Playa de los Frailes

Playa de los Frailes

Playa de los Frailes
4.5
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3 within 6 miles

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles659 reviews
Excellent
517
Very good
127
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
2

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Gabba D
Quito, Ecuador46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Los Frailes beach is located in the Machalilla National Park. Thanks to Ecuador's preventive care, it is preserved very well. A few days ago we visited this place as a family. We took a short walk and were able to look at several animals. When we swam as a family we managed to see whales in the distance!! Marvelous. I recommend bringing a parasol or renting one before entering. Bring water in thermoses or a tomato. And there is a part in the center of the beach where there are red flags, be careful as you cannot enter the sea there. There are showers outside in the parking lot that cost a dollar and allow you to rinse off the salt water, obviously without soap or shampoo, and there are changing tables.
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Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cindyanddoug
Detroit29 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
The beach was beautiful, and there were changing rooms and restrooms. Umbrellas were available for rental. It was very busy, though it was Sunday so may be less busy during the week. The beach has quite a steep incline so the waves break late and there is an undertow. Not recommended for small children.
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Weezi2013
Toronto, Canada73 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We came here mid-week and it was not crowded at all.

A beautiful long pristine stretch of beach, with a mirador on a clifftop at the north end. (We didn't do the mirador).

I found the waves a bit strong because I currently have mobility challenges, but we moved further north along the beach to where the waves were gentler and then it was fine, even on a red-flag day.

Walking into the water was like stepping into a warm bath. Swam for an hour and still didn't want to get out.

There are lots of trees and shelter at the edge of the beach, but there are no bathrooms or concessions so make sure to bring a picnic (the town of Puerto Lopez is close by and in much of Ecuador you are not far from a roadside stand) and water and a good book. Also bring a copy of your passport (required for entry) and lots of sunblock.

There are showers and bathrooms adjacent to the parking lot, for a small fee.

On a Wednesday the beach unfortunately closed at 4pm, so get here early if you want to make a day of it.
Written March 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sofia C
Quito, Ecuador31 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Friends
It was a wonderful experience. The sea and sand looked spotless, making this beach an ideal place to enjoy with friends or family. Definitely a perfect destination to relax and spend unforgettable moments.
Automatically translated
Written January 15, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

laura j
Cuenca, Ecuador604 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Great wee spot. I had the camarones in salsa verde, very tasty. The patacones were mi rico! Large portions, great price. My partner had the fish of the day, Dorado, pan fried. It was excellent. Swerve the wine, not so great! Decent prices.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ana M
Lexington, KY14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Pristine beach like hour away from Manta. Well preserved area. No restaurants or hotels. Closest city is Puerto Lopez like 15 minutes away.
Perfect place to relax
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

behindwalls
New York City, NY19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2012 • Friends
This was the best beach I went to in Ecuador. We went there twice, we liked it so much. The water was great and not crowded at all. To get there, you need to take a bus that will drop you off at the entrance of the National Park, where you will be signing in at the gate. You will hire a motorbike to take you to the actual beach. When you go to the beach there are some rock formations all the way to the left where you can have smaller beaches all to your own.
Written August 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

grkelley
Space Coast, FL13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
We are from the U.S. & only know a few words, numbers, & phrases in Spanish. We drove our rental car from Ayampe to Playa Los Frailes, Machalillia. About a 30 minute drive. They asked for our passports & asked our age (in Spanish, of course). The park ranger politely gave us instructions...We only understood, "drive slow, respect wildlife &/or something else, & no fire/smoking..." Not sure what else he said. It was the end of April, on a Wednesday, in the AM, only a few people there. We parked & someone checked our backpacks before we walked on the beach. Walked south to the small cave, saw a bunch of cute pink crabs, a few hermit crabs, & a bunch of frigate birds flying above (I love seeing those guys)! Walked back north past the parking lot to the trailhead to the overlook. It was mostly soft sand, so my bum calves were working & were tired. It was a 10-12 minute walk from the parking lot north to the trailhead for the overlook. Max 30 minutes to walk uphill to the overlook and back down to the trailhead, including a few minutes to take pictures & soak in the view. Very pretty. We did not go in the water, but there were waves that stood up & broke right on the beach (we call it shore pound)...Little ones &/or adults should be cautious if you are not used to that, otherwise, it should be fun! FYI, it looked like there were submerged rocks towards the very south end of the beach/ bay - perhaps that is good snorkeling. Also, I am glad we did not bring a cooler full of beverages, like we normally do at home. If we read the big sign correctly - no drinks, food, or anything allowed! There were umbrellas for rent when we got there & there was water, sodas, & a few vendors selling jewelery/ little things at the parking lot when we left. There were bathrooms, which I had to give the lady/attendant 25 or 50 cents to use (she also gave me TP). I think the building that you immediately see to the north at the parking lot had showers, which had an attendant in front of it also, but we did not use it. We went through a police check point on the main road on the way back to Ayampe.

Written May 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MonkeyMelissa
Medellin, Colombia24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Couples
We hired a car to take us because we were still recovering from a bad food poisoning incident. If you take a bus, you have to walk probably 2-3km from the road to get to the beach.
Having a car/driver for a day only cost us $20 and it was worth it, as he drove use to Agua Blanca afterward.
The park closes at 4pm!
Beautiful beach, very clean. There's a simple snack bar (no alcohol allowed) about 100 meters from the beach if you need anything.
We rented an umbrella for $4, which was a good call. There's not really anywhere to get shade.
Beautiful place! Definitely recommended. Pack a picnic, towel, and plenty of sun protection!
Written July 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jordon C
Kenora, Canada76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Family
Absolutely beautiful beach, they say the best in Ecuador! I wouldn't disagree! However.....my mom would claim she was almost killed by the waves here.....lol. The steepness of the beach does create some pretty decent bodysmashers so be careful, we did see a few people get rag dolled, including my mom........
Written April 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Playa de los Frailes - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All things to do in Machalilla National Park
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