Things to see and do Pacific Coast

At the western end of the country, at 225 km of Loja, 110 of Machala and 70 of Huaquillas, on the Peruvian border, it is the largest reserve of bois and fossilized animals in the world (2 600 ha) which is situated on horseback between the province of Oro and the province of Loja. And so a unique opportunity for the curious visitor to see trees (dead and ashore: They're no longer standing!) over 100 million years ago, transformed into stone, but they haven't lost their wooden appearance… Most are araucarias (still called monkeys). Two paths are possible, the Araucaria Trail and the Petrino Trail. The pétrification of trees would be due to a very high rise in temperature, as well as to an important layer of remains of volcanic lava from frequent eruptions: the minerals (silica, calcium, magnesium, etc.) of these remains would have been absorbed by the cells still living in the tree. In addition to the stone trunks, you can visit the few windows of the park centre of the park setting out marine fossils, and observe the 130 species of birds that inhabit the sites.

Essentially devoted to the export of bananas (80% of domestic production) and shrimp, the port of Machala deserves a visit. The seafront is surrounded by restaurants where you can enjoy all kinds of ceviches and marine specialities. An uninterrupted car parade the very animated Seawall on Saturday and Sunday evening and is crowned with the latest Latin American pipe. But above all it is the starting point for the archipelago of Jambelí, bordered by beautiful beaches.

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Serious agency. Benefits and prices identical to others.

On this superb pedestrian square lined with historical buildings, the first thing to notice is the imposing Palacio Municipal de Guayaquil. Built in 1929, the square neoclassical building is organized around a central glass and wrought iron gallery flanked by four domes.

The adjacent Palacio de la Gobernación is more sober and is characterised by its mixture of styles in vogue in the 1920s. On the other side of the promenade is the Martín Avilé building.

This small agency, run by Pedro, a native of the region easily recognizable by the Panama hat on his head, is the best specialist in whales, particularly on Isla de Plata. Whether you're looking for a whale-watching trip during the whale season, or simply want to discover the Isla de Plata, just 1 hour's sail from the port, Naturis is the place to go for the best information, impeccable service and well-maintained equipment.