A
LAND-MARINE TREASURE IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN PACIFIC
This
interesting and rich national park is located in
continental Ecuador, in the coastal province of
Manabi between the counties of Puerto Lopez and
Jipijapa.
It
has an extension of 55,000 hectares and includes
the islands of La Plata and Salango, besides islets,
rocks, cliffs, bays and beaches; these, together
with its beautiful views and untouched areas constitute
the major attraction of the park.
The
most important beaches are Los Frailes, Salaite,
La Playita, Los Balsamos, La Tortuguita, etc. Among
the islets and rocks we have Pedernales, La Viuda,
Sucre, Horno de Pan, Punta Mala, etc. De la Plata
Island has an extension of 12km2 and a maximum
of 167meters above sea level, and is located 22
nautical miles to the northwest of Puerto Lopez.
Its main features are rocky cliffs, beaches, bays,
and rocks.
The
land area features
the only primary tropical dry forest along the Ecuadorian
coast, with an important transition towards tropical
humid forest in the San Sebastian area. The land
area counts with many archaeological sites, due
to settlements during the Ecuadorian prehistoric
era, starting from the Machalilla to the Manteño-Huancavilca
cultures. The most significant cultural resource
is found in the Buena Vista River Valley, and includes
the Agua Blanca ruins, besides other places with
ceramics. The outstanding feature of the Manteña
culture is the "U" shaped chair that meant
power.
In ancient times De la Plata Island was a center
for religious worship of the Ecuadorian prehistoric
cultures.
VIEW
MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK MAP
It
is further believed that many years later the island
was used as refuge for pirates, among them the famous
Sir Francis Drake, who brought terror with his visits
to the Spanish colonies from the years 1570 to 1596.
Legends say that Drake captured a Spanish galley
full of silver from Peru and that he buried it in
the island; thus the name of De la Plata Island.
The
abundant vegetation of the land area includes species
such as Algarrobo, Palo Santo, Ceibo (Kapok), Muyuyo,
Tuna, Barbasco, Fernan Sanchez, Matapalo, Guayacan,
Balsa, Laurel, among others. De la Plata Island
has flora similar to that of the continent. The
great fauna bio-diversity from the coast to the
highest part of the island includes deer, guantas,
guatusas (a kind of agouti), howler monkeys, squirrels,
ant bears, land iguanas, snakes, parakeets, Umbrella
Birds, parrots, sparrows, swallows, cocubes, humming
birds, land pigeons, sparrow hawks, pelicans, etc.
The
land area is considered one of the most important
sites for bird watching in the world. De la Plata
Island is important for eco-tourism as it counts
with marine birds such as Blue, Red Footed and Masked
Boobies, Frigate Birds, Pelicans, Tropical birds
and Albatross.
Puerto
Lopez, a fisher-man's village within the Machalilla
Natural Park, is the starting point of tourist operations
in the area. Here begins the unique adventure of
observing the marine-land eco-system offered by
the pacific coast of Ecuador.
