Los Frailes
A sandy bay between dry cliffs.
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Machalilla National Park is a reserve on the Pacific coast of Manabí province in Ecuador, near Puerto López. It brings together beaches, dry forest, fog forest and small islands, along with the larger islands of Salango and Isla de la Plata. Its best-known beach is the quiet bay of Los Frailes, a favourite with visitors to the area. The park was established in 1979 and named a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. Its lists include more than 270 bird species, two species of monkey and armadillos, and it is the only habitat of the waved albatross outside the Galápagos. Humpback whales breed in its waters. It has faced threats from logging, commercial fishing and tourism itself. Here is a rare dry forest of opuntia cactus, palo santo and kapok, unlike the usual picture of Ecuador. At Los Frailes you walk on wide sand between dry cliffs topped with grey scrub, with a view of the whole bay from above. Inland lies the village of Agua Blanca with a small museum. The sea is open, so the waves are sometimes strong. Los Frailes is 6.8 km in a straight line north of Puerto López. British advice is against all but essential travel to Manabí province, so check your government's advice. Bring water and food, as services are few and shade scarce. Ask about sea conditions before swimming. Keep to the trails and leave no litter.
A sandy bay between dry cliffs.
Cactus, palo santo and kapok.
A small village and museum.
Near Puerto López, Manabí province
The sea is open and waves are sometimes strong, so ask about conditions first.
The island is part of the park, but it needs a separate boat trip.