Parque Nacional Machalilla
Parque Nacional Machalilla
Parque Nacional Machalilla
4.7
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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.
4.7
65 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
11
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
laura j
Cuenca, Ecuador603 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Okay Sunday may not have been the best day to visit a local beach, but I was there shortly after 8am when Parque Machalilla opened so it was fine. Los Frailles beach is spectacular and such a great view from the mirador. Tortuga Beach is smaller and wilder. The third beach with the red crabs gives a good view of Machalilla.
Written January 14, 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.
Tony S
Minneapolis, MN434 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
You can visit the park from Puerto Lopez for $15 round trip. The cab will drive you all the way to the beach entrance and pick you back up at an assigned time. Our hotel advised us to not pay until the return to insure the cab comes back. We paid on the front end and had no issues. You can probably do this a little cheaper but you'll need to walk a dusty road for a half hour from the entrance gate to the beach or hire an additional motor taxi for a ride. Also, you'll need to know your Passport number when you enter the park, though we just made some up.
This will leave you at the famed los Frailes beach. We came to hike and explore and didn't plan on hanging at the beach, but most people come here for the beach. Like all National Parks, you don't need to go far to lose the crowds. If you look North, (to the right) you'll see a viewpoint high on a hill and you can walk down the beach to find the start of a trail system. If you climb to the view point you can see two more beaches to the North and there is a third around the point which you can get to. If you continue on the trail uphill after the third beach the trail will take you back to the road from the park entrance to los Frailes. We turned around and took our path back to where the cab dropped us off at the beach entrance.
There are some shops, ice cream, bathrooms and water/drinks available here. The whole area is a dry rain forest and can be very hot when your off the beach, bring plenty of water. If you're not spending the day at the beach 2 - 3 hours is plenty of time to explore the area. The beaches are beautiful but we found the dry forest surprisingly dull. There were so many small lizards that I was calling it the lizard forest. All you heard was the scampering of little feet on the dry leaves as you walked the trails.
Our cab was right on time and we were back in Puerto Lopez with a good portion of the day to still enjoy.
This will leave you at the famed los Frailes beach. We came to hike and explore and didn't plan on hanging at the beach, but most people come here for the beach. Like all National Parks, you don't need to go far to lose the crowds. If you look North, (to the right) you'll see a viewpoint high on a hill and you can walk down the beach to find the start of a trail system. If you climb to the view point you can see two more beaches to the North and there is a third around the point which you can get to. If you continue on the trail uphill after the third beach the trail will take you back to the road from the park entrance to los Frailes. We turned around and took our path back to where the cab dropped us off at the beach entrance.
There are some shops, ice cream, bathrooms and water/drinks available here. The whole area is a dry rain forest and can be very hot when your off the beach, bring plenty of water. If you're not spending the day at the beach 2 - 3 hours is plenty of time to explore the area. The beaches are beautiful but we found the dry forest surprisingly dull. There were so many small lizards that I was calling it the lizard forest. All you heard was the scampering of little feet on the dry leaves as you walked the trails.
Our cab was right on time and we were back in Puerto Lopez with a good portion of the day to still enjoy.
Written January 5, 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.
JustineXplores
Warsaw, Poland23 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Nice quiet beach with viewpoint. We could not find good snorkeling places. To get to Puerto Lopez you have to go to Termini Bus, reach the border of the Machalilla Park and take the tuktuk from there.
Written May 21, 2017
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.
yycyycyyc
Calgary, AB673 contributions
Aug 2019
We took a taxi to the park entrance, then, once we'd registered (you need a photo of your passport) and found the start to the trail -- 300m down the dirt road towards the beach -- our great day began.
The trail is very easy to follow; there's a mirador (viewpoint) and then first (crab) beach, which has very few crabs and some black sand. But it is completely sheltered from the prevailing wind and safe for swimming. Second (turtle) beach is windy, and isn't safe for swimming, and the trail goes along the beach. Before 3rd beach (Friars') is a side-trail that climbs up to a mirador where a platform gives a better view, but still isn't high enough to be above all the vegetation.
Los Frailes Beach is a beautiful, semi-circle of fine sand where most people are concentrated by the car park, and it's easy to get 100m or more to yourself. Safe for swimming too. Some say it's Ecuador's best beach -- it's the best we've seen (out of six.)
We took a tuk-tuk back to the highway ($1 per person) and a taxi showed up before the next bus, so we grabbed it -- just $5 back to PL.
The trail is very easy to follow; there's a mirador (viewpoint) and then first (crab) beach, which has very few crabs and some black sand. But it is completely sheltered from the prevailing wind and safe for swimming. Second (turtle) beach is windy, and isn't safe for swimming, and the trail goes along the beach. Before 3rd beach (Friars') is a side-trail that climbs up to a mirador where a platform gives a better view, but still isn't high enough to be above all the vegetation.
