AROUND AYAMPE
Welcome to WILD CHILD VILLAGE, Ayampe's first Boutique Eco-Retreat Centre grounded in
sustainability and community.
We are a conscious collective of artists rooted deeply in traditional and spiritual practices, permaculture, artistic expression, movement, and a commitment to co-create new understandings of self and tribe. Through transformational wellness retreats, educational programs and adventure, we seek to empower people to explore their passions, find their purpose and help create bold actions to bring forth a sustainable future that works for all.
BOAT TRIP TO ISLA DE SALANGO
Isla Salango – along with Isla de la Plata and other islands – is a part of the over 136,000 acre Parque Nacional Machalilla , a protected national park on the Pacific coast near Puerto Lopez in Manabi province. The waters in the area are a breeding ground for humpback whales and habitat for sea turtles. You may see sea turtles in the water, but more often they will be seen on tours to Isla de la Plata. If you are in Puerto Lopez during June to September, don’t miss seeing the humpback whales. Birdlife you will see on the tour includes the Blue-footed Booby and other species of seabirds such as waved albatross, soaring overhead or sitting on the cliffside in a mosaic of white-grey splattered guano.
AGUA BLANCA
COLIBRI TRAIL
The Colibri Trail is a 12 km trail that runs through a protected forest in the mountains above Ayampe.You will see many birds and blue morpho butterflies. Colibri means hummingbird in Spanish. You’ll almost definitely see a rare, indigenous species of hummingbird, the Esmeralda Woodstar.
The route. Follow the highway parallel to town and turn right at the wide, dirt road where a sign marks the beginning of the trail. The Colibri follows the river and is well marked and maintained, that is until you a reach a crossing where it just sort of ends. No signage. Nothing that congratulates you and tells you to head on back. However, you can keep trucking by following a narrow, overgrown trail that shrimp fishermen use to access the river. Here the forest becomes denser, but quite lovely, offering ample wildlife scoping.
Agua Blanca is a settlement in one of the oldest archeological sites in South America, in the heart of the Machalilla National Park in Ecuador, on the remains of the Manteño culture’s pre-Columbian period. It is a mix of natural wonder, culture, and archeology. A set of temples, houses, and plazas typical of the Manteño culture, as well as archeological items and skulls, can be found on this site dating from 1500 BC. A natural sulfur lagoon can also be found on the site and is accessible by tourists. It is said the mineral waters and muds in the lagoon can help the skin and wellbeing of visitors. Howling monkeys, butterflies, hummingbirds, and local flora like ceibo trees can also be seen here, and a hiking tour to local haciendas is included as part of the visit experience. English-speaking guides can be requested.
