I’ve covered a lot of ground to get where I am now, which is the lazy beach town of Puerto Lopez. The drive out here was about as diverse a scene as Ecuador can throw your way. From Baños, I went across the Andes and down into the tropical plains (if there is such a thing) near Guayaquil. Arriving in Guayaquil I saw my first highway since I left the states. Guayaquil, from what I saw, most closely resembles Los Angeles. Not the skyline but the areas surrounding downtown. I changed buses there and kept heading west. Another three hours and I had to change buses again. This time in the dusty town of Santa Elena. Who knew that Ecuador had a desert. Wind blew tumbleweed across the road and cacti were the only other vegetation. It definitely looked liked it belonged along the US’s famous Route 66. Another hour and I was in what I had hoped would be my home for the next month, Montañita.
Montañita is a tourist hotspot that is unlike any other town in Ecuador. Located right on the beach, the town is filled with hotels, hostels, bars, surf shops, dreadlocks and 20-somethings. Getting off the bus I was smacked right in the face by the most humid air I have ever experienced. Reggae music blasts from every which way while the air is occupied with the scent of fruit from juice stands, sunscreen, and burning marijuana. It is high season in Ecuador (meaning a lot of tourists, nothing related to the marijuana reference) so prices are a little higher than usual. I had trouble finding a hostel and, after being shot down by about seven, I opted for a hotel. I got a single room with a shower that did not work for $30.
At night the streets are full of young adults of all nationalities. So far on my travels I have encountered a lot of Australians. Not in Montañita though. It was like the Olympic games of tourism. Every corner of the globe was represented. I met people from all over Europe, North America, a few from Africa, but the vast majority were Argentinean. A quick side note: Colombian women have officially been dethroned. The girls of Argentina take the cake.
I went around to various hostels to see if they took volunteers, which none did. This left me very little choice but to hit the road and continue north, which may have been a blessing in disguise because I don’t think I could have handled staying in the craziness of Montañita for the long term. A 1-2 hour bus ride and I arrived at Puerto Lopez. I found a hostel/hotel that only had one room left. A single with a fully operational shower and a balcony with views of the ocean for only $8. I will use this as my base camp for the next few days as I try and find a volunteer possibility that will help save money, but $8 a night isn’t a bad alternative.
Puerto Lopez is located on the edge of Machalilla National Park, which I am hoping supplies me with a few nice excursions into the wilderness. Each morning dozens of fisherman compete with a few pelicans for the catch of the day. I will continue to look for a month long volunteer possibility... tomorrow. For now I’m just gonna relax in a hammock, eat a mango, and watch the sun disappear into the ocean.
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