On Ecuador's Pacific coast, I had a really relaxing week at the eco-resort at Playa Escondida (which means "Hidden Beach"). It's northwest of Quito (about seven hours by bus), 90 minutes south of the city of Esmeraldas (which has an airport), west of Same (pronounced SAH-may), and north of Muisne -- an isolated, peaceful spot along the paved road to Punta Galera.
In mid-December, there were only a couple of other guests, so the beach was often all mine. (I heard that some travelers stay at resorts in Same, and drive out here only for the delicious food, because they insist on having flush toilets -- instead of the composting toilets that don't use water. This at an eco-resort in an area where fresh water is scarce!? Grumble, grumble. Well, I guess it leaves this lovely place for people like me...)
Here's a bit of what I saw as I wandered along the beach that week.
To get a larger version of any picture, click on it.
(To come back to this tour, click the "return to tour" link
or use your brower's "Back" button.)
[Previous page: Trip to Ecuador]
[Next page: Christmas Eve Parade in Cuenca]
[Tour start: Ecuador, December 2007]
[More photo tours]
(These photographs are Copyright © 2007 by Jerry Peek. Much higher-resolution versions of most images, and many other images too, are available at Jerry Peek Photography. Photos are available at reduced prices, or free, for non-commercial use.)