The Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast: Pirates & chocolate

The perfect spot to taste the world´s most delicate “fine-aroma” cacao.

Contact a specialist

The Pacific Coast: Pirates & chocolate

The perfect spot to taste the world´s most delicate “fine-aroma” cacao.

Contact a specialist

The Pacific Coast: Pirates & chocolate

The perfect spot to taste the world´s most delicate “fine-aroma” cacao.

Contact a specialist

The Pacific Coast

Once the Andean mountain range descends to near sea level, extensive plains lined with banana, rice, shrimp, and cacao farms stretch out as far as the land can take them towards the Pacific Coast.

These “alluvial” plains are fertile and tropical, produce mangos and exotic fruits like the pitahaya, breadfruit, mamey… The men and women who live traditionally in these lands are called Montubios, local coastal farmers that live near plantations in rustic wood houses built on stilts to protect them from humidity and insects.

When to travel?

On the coast (including Guayaquil), it is coolest during the northern hemisphere’s Summer months (July-Sept), with the highest humidity and hot weather between February and May.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN THE COAST (Guayaquil)

Month	Day	Night
January	88°F/31°C	73°F/23°C
February	88°F/31°C	75°F/24°C
March	90°F/32°C	75°F/24°C
April	90°F/32°C	75°F/24°C
May	88°F/31°C	73°F/23°C
June	84°F/29°C	71°F/22°C
July	84°F/29°C	70°F/21°C
August	84°F/29°C	70°F/21°C
September	86°F/30°C	70°F/21°C
October	84°F/29°C	72°F/22°C
November	86°F/30°C	73°F/23°C
December	88°F/31°C	73°F/23°C

Guayaquil surroundings and the Chocolate Experience

You couldn’t dream of a place like Guayaquil being in the same country as Ecuador’s capital, Quito (not to mention that only a half-an-hour-plane ride stands between these two contrasting cities). Guayaquil is Ecuador’s main port, commercial hub, and largest urban sprawl. It extends over what was once a veritable “green Venice” dominated by the mangroves that escort the imposing River Guayas on its path to the Pacific Ocean, yet today, most of nature has given way to a busy port city with malls, condos, peripheral highways, and a bustling downtown in constant motion.

Guayaquil, the great port city

For starters, the River Guayas: this massive chocolate-colored waterway, which dons the country’s coat of arms, is among the largest river deltas of the Pacific Ocean and a remarkable promenade that spans several kilometers in length, featuring everything from archaeology museums and historical monuments, the Historical Park which features an oasis for wildlife within the city and the traditional neighborhood of Las Peñas.

The best cacao on Earth

Cacao was once the mainstay of an entire national economy, and the rural plains north and west of the city became great cacao plantations, which you can visit today and learn about the elaborate process of making chocolate, from “seed to bar.” The fruit itself is tasty, yet real chocolate is not on the sweet pulpy surface of these seeds, but within them. You will certainly be awestruck at the level of sophistication involved in making one of the world’s most beloved sweets.

Wayra´s booking plan

Peace of mind. Because we have been on every single yacht, lodge, hotel, and destination we recommend. So you can trust us we´ll offer only the best.

Senior Travel Advisors

We know our neighborhood pretty well. We know what is better for a family, for children, for an anniversary or a surprise. Every hotel, city, or National Park had been carefully selected.

Someone caring for you

Staff with a smile and a warm welcome plus a remarkable knowledge of the destination will make a difference in your journey.

Sociable & Environmentaly Sustainable

We are passionate when working and developing commercial and financial strategies to support new entrepreneurs, small local businesses, and indigenous communities.

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Testimonials

“

Hacienda Zuleta is a rare gem hidden in the Ecuadorian Andes. We stayed there for three nights with Gloria, our guide. She was a wealth of knowledge, a patient+friendly guide!

”