Ruta del Spondylus

Welcome to the Spondylus Trail

Iglesia de Zaruma El Oro

The Spondylus Trail is a Multi-Destination with Multi-Sensations and experiences for travel options that go beyond Sun and Sand like Archaeological-Cultural tourism, Ecotourism and Nature-based tourism, Sports and Adventure, Agritourism, Congress and Conventions, Health tourism, land and marine-based general travel circuits, Community-Based tourism, Cruise Ship tourism, handicrafts and gastronomy. It is of easy access from the main cities and airports, and it offers different options for accommodation with interaction among friendly coastal people rediscovering the link with their ancient past.

To visit the Spondylus Trail is to take a journey back thru time and discover the Las Vegas Culture, which was the first known culture that prospered in America more than 11,000 years ago and to see the remnants of the Valdivia Culture that was one of the first cultures in the Americas to shape clay into sculptures and utensils (4,000 B.C.). To be on the Spondylus Trail is to be where Pizarro landed for the first time in South America and where he initiated his conquest of the Incan empire. Also, to be here is to see where the Toquilla straw originates and how the world famous straw hats are weaved.

Discover the Origins

Autor: Manuel Avilés. Cortesía : Subsecretaría de Turismo del Litoral

Pile Paja Toquilla

The Spondylus Trail shows us more than 11,000 years of history in museums, archaeological sites and excavations. Learn about the social organization of the main pre-Columbian cultures and their supernatural interpretation of their environment very connected to life in the ocean.

Explore its Mega-Diversity

Bosque Petrificado de Puyango

Go birdwatching on the Ecuadorian coast with approximately 700 species of birds, including many endemic and migratory ones that are hosted by a grand diversity of ecosystems. Many have evolved in isolation and have subspecies that have developed in specific tropical habitats.

Enjoy Nature with Adventure Sports and Excitement!

Alas Delta Crucita

Try hang gliding or paragliding and see the coast with an extraordinary perspective from above. For this experience, make sure you go to Crucita in Manabí, which is considered one of the best 3 takeoff sites of the Pacific coast of South America.

Set foot in the tropical forests and mountains and have a great time with canopy tours, mountain climbing and mountain biking. Enjoy waterfall descents (canyoning) and hiking in places like Dos Mangas, Sinchal, Loma Alta and Bucay.

The Flavor of Millennial Ecuador

Viche Manabí

The gastronomical diversity of the Spondylus Trail is found to be very connected to the culture of its peoples, to the manner of doing things and their natural surroundings.

Delight your palate and savor the exquisite and varied cuisine along the Spondylus Trail. With typical dishes prepared with seafood and vegetables, combined with sauces that highlight the taste and can delight the most demanding of palates, the ones that stand out most are the Ceviche, Viche, Corviche and the hardy seafood stocked rice dish called the "Arroz Marinero".

Move

Ecuador and its four worlds

In this section

Summary

Blue footed boobie nesting.

Nature at its purest Galapagos is one of the most important national parks in the world. It has 13 main islands and dozens of islets and minor volcanic islands. This archipelago, 97% of which is protected by the government, is located almost 620 miles from the Ecuadorian coast and is characterized by its white-sand beaches, cactus forests, giant turtles, and colored birds – such as the blue-footed, redfooted and masked boobies, flamingos, and penguins. The Islands...

The city of Guayaquil seen from Santa Ana hill.

Where the green beaches meet the sea Beautiful beaches are found from north to south on the Ecuadorian Pacific coast. Alongside ports, fishing villages, and modern cities, dense protected forests grow with their gigantic and moist terracotta roots. The tallest mangroves in the world (64 meters / 194 feet) are found in the Majagual forest in the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve. In Machalilla National Park,...

Antisana volcano.

Avenue of the volcanoes In the mythical Andes mountains, there are volcanoes that are more than 16,400 feet/5,000 meters high and are permanently covered with snow and glaciers dating back to ancient times. The tallest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi (19,350 feet/5,897 meters above sea level), is the perfect setting for charming villages and fertile valleys. Chimborazo (20,702 feet/6,310 meters above sea level) has five summits on flanks of rocks and an extensive Andean plateau. Cayambe...

Yasuni National Park.

From the Andean peaks to the Amazon Rainforest Visitors will find that Ecuador offers the easiest access to the Amazon. In just a few hours, visitors can travel from the Andean peaks to the jungle. Volcanoes such as El Sangay and El Altar, with their numerous and sharp peaks, can be seen from the exuberant and dense vegetation of the Amazon. Reserves and national parks are home to hundreds of bird and fish species. They are also home to tapirs, anacondas, boa constrictors, turtles,...