Ecuador's only mainland coastal national park; it takes in Isla de la Plata, nicknamed "the poor man's Galápagos" for its similar wildlife
Area
559 km²
Protection category
IUCN II
Parque nacional —
Designated in
1979
Declared in 1979, it is Ecuador's only mainland coastal national park and combines tropical dry forest, beaches and Isla de la Plata, popularly nicknamed "the poor man's Galápagos" because it holds colonies of blue-footed booby and other seabirds much like those of the famous archipelago, reachable on a day trip from the mainland at a fraction of the cost. Between June and September its waters are also one of the best places on mainland Ecuador to watch humpback whales on their breeding migration.
Location
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2 dive sites within 300 km are also shown.
Machalilla: 26 documented species
Mammals7Birds8Reptiles4Fish
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in Ecuador, where Machalilla lies.
Tropical rainforestMarine / coastalTundra / polar
Experiences in this park
Diving and snorkellingBirdwatching
Nearby dive sites
Where can I dive near here?
46 km away
289 km away
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in Ecuador?
Now is a good time: Whale shark and hammerhead aggregation at Darwin and Wolf (June to November (cool season))
Now is a good time: Whale shark and hammerhead aggregation at Darwin and Wolf (June to November (cool season))
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Same country: Ecuador
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
Ecuador
