Isla de la Plata

Early to wake we set off for another adventure. The prearranged taxi driver was early, yeah that is a good start for us! We rushed through breakfast, hopped in the taxi (6 U.S. dollars) and made our way to Puerto Lopez a 10 minute drive. 

We were dropped off in front of a travel agent who quickly took our payment (92 U.S. dollars) and pointed to a guide looking fellow. We blindly followed him to the dock and waited while other travel groups boarded. We were absorbed into another tour group mixed with several locals, a French family, and a Dutch couple.

Several gorgeous boats were loaded with waiting people and then it was our turn. 

The boat "The Barracuda" was not that glamorous and did not look comfortable at all. The 18 of us clamored aboard and took our seats. Our shoes were confiscated and placed in a bag. We were given life jackets and a lecture in Spanish. I do not think most of us understood the speech but got the gist to sit down, hold fast and use the bathroom at our own risk. We really need to learn this language.

Yeah, super excited for an adventure. We were headed out for the day and hoping to see humpback whales and turtles on the way to Isla de la Plata a 40 km (hour ten minute) boat ride away. Isla de la Plata is a small island off the coast of Manabí, Ecuador, and is part of Parque Nacional Machalilla.

As we took off, the guide told everyone to move closer to the dual engines. We hit the waves way too fast and slammed downed repeatedly. We were bounced out of our seats and felt our teeth coming loose. Mike and I held on tight and looked for whales. 

The humpbacks migrate between June and September off the coast of Ecuador. While we were not on a whale watching tour we were wishing to see them. 

About 20 minutes into the trip I spotted a sting ray breaking through the surface of the water and fly. He came out once more so Mike could see him as well. It was really amazing as he flipped through the air. We saw several others fly as we journeyed forth. Off into the horizon we also were blessed with a humpback whale breaching the surface. He shot up straight into the air about 8 times. It was one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen. 

We were commenting on how lucky we were to see 2 new things when one of the engines on the boat stopped working. Mke had commented that it did not sound right earlier in the voyage. So there we sat dead in the water while the captain tried to fix the engine. The swells were mighty and the seasickness meds were not keeping up with the 10 foot waves crashing into the boat. The captain repeatedly tinkered with the engine and tested it. He decided that we could run on one engine and went back to the steering wheel. 5 minutes later as we limped along the boat boy came down and the captain slowed the boat, he checked the oil. The dipstick came out low and he decided to add oil. He opened the cabinet and pulled out the oil container...empty! He pulled out 3 more which were all empty, really, our luck cannot always be this bad. The last oil container had a smidge in it and he added that. Off we went with the engine not truly fixed and making an awful racket.

While we slowly journeyed forth our luck improved and we saw a family of whales. Mom, dad and baby. They played by the side of our boat for a few minutes rolling in the water and showing us their dorsal fins. Dad, I can only assume by his size, also waved his tail at us. It was truly a wonderful sight.

We saw at least 4 different whales on the trip to the island. We saw several more on the return trip. 

Once we were close to the island another boat came to take us in. It was amusing for me to watch the others try to switch boats in 10 foot swells. They did not grasp the concept of waiting for the waves to calm and the boats to align. They also were a wee bit too proud to take the hands offered to them. I am sure they have several bruises from the transfer.

So we get close to the island and get another lecture in Spanish. Again no idea what is said. We made a wet landing, meaning we had to get off in the water. I assume that is why our shoes were confiscated earlier. When we got to shore they dumped the bag of shoes onto the rocks. There was a well of water to rinse your feet. I asked the guide what he said and he said he did not speak English. I asked what time we needed to be back to the boat and was told 2:30.

Spotted some crabs on the beach.

So off Mike and I went to explore the island for 2.5 hours. We photographed the map and decided our path. 

The others were all lounging at the picnic tables. 

The plant life on the island was very dry, dead and desolate looking.

I guess from Dec - April it's lush and green. As we turned a corner we ran into a tour group getting info from their guide. We attempted to go around them but were spoken to in Spanish again. We explained in our broken Spanish that we were exploring. We were told we needed a guide and had to go back. Ugh! As we walked back we ran into the Dutch couple. We told them what we were told and talked to them for a few minutes while we waited for our group to catchup. They never did so we went back down the trail while the Dutch couple ventured forth.

Our group was waiting by the map and were very annoyed with us. We explained we did not speak Spanish and did not know we were supposed to wait. The Dutch couple also came back after being redirected. 

The guide led us on and we were right on his heels anxious for the wonders of the island. The Dutch couple and a French family of 4 were also keeping up with us. We climbed up 200 steps to a look out point. Then we waited for 10 minutes for the rest of the group to arrive. We are, by no means, in great shape to climb quickly but we were much faster than the others and it made us feel like we were in shape.

Luckily there were 2 guides with us and one broke the group in half. We took off with the speedy guide and the others went a different path that was about a km long.

We were rewarded with 2 more sights we had never seen before. The blue footed boobie and the frigate bird. 

Blue footed boobies proud to be photographed. Nope not lawn ornaments.

I am doing my happy dance! (In slow motion)

The lighter colored feet means it is younger than its friend.

Baby begging for food.

Keeping warm.

We first saw the frigate birds in the skies in Rio de Janiero, Brazil but did not know what they were. While flying they look like pterodactyls.  

The red breast are called Magnificent frigate birds.

This is a Lesser frigate bird with baby.

Excellent day spent watching incredible families at play. The boobies with their babies, the frigate birds feeding their young by virtually swallowing them, and the whales teaching their calves to spin in the water.