6 of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador
Ecuador, the small country of the Four Worlds, offers incomparable experiences to its visitors. For lovers of warm temperatures and trips to destinations close to the sea, Ecuador undoubtedly offers several interesting options. This wonderful country has a great number of beaches as an option for travelers. It is difficult to choose a top list of beaches, so below we list 6 of the most beautiful beaches located in the Galapagos Islands and the Pacific coast. I’m sure that reading about these destinations will make you want to immediately pack your bags and plan your next trip.
Gardner Bay
Located on the eastern coast of the island of Hispaniola, it is two hours by boat from San Cristobal Island. The tourist area is made up of two beaches with a total length of 1300 meters. Its white coral beaches bathed in crystal-clear turquoise waters make this destination a paradisiacal place. In Gardner Bay, you will find colonies of sea lions, three different species of Darwin’s finches, sea turtles, and endemic species such as the albatross. Among the activities you can do in this destination are kayaking, snorkeling, guided walks, and, of course, enjoying the beach on a sunny day.
It is also a dream place for scuba diving lovers, as the islets near the bay are ideal for this activity. What do you think of this destination? According to CNN, Gardner Bay is one of the 30 most beautiful beaches in the world.
Tortuga Bay
To reach Tortuga Bay, visitors usually start their journey from the town of Puerto Ayora, located on the island of Santa Cruz. From there, it’s about 2.5 km along a well-marked trail through arid vegetation and cacti, or you can take a boat to the beach. The trail is relatively easy to follow.
Sea turtles, after whom the place is named, lay their eggs seasonally, as do marine iguanas, which can also be found here, as well as birds such as pelicans, Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds and doves. Tortuga Bay offers a pristine and picturesque beach experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands. It is an ideal destination for surfing, snorkeling and trekking.
Would you visit this place?
San Lorenzo Beach
Located 32 kilometers from the city of Manta in the province of Manabi, its extension is 7 kilometers, making it very easy to access by car. Ideal for water sports, this is a very special place for surf lovers. As for fauna, the area around this beach is home to crabs, pelicans, white herons, seagulls, and frigate birds, among others. It also has a protected area of 50 hectares, where you can observe thorny bush vegetation and other species of flora such as barbasco, salado, mulato, cactus, orchid, cascol, and cabuya.
The climate in this part of the country is pleasant, with average temperatures ranging between 25 and 29 Celsius.
Very close to the beach is a viewpoint with a lighthouse, where visitors have a unique and wonderful view of the Isla de la Plata, another iconic destination of Ecuador, which we will talk about in another blog.
Would you include this beach on your itinerary?
Los Frailes
Los Frailes Beach, located in the heart of the Machalilla National Park in the province of Manabi, is characterized by its white sand and crystal-clear water of blue and green tones. Thanks to the implementation of conservation measures to preserve its beauty, such as controlled access to the beach, it has been maintained in its natural state.
The beach is surrounded by cliffs covered with lush vegetation, making it a stunning place for nature lovers. Visitors can enjoy a number of outdoor activities at ¨Los Frailes¨ Beach, such as swimming, diving, snorkeling, walking along nature trails, and wildlife watching.¨Los Frailes¨ lookout point offers breath-taking panoramic views of the beach and surrounding area.
Canoa Beach
Canoa is a beach in the canton of San Vicente in the province of Manabi. Its beautiful white sandy beach joins the beaches of San Vicente and Briceo. A wonderful destination for adventure lovers, among the activities you can do in Canoa are paragliding or hang-gliding. The breathtaking view allows you to see the adventurers launching themselves from the cliffs, and caves are where you can find the local fauna, such as bats and blue-footed boobies.
In addition, you can go surfing, and the best time to do this sport is between December and April. You can also rent a bicycle to ride along the cycling route, which runs for 15 kilometers, passing through San Vicente, Briceo, and arriving at Baha de Caraquez, three beautiful destinations that you must visit.
Undoubtedly a wonderful destination to have fun and relax, what do you think of this beach option?
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Puerto Chino
A beautiful beach located 24 kilometers from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, its white sand and turquoise waters make its visitors impressed when they arrive at their destination. Its name originates from a small hill near the beach that is shaped like a Chinese hat. A very accessible place by land, adventure lovers can hire bicycles to enjoy a sunny day and have closer contact with nature on their way to the beach of Puerto Chino.
What activities can you do? It is a perfect place to snorkel at the ends of the beach where there are rocks that contain a lot of marine life. Of course, enjoy a trail full of trees and cacti. It is also a good destination for beginner surfers. Sea lions, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, petrels, little egrets, and pelicans can also be seen on the beach.
Would you visit this beach by bike or by car?
Now that you have several options of destinations to include in your itinerary for a trip to Ecuador, no doubt these beaches are the perfect setting for a dream holiday. Comment on which of these options you would visit first.
Marcel Perkins is CEO at Latin Trails. Latin Trails is an incoming destination management company specialized in bespoke tours, with a focus on offering unique experiences throughout Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Peru.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Marcel Perkins
Marcel Perkins is CEO at Latin Trails. Latin Trails is an incoming destination management company specialized in bespoke tours, with a focus on offering unique experiences throughout Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Peru. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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As a photographer I’ve got this way out dream of one day doing a glossy coffee table book on the world’s greatest beaches. One or two of these Ecuador beaches might make the Final Cut. They look really inviting.
Hi Nick, thanks for sharing your personal project of making a book of photographs. Please tell us which two beaches from this blog you would include?
When we had a holiday in Ecuador we spent far more time on the beaches than we had expected to. They were a real bonus for our holiday..
Hi Jenny, I’m glad to read that you have visited Ecuador, do you remember which beaches you went to on your holidays? Really this beautiful country is a paradise full of beautiful beaches.
Great timing for a post for readers in the UK. The heat’s slipping away and the rain’s started. It looks more like winter outside than autumn. Definitely time to start thinking of booking a trip to tropical beaches.
Hi Valerie, thank you for your comment. I agree with you, it is a good time to plan a well deserved holiday. Ecuador certainly offers a great variety of beautiful beaches where visitors can go and do many cultural and adventure activities.
You’re getting an incredible amount of wildlife for your buck at Gardner Bay. If you see that much it’s well worth the journey there.
Hi Alex, Gardner Bay is undoubtedly one of the most popular beaches in South America and all visitors are surprised when they get there. The biodiversity of fauna and flora as well as the paradisiacal landscapes make this place a real natural treasure worth visiting at least once.
I read a very interesting newspaper article asking if global warming will bring an end to the great Summer travel migration to southern Europe.
Some people will be seeing these beautiful beaches and thinking that temperatures from 25 to 29 centigrade are close to perfect.
Hi Elizabeth, it’s a pity what global warming can do, but I agree with you. The great advantage of Ecuador is its pleasant temperatures, so a visit to this beautiful country especially if you are a beach holiday lover will feel great.
No need to ask – Would you visit this place? – about Tortuga. It’s got to be a no brainier.
Hi Fiona, I agree with you, Tortuga Bay is a special destination, which could be blogged about in its entirety. The biodiversity present in the place makes it a magical destination for its visitors.
It looks as if most of these beaches have got so much going for them – wildlife, clean white sands, warm blue seas and best of all, not too many people around.
For me these images show beaches as they should be, unspoilt and beautiful. Far too many beaches have lost their charm because of overdevelopment.