The Three Amigo's Hit the Coast!

On July 14th, Mara, Lance, and I headed for the coast of Ecuador to get a taste of summer and to do some whale watching.  

Mara was kind enough to arrange for a ride from Peter, The American Transporter.  He picked us up at 6:00 in the morning and we headed through the Andes to our eco-lodge where we had reservations to stay for 3 nights.  We were fortunate to have a day with clear skies, which enabled us to see scenery in the Andes that is often blocked by fog or clouds.    

Above is a picture we took when we stopped for a brief bathroom and snack break.  At this point in our trip we were above the clouds pictured in the background.  

The ride to the coast took approximately 7 hours.  At about 1:00, we arrived at our destination, the Azuluna Eco-Lodge, which is located between Montanita and Puerto Lopez.

The lodge is charming, and it includes a lovely restaurant and friendly staff.  The rooms are located in different buildings throughout the grounds that look similar to the one you see above.  During the week we were there it wasn't very busy, but we were told that they were booked solid for the weekend.  

Here are pictures of the reception area, bar and restaurant.  On the second floor there is a game room where you can play board games, ping pong, and billiards.

Below is a peak inside our room, which included a porch with two hammocks, and a view of the ocean.  Even through the temperature was hot, we enjoyed a lovely ocean breeze.  There was mosquito netting provided above the bed, but we weren't bothered by any bugs during our stay.

Below is a view of the ocean from our porch.  The ocean is actually closer than it appears in this picture.  You can hear the waves crashing throughout the day and night.

After settling in, Mara, Lance, and I took a walk down to the ocean.  The water was very warm and the temperature of the water reminded me of my visit to the Florida Keys that I took years ago.  Although the water looked inviting, we were warned that the undertow was very strong in this location and we shouldn't swim there.  

That night we ate at the restaurant, and then went back to our rooms.  The next day we headed to Puerto Lopez for our whale watching tour.  Our tour was arranged through the lodge, so we were fortunate to be picked up and brought back by the tour company.

The all day tour we booked included a boat ride to see the humpback whales; a guided 2 hour tour of Plata Island, which is part of the Machalilla National Park; and snorkeling near a coral reef that hosts a variety of marine life.  We were able to see about 10 whales on our trip, including one whale breaching, and others with their flukes, flippers, or dorsal fin emerging from the water.  Mara and I were each able to climb to the top of the boat where the captain and spotter were located.  There, it was a little bit easier to spot the whales, both above and below the water.   Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to snag a picture.  By the time you got your camera out and focused, they were gone.

Below are pictures of the island that we toured.  As you can see, the terrain is hot and dry.  We had to climb 180 steps to reach the exploration paths, but once there the hike became easier.   

Below is a picture of Mara and our guide having a conversation about the flora and fauna located on the island.

Above and below are two pictures of the blue footed boobies that can be found throughout the island.  They didn't seem to be bothered by the tourists, which made it easy to get a close-up picture of their feet.  

After our tour, we went back to the boat, where they provided a snack, and then most of us went snorkeling.  The water was a refreshing change from the hot, dry conditions on the island.  We were able to see many colorful fish during our brief time in the ocean.  On the way back to the mainland we had lunch on the boat, then made one more stop to look for whales.  We had a great time.     

On the third day of our trip we visited a dusty little town in the morning, which was a short walk from our lodge.  Later that afternoon we hopped a bus and headed to Montanita, where many people go to surf.  It is considered to be a party town, with many bars, hostels, and souvenir shops.  We spent some time wondering about, ate dinner, then caught the bus back to our lodge.  

On our last day, Mara and I took one more walk along the beach.  After lunch, Peter arrived to drive us home.  All in all, it was a wonderful trip.  Thanks for coming with us Mara.  We enjoyed your company, and appreciated your ability to speak Spanish to the local people.   

In other news...

The day after we returned from the coast, Lance and I had a chance to see old friends, Freddy and Caroline, at the Gran Colombia Suites.  The hotel hosted a party with wine, appetizers, and music.   It was a very enjoyable afternoon.  

And...Lance finally caught a picture of one of our hummingbirds that we watch throughout the day.   We've actually signed up for a bird watching class because we have been so fascinated by their behavior.  It meets the week after next for 2 days.   

In two weeks we will be heading to Wisconsin to visit family and friends.  We look forward to seeing all of you soon.