Expat Guide to Living in Puerto López, Ecuador

Located in the Ecuadorian Manabi Province, Puerto López is the ideal spot for holiday makers and expats who are looking for some peace and quiet along the provincial Pacific coast. Although quite a few nightclubs line its streets, this small fishing village is far from a party beach. In fact, it’s the perfect place where you can unwind, chat with the locals, and immerse yourself in local culture and practices. Welcome to Puerto López.

Location
The nearest urban center from Puerto López is Manta, located north of the fishing town and approximately 109 kilometers away. Meanwhile, the beach town of Montañita, where tourists and locals gather for some of the best beach parties, is located further south of Puerto López, approximately 46 kilometers away.

Puerto López might seem worlds away from Ecuador’s biggest cities. Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, is located far north from Puerto Lopez and will require a journey that can last to about 8 hours. The same can be said with Cuenca, Ecuador’s cultural center – however, the journey will only take about 6 hours or so. Guayaquil is the nearest “big city” to Puerto Lopez, located roughly 192 kilometers away.

Before going to Puerto López, it’s best so settle all your accounts and necessities at any of the big cities – Guayaquil, if you prefer to be only 3 hours away from the coasting village.

Low cost of living
As with most communities in Ecuador, Puerto López offers affordable living. Rentals in the town are inexpensive and can run around $230 – that’s already a fully-furnished, two-bedroom home. Building your dream coastal home under $50,000 is also possible in Puerto Lopez, as both land and labor are cheap.

The local government is funneling funds into Puerto López to develop it into a “model Tourism City” in the country’s western coastline. Several construction projects have already been built, and some and currently under way as part of the effort to lure in more investors in both commercial and residential real estate.

Overall, Puerto López is well-positioned into becoming what the national government intends it to be – a paragon of development and tourism in the Manabi Province. It’s safe to assume that once the town takes off, it will no longer be a sleepy ramshackle of a community but a highly sought-after place to live in.

Climate
For most of the year, from January to August, Puerto López enjoys plenty of sunshine and sea breeze. The local temperature can climb up to the 80’s during the first four months of the year, with May to August seeing high 60’s – 70’s. Meanwhile, clouds cover the skies of Puerto López for the remainder of the year, from September to December, but expect periods of sunlight to peak through the clouds.

Local establishments
Puerto López is home to a collection of small grocery stores (some of which are locally owned), bakeries, hardware stores, pharmacies, and bakeries. Restaurants and tourist hotels are also scattered throughout the town to cater to the steady stream of tourists that visit the area. Last but not the least, auxiliary establishments that offer services such as boat tours and fishing expeditions are also found in Puerto López.

Puerto López: The Gateway to some of Ecuador’s Best Attractions

Sleepy as it may be, Puerto López is known as a popular jump-off point for several attractions that surround the area. Here are some of the jewels you can access from this fishing town.

• Parque Nacional Machalilla – The Machalilla National Park is a sprawling preserve established in 1979. A designated Ramsar Wetland, the park incorporates several landscapes that serve as important habitats for several wildlife species such as armadillos, and over 270 types of birds. Another unique feature of the Machalilla National Park is that it is the only known habitat of the waved albatross outside of the Galapagos Islands. 

Out in the water, the Machalilla Park has proved to be a rich breeding ground for humpback whales. Fauna aside, the preserve is also host to several flora, including palo santo trees, kapok trees, the algarroba tree, and opuntia cactus. For more information about the Machalilla National Park, including visiting hours and guided tours, log on to http://machalillanationalpark.com.
• Playa Los Frailes – Located within the boundaries of the Machalilla National Park is a beach famed for its stretch of immaculate white sands and sparkling waters. For that, Los Frailes Beach is naturally known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Facilities in the area include free public bathrooms and changing rooms. You may also find several kiosks that offer ice cream and beach gear.

Aside from sunbathing and snorkeling, Los Frailes Beach attracts a small stream of tourists for its access to lookouts where you can enjoy magnificent ocean views as well as sightings of one of the world’s most beautiful creatures – whales – come whale season.

If you’re planning to drop by, it’s highly recommended to bring your own food and shade, especially if you’re planning to stay the whole day.
• Isla Salango – Puerto López is also the jump-off point for the paradise that is Isla Salango, located approximately 8.5 kilometers from the sleepy coastal town. Situated just off the coast of neighboring town Salango, a boat ride 5-10 minutes long will take you to this popular attraction famed for its snorkeling and fishing opportunities. Tourists also go to Isla Salango to hike and to spot some of the local birds.
• Indigenous community of Agua Blanca – Puerto López is just a short ride away from the communal village of Agua Blanca, where most of the residents are descendants of the ancient Manteña Culture that inhabited the area from 800 A.C. Tours offered by the locals will take you to a trip back in time as you peruse different collections of artifacts in the local museum, some of which date back to 3,500 B.C.

Relocating to Puerto López, Ecuador – Puerto López Real Estate

For more information about relocating to Puerto López, contact me today at info@livetheliveinecuador.com. See you in paradise!