Jipijapa and "La ruta del Sol"

After a night “storm” trip from Andes to Pacific coast – we were supposed to make in 8 hours but bus driver managed it in 5h 30min – we arrived to Jipijapa our base to visit "La ruta del Sol".  Waiting for us the fantastic Guevara family with Mitchell the great ambassador. A big family full of good energy, happiness and always willing to help. From great meals to handy tips, enjoyable moments and finally first chance to ride bike (2 of us together)….it will all stay forever in our top memories box J  Inclusive meeting Dona Poncha who we had pleasure to meet in last day but it looked as we were together all week.

On our first day we “run” to the Pacific Ocean only few kilometers from Jipijapa what was our first ever sight and touch on it. And we didn´t get disappointed.  Washing out feet in Puerto Cayo, it was great experience. There we also had a delicious seafood “mnhamy” meal and laugh a lot on frigates birds stealing sardines from fisherman who just arrived from fishing.

On the same day we went to Puerto Lopez and saw our first pelicans which are not robbers like frigates but patient beggars.

On the next day we visited Manta, big city of the region, and went to fish market and got very disappointed and sad with the amount of killed sharks….just for their fins extraction for some typical soup. They said that shark fin soup is delicious but we believe some  fisherman deserved to be “special” soup for sharks. In Manta beach we had our first real bath in great Pacific waters.

In the “Ruta del Sol” we pass one of our biggest and most amazing experiences so far in the day we spent in Los Frailes, the unique coastal national park in Ecuador, near Puerto Lopez. Lovely walk through dry forest, several types of beaches and observation of lizards(some huge) and birds. We end up passing all day in our improvised tent J Just like in movies we felt we were alone in planet J By the end of amazing day we met D. Jorge Chankay, “President” of tourism in this region, his assistant, driver and couple from US with whom we drunk beer and share some nice translating moments J

Next day we add to visit list Agua Blanca, an indigenous region. It was a family trip with Carlos, Eva, Mia, grandma, cousin and Max-schnauzer puppy. Well, it was pretty place with lack of spirit of it’s past. Except historical heritage people are not connected and interested to follow their ancestors. Once again there was more business than spirit. And the mysterious sulfuric lagoon? we still wondering if it wasn`t just rotten eggs pool :D as they don`t know it`s origin. We wish them some innovation and development otherwise it will be no future place wih a lot to explore.

We could not skip a visit to Montecristi, the origin of so wrong called Panama hats and more important the place of birth of Eloy Alfaro first Ecuadorian president. And we found out that the panama hat got this name because, Eloy took it to Panama as a present and they immediately adopted the hat and name. Besides the hat we could see how they make furniture out of paper…realy cool.

In our last evening we offer Slovak meal with Portuguese desert to our hosts. And thankfully they loved it J.  We could also meet “the Funny Gringo” Joel (typical Irish style and American soul), neighbor of Mitchell and got to know the story of the dog with thousands ticks and machete cuts…..you can not believe it till you see it… but thanks to him the dog look just great and full recovered…nice end story =D.

Last day in Jipijapa was very special. Mitchel took us to a secret place. Long bike ride, walk through finally green forest to amazing 30 m high waterfalls called Agua Dulce. Place you see only in books or magazines.

After great time in Jipijapa we took the bus to Guayaquil where we spend night and got ready to fly to Galapagos Islands.

Enchanted Island here we gooooo!!!!!