and account the settlements of the Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera Engoroy, Bahia and Guangala peoples. Archaeologists are still making discoveries in this very spot, and there's a lab for research on-site. The museum has 11 cabins (per person $15) on the beach for those wanting to stay and get involved with archaeology projects and research (by prior arrangement only).

  • See

    Mirador de Salango

    Awesome sunset views of Salango, Isla Salango and Río Chico from a wooden observatory jutting out over the sea on a spit of land between Las Tunas and Salango.

  • See

    Fritz the Whale

    Fritz the humpback whale washed up dead on the beach 40km south of Puerto López in 2004. His skeleton was recovered with the help of Hosteria Mandala and some nonprofit organizations, and the restored skeleton, impressive in size and scale, sits on the Malecon just south of Cafe Madame as an educational tool, with signage in four languages.

  • See

    El Pital

    An option for reaching the high forest in and around San Sebastián is to go via El Pital, a community ecotourism project 9km (35 minutes by 4WD) east of Puerto López. Guides (if booked with plenty of notice) can take you on a 3-4 hour trek or horseback ride along trails that crisscross several streams. Trips include a local lunch.