Places to visit & activities
Contents
In and around Salinas
Guayaquil
Quito
Cuenca
Galápagos Islands
The Amazon
Activities
In and around Salinas
Whale-watching
July is the prime season for whale-watching. Humpback whales migrate 5000km
from the Antarctic ocean to our balmy seas to feed and mate. They swim along
our shores as close as 20 miles off the coast. There is a wide offer of daily
tours of 3-4 hours departing 5 blocks from the club.
Ruta del Sol
The "Route of the Sun” is our Pacific Coast Highway, a road that
begins in Salinas and reaches northern beaches and secluded paradises. Its 400
kilometer path goes through many touristic spots that offer a wide range of
food and lodging as well as scuba diving, fishing and snorkeling tours. Map...
Interesting spots:
- Montañita
- Ballenita
- Ayangue
- Punta Carnero (to the southest of Salinas)
Many museums let the visitor learn about our history, culture and nature:
“Machalilla” National Park offers a museum which showcases our
native cultures.
"Salinas Siglo XXI", 10 blocks from the Club, has a collection of
local archaeological and sea treasures.
"Farallón Dillon", in the town of Ballenita, is a fantastic
gallery of tools, ornaments, souvenirs, paintings and crafts related to sailing
and navigation in general. Its owner, a merchant seaman who has been gathering
this treasures for all his working life, is willing to welcome his visitors
whenever they go.
Fishing
Salinas is a prime destination for anglers all over the world who seek marlin
and tuna fishing.
The SYC hosts the annual Salinas International Billfish Tournament, sponsored
by the International Game-fish Association.
Day fishing trips are available throughout the year.
Guayaquil
- The biggest city in Ecuador.
- Main economic and industrial venue.
- Main sea port in the country.
- Easy air access.
- Daily flights to “Simón Bolivar International Airport“
from Miami, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Madrid, Buenos Aires.
- Wide range of hotel offerings.
- Excellent international cuisine.
- Great shopping.
- Wide variety of local tourism attractions.
- 150 km from Salinas
Guayaquil Historic Park
An ancient part of the city that has been regenerated, it offers the possibility
of being in touch with traditions, wild life and old architecture.
More on http://www.parquehistorico.com
Malecón 2000
Along the Guayas River, modern buildings, parks and shoppings attract foreign
and local tourists. The "malecón" (riverside street) was inaugurated
in the year 2000 following the latest concepts in structures and architecture.
More on http://www.malecon2000.org
Quito
Situated in an Andean valley at 2,850 m above sea level at the foot of Volcano
Pichincha (4,794 m), Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, is a modern city with
a living history. One of Latin America’s most historically important cities,
Quito has been declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity site by UNESCO. Noteworthy
for its architectural beauty, Quito is home to numerous churches and convents
built in the colonial period. In Quito’s historical center, with its steep,
narrow, cobblestone streets, the artistic and architectural influence of Spain
can be seen in the general architectural style of the homes, their balconies,
their tiled roofs, and their interior patios.
However, despite its rich living history, Ecuador’s capital is at the
same time a modern metropolis with a variety of hotel facilities to chose from,
including many of the world’s major hotel chains. Quito also has countless
restaurants (serving national and international cuisine, alike), shopping centers,
theaters, convention centers, and everything else that the most demanding tourist
could possible need.
More on http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/pichincha_en.htm
Cuenca
Surrounded by mountains, traversed by four rivers, and home to beautiful 14th-
and 15th- century architecture, Cuenca surprised nobody when it was declared
a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the Old Town, you will find Parque Calderón
and other colonial parks and plazas, neighborhoods that date back to the first
days of the Spanish conquest of the area, and religious art museums showcasing
some of Ecuador’s most impressive artwork.
More on http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/azuay_en.htm
Galápagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are home to many islands on which tourists can appreciate
and explore the pristine state of the complex, constantly evolving ecosystem
that has made the Galapagos so famous.
In certain areas of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, it is possible to partake
in both deep or shallow diving and to have close-up contact with the impressive
aquatic species of the sea: coral reefs, whales, whale sharks, hammer head sharks,
sting rays, manta rays, sword fish, turtles, and many others.
More on http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/galapagos_nature.htm
Darwin Foundation: http://www.darwinfoundation.org
Galapagos National Park: http://www.galapagospark.org
The Amazon
The 655,781 ha Cuyabeno Fauna Production Reserve, located in northeastern Sucumbíos,
is one of the Amazon Rain Forest’s most biologically rich areas. Located
between the San Miguel and Aguarico river basins, Cuyabeno’s endless stretches
of lakes, rivers, and tropical forests are home to countless species of mammals,
insects, reptiles, aquatic life, and rare and endangered species birds. Cuyabeno
is also a caiman reserve. The Reserve is generally reached by navigating down
the Aguarico or Cuyabeno rivers. Tours of the Reserve can be arranged with local
guides in nearby Nueva Loja (more commonly known as Lago Agrio) or in a variety
of other towns and cities: Quito, Baños, Missahuallí, etc.
The most popular sports in the region are rafting and kayaking, chosen by those
looking for the maximum in adventure in the middle of a paradise of pure and
crystal waters. In the Napo, Misahuallí, Hollín, or Calmitoyacu,
near the 16th century town of Archidona, it is easy to find underground rivers,
cracks, passageways, and impressive caves among the powerful waters that run
through the Amazon jungle.
More on http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/amazon_nature.htm
Activities
In Ecuador you will find a multicultural and mega-diverse Country. Each natural
region offers a wide variety of activities for everyone. Go to http://www.vivecuador.com/html2/eng/activities.htm
to have a detailed look at the countless activities related to sports, nature,
history and volunteer.