Los Frailes Beach is a beautiful, semi-circle of fine sand where most people are concentrated by the car park, and it's easy to get 100m or more to yourself. Safe for swimming too. Some say it's Ecuador's best beach -- it's the best we've seen (out of six.)
We took a tuk-tuk back to the highway ($1 per person) and a taxi showed up before the next bus, so we grabbed it -- just $5 back to PL.
Written September 1, 2019
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.
Deborah S
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL38 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Did a day tour of Agua Blanca with a friend. We were pleasantly surprised to find such a wonderful little archeological museum with aboriginal artifacts from Pre-Columbian tribes. After the museum we walked through the dry forest, and saw examples of traditional agricultural techniques, medicinal plants, and ruins. The Tour ended at the sulfur hot-springs where you can take a dip and a mud bath. Great day!
Written August 9, 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.
Vtugaleva
South Pole14 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We did a hike through the national park that ended at Los Frailes. The two other beaches are absolutely spectacular, and Los Frailes is a great place to spend an afternoon. We also visited Isla de la Plata, which is part of the park. One of the best national parks we've ever been to; and it's free!
Written July 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.
Nathalie M
21 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Los Frailes is a must when you hit the coast. Going first thing in the morning is the best time as there are no people!
Written January 17, 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.
GinTastic
Stockport, UK25 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We walked from the park entrance to the final beach. The walk went past a couple of interesting beaches and then we had the good fortune to spot a mother whale and calf frolicking about just below the mirador which was really special. The kids enjoyed a lovely swim when we got to the final beach - the water was lovely and warm and the waves gentle. Arranged the taxi to pick us up at the car park a few hours later.
Written August 21, 2017
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.
Britt B
Tucson, AZ620 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
We took a short bus ride to the beach entrance. After filling out the forms (bring passport), you can walk for ca 45 minutes or take a motorcar. I choose the latter. They have restrooms and a handicraft shop, which helps to support the Park. I took a long walk on the beach and returned back via a motorcar to my hotel.
It was a beautiful day on the beach.
It was a beautiful day on the beach.
Written July 31, 2017
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.
kirstenn_k
Madison, WI35 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
We did the full hike to get to the beach at Los Frailes. We were convinced the 2 hour estimate to do it was very much an overshoot, but it was actually pretty accurate. However we did stop and enjoy the beach views that were along the way. Only the last beach is safe for swimming, the earlier ones along the hike have strong undertows. The first day we went, the guard at the entrance explained this part in English to us, the second day we went the guard only spoke Spanish to us (despite me saying no hablo Espanol), so we got the instructions in Spanish. The second lookout on the hike is amazing. I recommend going to it and there was a wonderful breeze when we got up there.
There is one part of the hike were you are let on to the beach and the path to continue the hike is not super clearly labeled. We looked at a couple blogs online with photos before hand which made it easy to work through this. When in doubt, walk down the beach more and see if you see another trail opening.
There is one part of the hike were you are let on to the beach and the path to continue the hike is not super clearly labeled. We looked at a couple blogs online with photos before hand which made it easy to work through this. When in doubt, walk down the beach more and see if you see another trail opening.
Written June 24, 2019
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.
in the month of end-December/January is the water swimmable? is it rough or calm?
Written April 1, 2019
Gibt es dort irgendeine Möglichkeit um das Schlüpfen der Meeresschildkröten beobachten zu können.Als Tourist meine ich?
Vielen Dank schon mal
Susanne L.
Written June 10, 2018
jennychango611
Ambato, Ecuador
hola que precios adicionales hay que pagar en el Parque Nacional Machalilla y cuales son
Por ejemplo que precio tiene la entrada a la comuna de Agua Blanca
Written June 11, 2017
Hola, el Parque Nacional Machalilla no tiene costo alguno de ingreso para los Frailes, sin embargo llegar allá sin vehĂculo demanda que el taxi desde Puerto LĂłpez te cobre $ 5,00. Ingresar a Agua Blanca tambiĂ©n te cuesta $ 5,00 más lo que pagues desde la carretera hasta el museo, porque son 5 Km de vĂa. El uso de la piscina de azufre no tiene costo, aunque puedes escoger masajes que máximo te saldrán $ 35. Ir a Isla de la Plata tiene un valor entre 30 y 35 segĂşn la temporada que vayas y eso suelen cobrarte todas las operadoras turĂsticas. Verifica que te incluyan lunch y snorkel porque el ingreso a la Isla es igual gratuito. Sales desde el muelle de Puerto LĂłpez, entonces no te deben cobrar nada adicional porque puedes ir caminando.
Written February 16, 2018
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