Parque Nacional Machalilla (Machalilla National Park)

Machalilla National Park was established in 1979, in the northwest of Guayaquil, on Ecuador's central coast, not far from the small fishing village of Machalilla. It is renowned for its coastal scenery, including beaches, fog forest, dry forest and several islands. The two larger islands are Salango and Isla de la Plata.

There is a wide variety of wildlife in the park. You might see armadillos and monkeys and almost 300 bird species roam the park. The oceanic parts of the park provide a breeding ground for humpback whales.

Unfortunately Machalilla National Park continues to be threatened by external factors such as deforestation, fishing, poaching and the ecological impact of tourism.

Archaeological excavations in the region show that it has been inhabited since at leasr 1800 BC. The nearest town where accommodation can be found is Jipijapa, which is 275 km southwest of Quito.