Weekend Break: Whale watching at Puerto Lopéz
Saturday, August 17
After breakfast the team of 24 left the Schoenstatt Retreat Center sometime before 9 a.m. We were transported by vans to Puerto Lopéz on the Pacific Coast. Already we miss sweet, smiling Iris who stayed behind.
Halfway to Puerto Lopéz our two vans pull over for beverages and 30-minute rest stop. Then there was another emergency roadside stop for two women before arriving at our destination and one unnamed woman, who just couldn't wait another minute, took a tumble into the ditch in her haste. But nobody was looking. Were they?
After nearly four hours we arrive on the outskirts of Puerto Lopéz. We find the Cabana-style rooms charming with fans, thatched roof ceilings and table and chairs and hammocks on each patio. After unpacking our overnight bags, and before getting too settled into our double rooms with twin beds at Hosteria (Hotel) Oceanic, we checked out the clean and inviting pool but nobody was seen using it. Too much else to do in this small fishing village which is set in an arched bay on the Pacific coast in the Ecuadorian Manabí Province. Puerto Lopéz is the Machalilla National Park headquarters. The main industries include fishing and eco-tourism.
Our two vans were soon ready to transport us a bit further into the village center where we met the captain of the whale-watching boat. He purchased a few Pilsners after asking if anybody wanted cervezas on board. While still on the pier we were issued mandatory life jackets before boarding one of several high speed, chartered whale-watching boats. Once our boat had passed the waters of their Coast Guard check station, and upon the captain's invitation, Chris and Alli were the first to dare climb the outside ladder to sit on top the boat while it was bouncing with the waves at high speed.
The captain said we were lucky that day with the sunshine and clear sky, as it's often cloudy. We've been promised good weather with high of 79 and overnight low 70. After 20 or so minutes out we spot the dancing Blue-footed boobies that some travel all the way to the Galapagos to see, and which according to the internet are large seabirds of the warm coastal waters of the eastern Pacific. The internet states, "the Blue-footed Booby is a rare visitor to the West Coast of the United States but has been seen a few times at inland lakes in California, Texas, and Arizona." By coincidence the Blue-footed Booby was spotted in Southern Arizona near Lake Patagonia a week after our return back home.
After about 40 minutes or so into the excursion there were whoops and yells at the first sighting of whales. And each time thereafter. Our excitement never waned in the nine or so separate sightings. There were plenty of opportunities for photos, but most of them are but a portion of the whales body. Later at Chris' invitation, and dare, Doris, Del, Lin and E.J. bravely climb the outside ladder to the top of the fast-moving boat, which seemed a bit unnerving, but worth it as we now had unobstructed views.
Cheryl summed up our day, "We spent a wonderful day of much needed R&R in Puerto Lopéz. We viewed many Humpback whales up close and personal. It was mating season so all females were being followed by many males trying to impress the female. They are beautiful and graceful creatures and quite a bit larger than our boat. Some of them came within five meters [or about 15 feet of our boat.] Words can't describe the magnificence."
Chris captured an amazing video of a pod of humpback whales surfacing, arching and descending. He put it on his Facebook page. We witness the lingering illusion of turquoise colored water surrounding the whale's tail and learn we are seeing the reflection of the white-color of the under tail. Upon descending the water surface the whales also leave an outline of their body.
These whales migrate to both the North Pole and the South Pole to mate, but return to Ecuador to give birth. "These are all Ecuadoran whales. By birth," the captain proudly states.
Some travelers came prepared with wind jackets, which came in handy as it was brisk and breezy on the afternoon ride back to shore. At the captain's invitation Alli, E.J. and Chris jump overboard to snorkel. Conditions were not perfect so the snorkeling didn't last long. But among the schools of fish they also saw a giant clam.
Cheryl added, "Later a few brave souls did some snorkeling. It was pretty cold but someone said the water was warm. Not really true. My daughter, Allie was in for about 15 minutes and returned to the boat 'blue' but she recovered quickly. Then best of all we got to sleep late on Sunday followed by SHOPPING!"
