Machalilla National Park, Manabi is one of the most well-known and frequently visited Tourist Attractions in Manabi. Machalilla National Park is situated in Manabi along the Pacific coast near Puerto Lopez. This park is the only coastal park of the country extending to over 60,000 hectares with some 20,000 hectares of ocean area. Machalilla National Park, Manabi consists of beaches, forested areas, islotes and two larger islands, Salango and Isla de la Plata. It is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime affair going beyond the regular natural park experiences you have ever come across.
Dry tropical vegetation is found along the coast and on the islands. Further inland in the higher zones, a more humid tropical forest is found. Hawks and Falcons are some of the most common species along the coast and in the dry tropical forests. Playa de los Frailes is a beautiful sheltered bay in Machalilla National Park, Manabi. With sheer white sand beach and surrounded by a dry tropical forest, it makes for an idyllic spot for leisure and relaxation.
Apart from the beach, Machalilla National Park in Manabi is well known for its Playa de los Frailes. It offers nature trails and viewing spots to the shoreline. Small land birds like the Vermillion Flycatcher, Mockingbird and Motmot are the real treasures of this dry tropical forest. Isla de la Plata, located 45 km off the mainland, is home to seabirds breeding and nesting in this region. Frigate birds nest in the shrubs of this island. You can identify the males with their red pouch baloons which they show off to attract the white breasted females. The white-headed frigates can be found here. Masked and Blue-footed boobies are another type of seabirds nesting in larger numbers here.
Humpback whales can be spotted in the summer months along the beach of the Machalilla National Park, Manabi. They come to mate in the warm tropical waters. It is quite delightful to watch their impressive jumps. Visit the Agua Blanca which is one of the many archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian cultures. The most important cultures were Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera, Bahia, Guangala and Manteņa which were situated along the Pacific coast.
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