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PARKS AND TRIBES

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR

  1. Geology

  2. Hydrology

  3. Conservation status

  4. Things to do at Isla de la Plata

  5. Submarine ecosystems

  6. Vegetation

  7. Mammals

  8. Birds

  9. Other critters

  10. How to get there

  11. Best Isla de la Plata Tours Ecuador

 

Islade La Plata of Machalilla National Park

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Map Puerto Lopez with Machalilla National ParkISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Map Machalilla National Park with island

Geology

Isla de la Plata and its surrounding sea is part of Machalillas National Park

 

The North and East face of Isla de La Plata are cliffs which are important roosts for oceanic birds.

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Hydrology

During most of the year, the dominating cold Humboldt current from the South causes very low rainfall, while the warm current from the North, makes the relative humidity rise, resulting in increased rainfall during the rainy season. There are no fresh water open water bodies on the island.

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Conservation status

As Isla de la Plata is part of Machalilla National Park, its conservation is part of the legislation that protects the entire park. The latter is made up of two parts: the mainland of 56,184 ha and the marine area o 14,430 ha. Decreed on July 26, 1979, by Interministerial Resolution A-322 and 376, it was published in the Official Registry of November 20, 1979 R. O. No. 069. The park and the island are administered from its headquarters in Puerto L?ez.

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Isla de la Plata Tours

Isla de la Plata: Located at a distance of 37 km from Puerto Lopez. According to legend, the name refers to the famous sailor of the sixteenth century, Sir Francis Drake, who supposedly left his treasure, conquered from Spanish ships, somewhere hidden on the island.

 

During the tours to isla de la Plata, tourists can watch dolphins and with some luck, Stingrays. From June to September the Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, come to the region  to mate.

 

Just like Galapagos, Isla de La Plata has a very interesting birdlife, which includes nesting colonies of Blue-footed, Red-footed and Masqued Boobies as well as of Frigate Birds. The organized excursions include a visit to the islands as well as snorkeling. Small beaches and cliffs are roosts for oceanic birds. Whale-watching and scuba-diving excursions are organized seperately.

 

A covered picnic open picnic building / visitor center (no exposition) at Drake's Bay offers shade. From this center you begin the excursions to the colonies of birds, and see the natural vegetation.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Boat to Isla de la Plata.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Arrival at the beach at the island at Drake's Bay.

On board of a Isla de la Plata, Ecuador tour boat.

Isla de la Plata, Ecuador tours: Arrival at the beach at the island at Drake's Bay.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Feeding Green Turtles at Drake's Bay.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Return to Puerto L?ez from Isla de la Plata.

Feeling green turtles and the harbor of Drake's Bay.

Boarding the Isla de la Plata tour boat to Puerto Lopez

 

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Harbor Isla de la Plata.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Picnic building.

Isla de la Plata, Ecuador tours start at the harbor building of National Park Machalilla.

Covered picnicarea of Machalilla National Park  at the harbor of Drake's Bay.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Brown Pelicans on the rocks.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Watching the Blue-footed Boobies.

Brown Pelicans on the rocks.

Watching the Blue-footed Boobies.

 

There are a number of trails crossing the island, but they can only be taken with a guide. The Isla de la Plata tours all provide bottled water, which is a must to bring along on the trail.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Blue-footed Booby on the coastal cliff. ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Blue-footed Booby with young.

Blue-footed Booby on the coastal cliff.

Blue-footed Booby with young.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Guided excursion at the island.ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Green turtles, Chelonia mydas, submerge at Isla de la Plata as operators feed them.

Guided tours on the island.

Green turtles, Chelonia mydas, surface in the harbor of Isla de la Plata as operators feed them.

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ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Snorkeling at Isla de la Plata.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Parents can safely take along their little children.

Snorkeling near Isla de la Plata.

Parents can safely take along their little children.

 

Marine ecosystems

The marine area is divided into:

  • Intertidal zone;

  • The coastal zone;

  • The Pelarctic or oceanic zone.

Each has a different fauna.

 

There are two different rocky ecosystems in the coastal zone:
Rocky and coral reefs down to a depth of 25 m.

 

Additionally, there is a shallow reef, between the mainland and Isla de la Plata, the Bajo de Cantagallo, which is a rocky submarine plain. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, mates near the Bajo de Cantagallo and it also appears to be on a migration route of other marine mammals. These reefs have a great diverse ichthyofauna, as well as a rich invertebrates fauna and macroalgae flora.

