Machalilla National Park in Portoviejo

Beautiful park! No foods allowed but that’s okay. Loved chilling and playing with the waves here!

The best beach between Manta and Santa Elena. Strict rules on food is keeping garbage to a minimum. Park entrance is free and showers and bathroom cost a small fee and the attendant keeps it very clean. You can rent an umbrella.

Gorgeous, pristine beaches. Parks service does a commendable job ensuring it stays that way.

We visited this park/ beach from Puerto Lopez.We were advised to take a take ($15,- incl pickup, which brings you straight to the beach). However we took the bus from the bus terminal just outside Puerto Lopez.From there take a bus in the direction of Machalilla en ask the driver to stop at las Frailles ($1,00 p.p.)At the park entrance registration (bring passportis required, there is no entrance fee.We opted for the complete walk (counter clockwise). Total distance is 7,7 km. The first 4,5 km has some small climbs. The last 2,5 km is more or less flat.Signing is clear on the path. And at the playa las Frailles there are toilets, shower (did not try themand a small souvenir shop.The big beach itself is not spectacular, but the walk is very nice.To take the bus back to Puerto Lopez terminal just wait alongside the road for the bus (appr. every 20 min). From the bus terminal you can walk back to Puerto Lopez (2,5 kmor take a tuktuk ($??).

Beautifully kept. Perfect weather, warm water.

Beautiful park with a nice trail along different beaches and views. The entry is free. At the end you can relax at the long Los Frailes Beach.

A very nice place to spend with the family. Such a peaceful environment and the locals are very nice.

We did a 5 hour hike at the forest and it was wonderful. It was January so it was getting really hot and really humid and it was exhausting but it was awesome: so much nature, so much beauty and witnessing the change of weather between the dry and wet forest was really cool!

Hermosaaa playaaa

It took long to go inside. You have to get out of the car and register. (AnnoyingThe beach is clean and quiet. When you go to the showers, the staff doesnt allow you to go to your car and get something, they will charge you twice if you try to go there again. Overall this beach is a great place to go if you hate crowded places.

IT is a great opportunity to see some of the sea life and sea birds also known at the Galapagos , the best time to visit the Island is between February until May , however you can visit it at any time (off season rains and views might not be the as nice as this picture )Take the longer hike then you will se much more... there are many tour operators in Puerto Lopez that you can contact and arrange this tour. There is no way to visit without an organized tour!!! ENJOY

Bakano

A incredible 5000 years also town in the hard of the National Park.Beautiful beaches and very good food.The La Plata island is very similar to Galapagos.And animal rescue center at Villa Machalilla guest hous.Machalilla town the real deal, fishermans town, beautiful!

Leuk park.Nice park also seen humpback whales

Unique place and nature, gran montón de animales, kind tour operator, interesting program, fresh air and clean water.Very recommended!

Marvelous views, amazing beaches

What a beautiful beach. Its worth the 40 minute walk. You show your passport at the entrance to the national park, and you can walk in or take a taxi (But they rip you off. Dont pay more than $1.50 one way.When you walk there, you can spend the day at the beach until they kick you out at sunset. To use showers or bathrooms you have to pay. You can take a tuktuk back to the entrance. You can also hike back out. Great day trip to the beach.

A peaceful national park that is home to undisturbed nature. Whether youre just driving through to another town or planning to visit the beaches here, take time to appreciate this preserves natural beauty.

Beautiful park! From the entrance station we took the main road to the hiking trail along the coast which takes you to 3 beaches - Playa Prieta, Playa La Tortuguita and Playa Los Frailes. Along the way there are also 2 viewpoints - Islote Sucre and Las Fragatas - from which you have amazing views of the area. Be aware that the park closes at 4pm. Rangers come around the beaches asking people to leave and you wont be allowed to return via the coastal trail. Worth a visit!

The place is outstanding! The prettiest beach I ever been to so far. The water is perfect, not many people so its not crowded, however it might vary upon season you visit. Theres some animals to see by the rocky beach that are unique.Even tho, the beaches are kept as clean as possible. There needs more control on the people who enters into this place since; some of them still leave trash on this so called Protected Reserve. Also, some people went to hunt for some crabs. And nobody were looking over.So it needs some control on some points for it to be perfect.Still a gorgeous place to visit.

Wonderful place to see nature

Amazing place, if you are lucky you can see snakes or deer on the path to the Los Frailes beach

🇪🇨 Los Frailes the best beach ever...

Beautiful beaches and trails. Clomate is very hot. You also have possibility of visiting the indigenous village and museum. It is quite interesting

The locals call this place "Los Frailes" I truly enjoyed this park and beach a lot. Nice place to play with the waves and swim. There is a path that leads you toward the North where there is another smaller beach that I personally like better. Note that they charge you for using the bathrooms. Fortunatelly, it is not expensive at all. There are not showers so you will be taking some sand wherever you are lodged. Plastic balls to play are OK, others are not permitted. There is a control by the entrance and they will check your bags to make sure you dont bring some of the items posted Inca list. You can rent big umbrellas or bring your own. I recommend you to use one if you are not use to the Ecuadorian sun.

Place to visit. Los Frailes one of the wonders in the mainland

Really beautiful and tranquil national parque with lots of history. Definitely recommend going up to Aguas Blanca to bathe in the sacred Laguna. Sulphur water rich with lots of benefits, entrance to the park with guide is 5$. Eat chivo for lunch!

Amazing beauty! Bring and umbrella and a lots of sunscreen, great for snorkel right at the north side of the beach.

Nice place but they do not allow drinking food or dogs in the park.

Wonderful reserve!

Awesome place, wonderful views

Machalilla National Park is an ecological and natural reserve that includes beautiful beaches where you can observe flora and fauna of the sector, as well as observe marine fauna, it is spectacular

Great place, great view,great waters

It is a really nice place , it is really sunny and hot but is beautiful

Very beautiful beach, one of the best of the province ! Very recommended and its well maintained.

We went in December 2017,the entrance is free and you absolutely cannot camp there. The main beach, Las frailles, closes at 4pm however and you have someone that comes to let you know. The other beaches close at 3pm...so get there early

Los Frailes is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador. Machalilla National Park

Its a nice place for relaxing

A wonderful place of preserved nature

Amazing wildlife but lacks facilities

Naturally beautiful place full of blue foot boobies and masked boobies. Great place for whale watching.

A very charming park, and apparently the only beach on a national park. I hiked the scenic trail from near the entrance to the Los Friales beach, but if you want you can just take the main road directly there. When I visited the undercurrent was quite strong so I didnt go in too far, but it was quite relaxing to sit on the beach after the hike and very beautiful. The park also includes Agua Blanca and the Isla de Plata, which I did not have time to visit.

A day tour spent going to the Isle del Plata, pristine island with animals that due to lack of dangerous human contact do not seem to be afraid of people as they walk close by. The journey to the island can be a little rough (motion sickness medications recommended of you suffer from sea sickness). Animals seem were sea turtles around the boat, blue footed boobies, frigate birds, albatross and humpback whales.

Beautiful park with the best beaches in the country.

Magic!

Excellent park, and one of the best beach I have ever been to. My only complaint is not about the park but rather the tuk tuk drivers seem to think they can charge 3 dollars a person to drive them from the entrance to the main beach at only 4 km distance. I suggest walking it since it is a very pretty park.

Birds with blue feet and you can go snorkeling!

Nice walk and super nice beach !

This is a beautifull place to visit in Ecuador, los frailes beach is awesome!

The best beach in Ecuadorian Territory, Los Frailes is paradise beautiful sand pristine water beautiful beaches