Once back at the pier most of the able-bodied explored the shore for sand dollars, blow-fish or turquoise colored rocks walking the mile back to our hotel, while a few others took the motorized tuk-tuks.
Dinner at the hotel was delicious. De-boned, grilled sea bass/covina fillets and dessert of Tres Leche cake with mango. Not sure how the others spent the rest of the evening although a card game of rummy finished the evening for Maggie, Del, Doris and Lin or until our eyes couldn't stay open. We didn't care who won. We just wanted the game to be over. Dr. Del won.
Sunday - August 18 - Breakfast - more shopping.
The next morning the hour for Sunday mass was a mixed signal and some weren't there on time. Leisure hours were spent browsing and buying since shops open early in the villages hoping to capture the tourist's attention before their afternoon departure. With the miscellaneous purchases of hammocks, jewelry, woven backpacks/luggage and more, our group left the various vendors more than $1,000 richer, in addition to the $2,400 paid [each paid $100] for transportation, hotel, restaurant, and whale watching package and guide, which we considered a real deal for what we got. This village's eco-tourism marketing is working.
Chris had lunch with Alli and Cheryl, but forgot his backpack (with passport inside) at the restaurant. After an hour or so before noticing it was missing he went back to try to find the backpack. He was relieved, and grateful, that the honest waitress had put it up on the bar for safekeeping. This is especially unnerving because Chris and Mary had a flight to catch, in a few hours, back to the U.S. around midnight that evening.
Our team was dwindling. Both the construction crew and medical team was sorry to lose any volunteers returning home or on to other adventures. Elizabeth and John left the next day. Lee explored the city, Edna, Kay and Lesley left for Galapagos Monday morning. A few who were especially techie-challenged expressed their sorrow at losing Chris. As the youngest he also served as technical support for internet, Sykpe and such.
After returning to the Retreat Center Del noticed her very nice ($$$$) camera was missing. By now it was too late to trace. She is a fine photographer and the group will also miss the shots that she captured.
After breakfast the team of 24 left the Schoenstatt Retreat Center sometime before 9 a.m. We were transported by vans to Puerto Lopéz on the Pacific Coast. Already we miss sweet, smiling Iris who stayed behind.
Halfway to Puerto Lopéz our two vans pull over for beverages and 30-minute rest stop. Then there was another emergency roadside stop for two women before arriving at our destination and one unnamed woman, who just couldn't wait another minute, took a tumble into the ditch in her haste. But nobody was looking. Were they?
After nearly four hours we arrive on the outskirts of Puerto Lopéz. We find the Cabana-style rooms charming with fans, thatched roof ceilings and table and chairs and hammocks on each patio. After unpacking our overnight bags, and before getting too settled into our double rooms with twin beds at Hosteria (Hotel) Oceanic, we checked out the clean and inviting pool but nobody was seen using it. Too much else to do in this small fishing village which is set in an arched bay on the Pacific coast in the Ecuadorian Manabí Province. Puerto Lopéz is the Machalilla National Park headquarters. The main industries include fishing and eco-tourism.
Our two vans were soon ready to transport us a bit further into the village center where we met the captain of the whale-watching boat. He purchased a few Pilsners after asking if anybody wanted cervezas on board. While still on the pier we were issued mandatory life jackets before boarding one of several high speed, chartered whale-watching boats. Once our boat had passed the waters of their Coast Guard check station, and upon the captain's invitation, Chris and Alli were the first to dare climb the outside ladder to sit on top the boat while it was bouncing with the waves at high speed.
The captain said we were lucky that day with the sunshine and clear sky, as it's often cloudy. We've been promised good weather with high of 79 and overnight low 70. After 20 or so minutes out we spot the dancing Blue-footed boobies that some travel all the way to the Galapagos to see, and which according to the internet are large seabirds of the warm coastal waters of the eastern Pacific. The internet states, "the Blue-footed Booby is a rare visitor to the West Coast of the United States but has been seen a few times at inland lakes in California, Texas, and Arizona." By coincidence the Blue-footed Booby was spotted in Southern Arizona near Lake Patagonia a week after our return back home.