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Flora and Fauna of Isla de la Plata

Vegetation

Flora of Isla de la Plata

The following vegetation formations are recognized on the island:

 

Dry coastal srubland 0 - 20 masl: The coastal vegetation from the beaches up to 20 masl. Characteristic are associations of species such as the seaweed, Maytenus octogona and salt marsh, Cryptocarpus pyriformis, while on cliffs above sea level, Galvezia leucantha can be observed.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Dry coastal scrubland. ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Matorral seco de tierras bajas.

Dry coastal scrubland.

Matorral seco de tierras bajas.

 

Dry lowland shrubland (20 - 150 masl): The shrubs are dry, spiny and low (1 - 6 m high), such as Monvillea diffusa, Manzanillo, Hyppomane mancinella, Palosanto, Bursera graveolens, Muyuyo Cordia Lutea, Barbasco Jacquinia sprucei, intermixed with tall cacti.

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Fauna of Isla de la Plata

Mammals

The marine area of the park is frequented by 12 species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins): Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis, Pilot Whale, Globice phalamacrorhynchus, Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Stenella attenuata. Occasionally, a Galapagos Seal wanders off to the island.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Humpback whales come for matingISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Seals resting at a rocky shore at the foot of a cliff.

Humpback whales come to the island to mate.

Seals resting at the island.

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Avifauna

Seabirds are divided into three groups: shore birds, coastal birds and oceanic birds. In the first two groups: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii, Great Ffrigate Bird, Fregata magnifcens, Osprey, Pandion haliaetus.

 

Pelicans and boobies feed mainly on fish and squid at sea for which you see them often diving into the water from considerable heights. Both species form large colonies. Birds of the order Procellariformes are exclusively pelagic or oceanic birds that they feed in the ocean and only fly to land to nest. A good example is the Galapagos Albatrosses, Diomedea irrorata, which live in small colonies at Isla de la Plata.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA THINGS TO DO: Blue-footed Boobies, Sula nebouxii, breed on Isla de la Plata.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, are common along the entire Pacific coast.

Blue-footed Boobies, Sula nebouxii, breed on Isla de la Plata.

Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, are common along the entire Pacific coast.

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Other fauna

Of the four species of marine turtles occurring in Ecuador the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas agassizii; is always see in the harbor of the island, where they are fed by the tour operators for which they come to the surface. The Olive Ridley Turtle has is known from the island.

 

The other species occurring in Ecuador, Carey Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea  live in the sea surrounding the island.

 

ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR: The Green, Iguana Iguana, is very common along the Pacific coast, including on the island.ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR:  Green Iguana.

Green turtle hatchling.

The Green, Iguana Iguana, is very common along the Pacific coast, including on the island.

 

The ichthyofauna of the park can be divided into: reef, pelagic and demersal (bottom) fish. 143 reef fish species have been recorded, 94% were bony fish and the rest were cartilaginous (spine, mainly sharks) fish.

There is a large variety of invertebrates in the sandy and rocky intertidal zones which is a different ecosystem with many species that only occur in that zone.

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Getting there

The park is located at a distance of 435km (8 hours) from Quito, (185 km) (3.5 hours) from Guayaquil  and 90 km (1,5 hours) from Manta. The most convenient way to get there from Quito, is to fly to Manta and from travel to Puerto Lopez in private transport.

 

Main access is by the roads connecting Puerto Lopez - Jipijapa to the north and La Libertad to the south.

 

Many tour operators in Puerto Lopez sell excursions to the island, leaving between 9:30 and 10:00, to return around 16:00.

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Best Isla de la Plata Tours, Ecuador

Our Isla de la Plata Tours are part of our Ecuador National Parks tour showcased below.

 

Dear visitor, our website gives you info about our National Parks Tours, our Galapagos programs, the Cuyabeno Loop, as well as our Cuyabeno  and Cofan Lodges in the Amazon.   For those who want to combine the Exuberant Nature of Ecuador with the Famous culture of Peru, we even have a 7 days Highlights of Peru extension! Our website gives you the best information on the internet, like Ecuador Travel Guide, because we are the only tour operator run by professional biologists. Take a look:

 

OUR PARKS AND TRIBES ECO TOURS

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AMAZON RIVER CRUISE ECUADOR: In Ecuador, birding is for all ages.

