Our time in Puerto Lopez is better told in pictures. Basically, it's this really cute beach town on the edge of a national park. The beach is beautiful, the water is the perfect temperature, and the wildlife is awesome. Most of our time was spent hanging out on the beach and enjoying the water and scenery, but we did a few activities as well. One day we went out to Isla de la Plata (which is often referred to as "Poor Man's Galapagos") and saw lots of cool birds, fish and other wildlife. And, on our last day, we went parasailing!
Our first sunset over the bay in Puerto Lopez.
Our second sunset over the bay in Puerto Lopez. I swear the sky turned all the colors of the rainbow.
The most amazing batidos (smoothies)!!! I think I drank one every day we were in Puerot Lopez. They were all made with fresh fruit: pineapple, blackberry, passion fruit... My favorite was a blackberry-passion fruit combo--the waitress thought I was really weird when I ordered it. She asked me about 3 times to confirm that was what I wanted.
On the boat out to Isla de la Plata! We were getting on our boat at the same time that all the fisherman were coming in from their morning catch. That means that the stretch of beach where all the boats are anchored was turned into a gutting station. We saw everything from hammerhead sharks (sad :( ) to every specie of fish imaginable. There was one guy walking up to the shore with a bin full of fish on his head, which the birds were attacking trying to steal the fish they could.
First giant sea turtle spotting! (Prize if you can actually find it in this picture, I swear it's there beneath the water).
Welcome to Isla de la Plata! One cool thing we learned: you can volunteer to save baby sea turtles! The giant sea turtles that we saw swimming around in the ocean lay their eggs on the shore. Then, the volunteers help keep the eggs safe so that more baby sea turtles survive.
A baby blue-footed booby! These birds were the main reason I was so excited for Ecuador. This one is a baby, which is why it's feet are blue-grey and also why it's not scared of people--it has grown up with people walking around the island where it lives. Also, it can't fly yet, hence why it's on the ground. These guys were all over the path where we were hiking. Our guide kept telling us we had to "ask them permission to pass."
The whole island is so green!
An older blue-footed booby, with real blue feet.
After snorkeling off the shore of Isla de la Plata. We saw so many brightly colored fish, eels and sea turtles!
Los Frailes beach, one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to. The water was crystal clear, although we still had to be careful with the current (there are some really strong currents off the coast off Ecuador, I definitely got tossed around by the waves a fair number of times.) In addition to the beautiful water, the whole coast was green with white sand.
All along the beach in Puerto Lopez there were bars with hammocks and comfy beach chairs. We enjoyed having a drink with our toes in the sand.
Getting prepared for parasailing! The made sure I was strapped in really well because Maya took a little tumble during her takeoff. The guy who ran the parasailing was from Kentucky, but he had retired to Puerto Lopez. How he decided on Puerto Lopez, Ecuador? Google, I kid you not.
Parasailing up above the bay! It was really relaxing and had great views. Even landing in the water was nice. I swear I saw a sea turtle while I was up in the air.
I basically fell in love with Ecuador while we were there, and I know I will go back sometime during my life. It's just such a beautiful country and the people are really nice. I think Puerto Lopez was one of my favorite places during my vacation thus far.
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