After about 40 minutes or so into the excursion there were whoops and yells at the first sighting of whales. And each time thereafter. Our excitement never waned in the nine or so separate sightings. There were plenty of opportunities for photos, but most of them are but a portion of the whales body. Later at Chris' invitation, and dare, Doris, Del, Lin and E.J. bravely climb the outside ladder to the top of the fast-moving boat, which seemed a bit unnerving, but worth it as we now had unobstructed views.
Cheryl summed up our day, "We spent a wonderful day of much needed R&R in Puerto Lopéz. We viewed many Humpback whales up close and personal. It was mating season so all females were being followed by many males trying to impress the female. They are beautiful and graceful creatures and quite a bit larger than our boat. Some of them came within five meters [or about 15 feet of our boat.] Words can't describe the magnificence."
Chris captured an amazing video of a pod of humpback whales surfacing, arching and descending. He put it on his Facebook page. We witness the lingering illusion of turquoise colored water surrounding the whale's tail and learn we are seeing the reflection of the white-color of the under tail. Upon descending the water surface the whales also leave an outline of their body.
These whales migrate to both the North Pole and the South Pole to mate, but return to Ecuador to give birth. "These are all Ecuadoran whales. By birth," the captain proudly states.
Some travelers came prepared with wind jackets, which came in handy as it was brisk and breezy on the afternoon ride back to shore. At the captain's invitation Alli, E.J. and Chris jump overboard to snorkel. Conditions were not perfect so the snorkeling didn't last long. But among the schools of fish they also saw a giant clam.
Cheryl added, "Later a few brave souls did some snorkeling. It was pretty cold but someone said the water was warm. Not really true. My daughter, Allie was in for about 15 minutes and returned to the boat 'blue' but she recovered quickly. Then best of all we got to sleep late on Sunday followed by SHOPPING!"
Once back at the pier most of the able-bodied explored the shore for sand dollars, blow-fish or turquoise colored rocks walking the mile back to our hotel, while a few others took the motorized tuk-tuks.
Dinner at the hotel was delicious. De-boned, grilled sea bass/covina fillets and dessert of Tres Leche cake with mango. Not sure how the others spent the rest of the evening although a card game of rummy finished the evening for Maggie, Del, Doris and Lin or until our eyes couldn't stay open. We didn't care who won. We just wanted the game to be over. Dr. Del won.
Sunday - August 18 - Breakfast - more shopping.
The next morning the hour for Sunday mass was a mixed signal and some weren't there on time. Leisure hours were spent browsing and buying since shops open early in the villages hoping to capture the tourist's attention before their afternoon departure. With the miscellaneous purchases of hammocks, jewelry, woven backpacks/luggage and more, our group left the various vendors more than $1,000 richer, in addition to the $2,400 paid [each paid $100] for transportation, hotel, restaurant, and whale watching package and guide, which we considered a real deal for what we got. This village's eco-tourism marketing is working.
Chris had lunch with Alli and Cheryl, but forgot his backpack (with passport inside) at the restaurant. After an hour or so before noticing it was missing he went back to try to find the backpack. He was relieved, and grateful, that the honest waitress had put it up on the bar for safekeeping. This is especially unnerving because Chris and Mary had a flight to catch, in a few hours, back to the U.S. around midnight that evening.
Our team was dwindling. Both the construction crew and medical team was sorry to lose any volunteers returning home or on to other adventures. Elizabeth and John left the next day. Lee explored the city, Edna, Kay and Lesley left for Galapagos Monday morning. A few who were especially techie-challenged expressed their sorrow at losing Chris. As the youngest he also served as technical support for internet, Sykpe and such.
After returning to the Retreat Center Del noticed her very nice ($$$$) camera was missing. By now it was too late to trace. She is a fine photographer and the group will also miss the shots that she captured.