Nearby Attractions

The beach town of Olon, where Finca-Hosteria El Retiro is located, is the ideal place to stay during your next vacation in la Ruta del Spondylus.  From our hotel you are within 1.5 hours driving distance of many of the best places to visit in the coast of Ecuador.

Salinas

The city of Salinas is located 1 hour to the South of Olón.  During the months of December through April you will find a very attractive nightlife and plenty of activities going on in the beaches nearby (Pta. Carnero, Pta. Blanca, etc.). However, those are not the only attractions of Salinas, from here you can take fishing tours, whale watching tours (July-Sept), watch sea lions in the Chocolatera (the point farthest to the west of South America) or birdwatching in the salt pools of Ecuasal.

Salinas offers a variety of first class hotels and restaurants where you can sample tipical coastal dishes like cebiche.

"Amantes de Sumpa" Museum

In the town of Sta. Elena you can visit the in-situ museum Los Amantes de Sumpa (The Sumpa Lovers).  The museum was built on the site were more than 200 skeletons belonging to the "Las Vegas" culture were found. This culture inhabited the area 8.000 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest museums of its kind in America.

The museum was named because of the embraced skeletons of a man and a woman found in the site.

Valdivia Aquarium

The town of Valdivia built this small aquarium to promote the biodiversity of our coast and to help educate its visitors on the importance of caring for our environment.  All visitors are guided by a volunteer stundent through the many exhibitions that include: sea lions, turtles, tropical fish, and even a penguin.

Dos Mangas

The community of Dos Mangas is located aproximately 25 min. from Olón.  It is well known for its handcrafts in paja toquilla, zapan, and tagua ("vegetable ivory"). In addition you can take a horseback ride and hiking tour through the forest and visit natural pools and small waterfalls.

Montañita

Montañita is the most famous town in la Ruta del Spondylus, widely known for its nightlife and ideal beach for surfers. Montañita is host to an international surf competition that gathers some of the best surfers in this region.

The town also offers a variety of restaurants with local and international cousine, bars with live music , and during the beach season there are usually a few outdoor concerts.

The town is located at merely 5 minutes from El Retiro.

Olon

Olon is the first town in the beach of Olón, an 8 km. long strip of beach that is one of the best in Ecuador.  El Retiro is located only 1,5 km. from the main road in Olón.

In addition Olón has a Catholic Sanctuary, shaped like a boat, located in a cliff on the south side of the beach which offers a great view of the beach and the ocean.  Sometimes, if you are lucky, during whale watching season you can even see whales from this spot.

For those looking for a little more adventure you can visit the "Cascadas de Alex", a small waterfountain located about 8 km. from Olón. To get there you have to drive through the river bed and then take 5 min. walk to reach the waterfall.  On the way you will be able to see many bird species.

Pto. López

The town of Pto. López is located in the province of Manabí.  It is mainly a fisherman´s town, but it has gained notoriety because it is the main departure point for the Isla de la Plata, scuba diving,  and whale watching.  In Pto. López you can find many hotels and a beautiful boardwalk next to the beach.

Isla de la Plata

The Isla de la Plata is a small island approximately 40 km. off the coast of Ecuador. It has the reputation of beign the "poor man´s Galapagos", because on it visitors can find a population of seabirds similar to the ones found on the famous islands.  Among the species found are frigate birds and bue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, pelicans, and albatrosses.

Tours depart to the island in the morning and return late in the afternoon.  They include a naturist guide, small snack, snorkeling equipment and, during the whale watching season, the opportunity to watch these amazing mammals.

For those interested in scuba-diving you can arrange a scuba diving trip with exploramar-diving.

Agua Blanca

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Los Frailes

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