The tour begins with an early departure from Guayaquil to Santa Elena, in a journey of about 1H30 by the Pacific coast highway, admiring a unique agricultural landscape.
We reach Atahualpa, home of small artisans and cabinet-makers who work wood as a family tradition for over 100 years.
We continue our tour passing through the former gas and oil camp built by the British of the Anglo Oil Fields in the 1950´s. Then arrive to Ancon, with a spectacular view of the coastal profile of this area. We continue towards the fishing commune of Anconcito, traditionally known for its intense fishing activity.
Then we take the Mar Bravo road to La Libertad to visit a workshop of local craftsmen that design spondylus jewels, a precious shell which was used by our ancestors as a means of trading with the pre-Hispanic cultures of America.
We take the north road passing by typical fishing villages of the coast as San Pablo, San Pedro, Libertador and Valdivia until arriving to the commune of Barcelona. This small village is mainly inhabited by elderly people who dedicate their lives to harvest and prepare the toquilla straw, raw material for making the famous “toquilla straw hats”.
From here a detour will take us to Sitio Nuevo, where tagua seed artisans design creative pieces of art.
We continue to Montañita to have lunch and after a short break start our return to Guayaquil.
Duration: 8 hours approximately
IT INCLUDES:
- Lunch
- Private bilingual guide (Spanish – English)
- Private land transportation
- Meals specified in the program based on menu (vegetarian menu should be requested in advance)
- Entrance fee
- Soft drinks and snacks for the road.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Food not specified in the program
- Tips
- Service not specified in the program
NOTE:
Many social and community programs are developed in this part of the coast, in order to involve the inhabitants with the socio-tourist development of the zone.
Any of the visits can be replaced with one to the Valdivia Aquarium.
THIS PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO HOLIDAYS, OPERATIONAL REASONS OR DEPENDING ON THE DAY.