The Coas

A tropical region running along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The area is divided into six provinces: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, El Oro and Los Rios. Although the total coastline of Ecuador stretches to approximately 2,237 kilometres, a mere 700 belongs to the continental part. The coast, called "Costa", offers beautiful, clean beaches, reefs, rocky formations and countless bays, large ports, picturesque fishing villages and luxury holiday resorts.

All year round, tourists can enjoy clear, warm waters of the Pacific, excellent food, welcoming locals and countless attractions. Several reserves, such as the Machalilla National Park or the Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve, offer various "eco-activities" or adrenaline sports. The Ruta del Sol, or the Route of the Sun, is a coastal highway following the coastline of the Pacific Ocean.

More than a hundred incredible beaches are dotted along the Route of the Sun, some of them completely uninhabited. From Salinas, the largest beach resort in Ecuador, to the Machalilla National Park with the "Los Frailes", one of the most beautiful beaches in South America, to the Isla de la Plata, this region has it all. Every summer from June to September, hundreds of humpback whales come here to breed and whale watching is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Ecuador.

The whole coast offers some of the best surfing spots in South America, such as: Ayampe, Montañita, San Mateo, Punta Bellaca, Canoa and many others. The climate is tropical, hot, and humid in the north and hot and dry in the south. The average temperature is 24°C (usually between 18 and 30°C). The climate is affected by the El Niño Ocean Current (warm) from the north and the Humboldt Current (cold) from the south.