 NEW! CUYABENO DAY TRIP

For those that are limited in time, we are now organizing the Cuyabeno Day Trip that takes you at 9 AM from the park entrance to the surroundings of Lake Cuyabeno, to the Siona village and back by 5 PM.

 

 

Price: from $ 99

 1 día

RÍO NAPO LODGE TOUR, ECUADOR: La plataforma en el árbol de Ceibo de la comunidad Kichwa Añagu.

NEW YASUNI / NAPO RIVER TOUR

Lodges along Yasuni ­ National Park are excessively expensive and excursions are just organized close to each lodge. We developed a fabulous and affordable tour to all the highlights along the Napo, while staying in 2 different decent Quichua lodges.

 

 

Price: from $ 450

3 days

viaje a Cuyabeno

 NEW LAGARTOCOCHE EXPEDITION

The most remote part of the Amazon is the Lagartocoche lake system at the border with Peru. Hosted in a Secoya Indian Village.

 

 

Price: from $ 450

 4 days

admirando la increíble vida silvestre

CUYABENO LOOP

The Cuyabeno Loop explores the breathtaking scenery of the lower Cuyabeno and Zabalo Rivers and the Cuyabeno Lake. Watch the amazing birds and wildlife. Pass 2 nights with the amazing Cofan Indians in the Cofan Lodge and enjoy 2 nights of comfort in the famous Cuyabeno Lodge.

Price: from $ 799

5 days

 

admirando las increíbles aves

COFAN LODGE PROGRAMS

Located in Southern Cuyabeno, the Cofan Lodge is the only lodge in that part of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve with quality programs and great facilities. It is owned by the Cofan Indians and provides a totally different experience from any other lodge in Cuyabeno.

 

 

Price: from $ 450

4 days

Laguna Cuyabeno

CUYABENO LAKE PROGRAMS

The Cuyabeno Lake Programs explores all the wild places surrounding the Cuyabeno Lake. Bonsai-shaped Macrolobia trees with the whispering of the mysterious prehistoric Hoatzin birds and the noisy Blue and Yellow Macaws. Our Cuyabeno Lodge is on the best location, because we were the first lodge and chose the best location right on a seasonal island in Lake Cuyabeno.

Price: from $ 390

4 - 5 days

 

Chimborazo con Lamas

ANDES CUSTOM ECO TOURS

Our Northern Andes Tour lets you get a taste of some of the best Andean National Parks, visiting the highest groves in the world: the Polylepis trees, the highest mountain in the world calculated from the center of the Earth, the Chimborazo with Vecunhas and Lamas, the highest active volcano in the world, the Cotopaxi.

 

Price: from $750

5 days

Cascada San Rafael

NATIONAL PARKS TOUR

Our National Parks Tours take you on a fantastic journey along the best possible sample of Andean and coastal parks. They have been designed to complement Galapagos and/or Amazon cruises. They can start from different places, particularly Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. While the full program lasts 9 days, it is possible to make a limited selection of parks, like the 6 days' "Andes and Coast" module.

Price: from $ 1999

9 days

 

Bartelome ent Galapagos

GALAPAGOS LAST MINUTE

We have a fabulous selection of Galapagos programs, including cruises, island hopping, scuba diving or relaxing on one of the many different hotels varying from modest inns to deluxe resorts.

 

Price: from $ 550

From 3 days

25 COOLEST THINGS TO DO IN PERU [LIMA,CUSCO, MACHU PICCHU]: Inca wall in Cusco.

PERU HIGHLIGHTS

A fabulous program for visiting the most famous cultural highlights Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. At the same time it serves as the Lima hub for the Peru National Parks Tour. This module is an extension to our National Parks Tour Ecuador and/or Galapagos National Park and/or Amazon Cruises.

Price: from $ 1199

7 days

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ISLA DE LA PLATA TOURS, ECUADOR

 

PARKS & TRIBES Travel Agency in Quito, Ecuador

Street: Las Casas, Side street: Jose Coudrin, 2 blocks above the Occidental Highway

Canton Quito, Prov. Pichincha, Parroquia Belisario Quevedo

Tel: (++593)(02) 2 2324 4086, Cell phone: (++593) (0) 99 283 2187 Whatsapp: (++)1 304 901 0718

Email: info@parks-and-tribes.com

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