Hosteria itapoa
Hosteria Itapoa
Hosteria Itapoa in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador is in the center of Machalilla National Park, and only lies 20 meters (65 feet) from the beach. The hostel set in a charming area surrounded by lush grounds.
Our hotel is family run and much of the proceeds fund the Itapoa Reserve Rainforest Project, paying for conservation efforts and programs to protect the rainforest.
At Hosteria Itapoa there is a choice of cabins, private rooms, or multiple bed rooms set in beautiful gardens…like a small piece of rainforest! The rooms are very bright, and have fans included. Wi-Fi is available at the cafeteria and surroundings along with hammocks and benches to relax on .
Bungalows are fitted with private balconies and hammocks. All rooms have their own private bathrooms. Breakfast and taxes are included in the price.
At our cafe you can also sample and buy our 100% natural “Chocolate to Save the Rainforest” in a spread or hot chocolate drink, and enjoy our coffee. These are all grown organically in the Itapoa Rainforest at Puerto Quito. Take breakfast overlooking the Pacific Ocean!
Cycling, snorkeling, bicycle rental, surfing lessons, and private tours of the area and Itapoa Rainforest Reserve can be scheduled at our reception desk during your stay, but is preferable to arrange them in advance.
From Hosteria Itapoa its easy and convenient to organize tours to the Isla de la Plata, and see blue footed boobies amongst other special wildlife in the dry forest on the Island.
There are many things to enjoy in the town of Puerto Lopez and nearby areas.
We are listed and recommended in many guide books including Lonely Planet and Rough Guide.
Itapoa Reserve Tours
Two to Six Day Tours
A Jungle Experience in the Ecuadorian Choco RegionPuerto Quito /Canande Western Lowland Rainforest
A trip to Ecuador would not be complete without observing and learning about the magnificent and diverse plants, birds and other wildlife that inhabits one of the earth’s most lush and vibrant Rainforests. Visit our project which has 400 species of flowers, fruit trees, and orchids. See how the forest regenerates with great effort of a few people, but also see its destruction by many others. Enjoy rivers and waterfalls, and make your own chocolate. Our tours are recommended by many travel guides including Lonely Planet, Footprint, plus various organizations and ecotour companies throughout the world. The tours are guided by Raul Nieto, a rainforest advocate who holds a graduate degree in field biology, with over 20 years of experience in the region.
Tours available in English, Spanish, Italian and French.
Puerto Lopez & Local Tours
Tourists can enjoy many activities, including horseback riding, biking, watching the dance of humpback whales during its annual migration, scuba diving, surfing or simply relaxing on the beach.
The beaches of Puerto Lopez are one of the most beautiful of the Ecuadorian coast. Two natural breakwaters give rise to a creek, causing the Pacific Ocean to reach the beach safely. At low tide some great tide pools can be found on the South end of the beach. You can see anemones, starfish, stingrays, and urchins then.
Please contact us at info@HosteriaItapoa.com, by phone, or visit Hosteria Itapoa’s reception area to inquire about all tours.
Hablamos Inglés, Portugués, Italiano y Español.
Help Us Save a Paradise
Itapoa Reserve is a rich untouched natural rainforest jungle spanning over 150 hectares in the Choco region of Equador. Its headquarters is located in Puerto Quito and the reserve is one of the earth’s top hot spots for bio diversity, especially birds and frogs.
Since 1989, Itapoa Reserve has been working to prevent deforestation while replanting clear-cut land with new patches of forest. It is a large effort we accomplish with the help of many caring and invaluable volunteers. Some of the native plants reintroduced to these area help repopulate species of trees that are almost extinct.
Along with these efforts, Itapoa’s goal is to educate natives and settlers about the dangers of logging and selling their land to Palm Oil Plantations who destroy it to produce bio fuel. By using cacao as a cash crop, they are able to bring in income as an alternative to logging or selling their land. Without their land, natives are forced to migrate out of their homes and community to find housing and a livelihood.
We protect the jungle that we have, and buy more for its conservation. We tell people about the importance of the forest and its future. We create biological corridors filled with native plant species hoping it will stay this way forever.
We also train and educate concerned individuals and future field biologists who volunteer with us from all over the world. We want everyone to feel as passionate about preserving rainforests as we do and to help in any way they can.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Just by reading this and enjoying our coffee or chocolate, you are already helping. But you could do more if you wish.
- Read about the Choco Region and get informed. Tell more people what is happening to the forest then get involved in the fight against destruction and global warming.
- Stop buying products from palm oil, such as, shampoo, soap, cosmetics, cooking oil or Bio Fuel
- Buy our “Chocolate to Save the Rainforest” or our organic coffee available at Hosteria Itapoa in Puerto Lopez
- Contribute with donations such as money, camping gear, nature guide books or scientific books
- Be a volunteer (reserve volunteer link) in one of the ten most bio diverse regions of the world.
- Come to visit our project in Puerto Quito for a two – 6 day learning experience. Be part of a long lasting experience in a paradise full of birds, mammals, plants, and waterfalls. All proceeds from the tours go directly to fund our rainforest conservation and research.
For more information on tours or programs please contact us at:
info@itapoareserve.com or inquire at Hosteria Itapoa
Phone: +593 (Ecuador) (0) 052300071, or
(0) 994784992 or (0) 993145894
Malecon Julio Izurieta
y Calle Abdon Calderon
Puerto Lopez, Manabi
Ecuador
Visit us at www.itapoareserve.com or find us on Facebook
Town of Puerto Lopez
Puerto López is a small picturesque fishing village with its dusty streets and chipped blue boats bobbing in the bay. It’s set in an arched bay on the Pacific coast in the south-west Manabí Province. Puerto Lopez is a small town about 18 000 people with an area of 449km square
Puerto Lopez is a region dedicated to environmental care, being a perfect base to discover the natural wonders of the National Park Machalilla.
This beautiful resort offers colorful landscapes and restaurants to suit every budget. At many you can sit outside to enjoy the weather and views of the town. Puerto Lopez is a popular destination for visiting backpackers and nature lovers alike. You can walk everywhere in Puerto Lopez.
The temperature varies between 25 and 30 degrees centigrade (77–86 degrees Fahrenheit). January to June temperatures are often above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Being a fishing town there is a wide variety of seafood. There are also a few international restaurants in town.
Tourists can enjoy many activities, including horseback riding, biking, watching the dance of humpback whales during its annual migration, scuba diving, surfing or simply relaxing on the beach. The beaches of Puerto Lopez are one of the most beautiful of the Ecuadorian coast. Two natural breakwaters give rise to a creek, causing the Pacific Ocean to reach the beach safely. At low tide some great tide pools can be found on the South end of the beach. You can see anemones, starfish, stingrays, and urchins then.
At the Machalilla National Park, you can explore nature either on foot or by joining a horse (or mule) tour. El Mirador or lookout-point “The Blade”, has one of the most breathtaking panoramas of tropical dry forest To reach the lookout one must walk the nature trail, admiring the surrounding nature, trees, shrubs, birds, insects, mammals, and the charm of the forest landscape. In addition to the viewpoint you can visit the eco nursery “La Josefina”. The park headquarters is one block behind the plaza in Puerto López and also features a small museum.
There are also organized trips to Isla la Plata. On the island you will be able to see plenty of blue and red footed boobies, frigate birds, sea turtles, and if you’re lucky, sea lions.
Nearby to Puerto Lopez
If you are interested in exploring the areas outside of Puerto Lopez the serene Playa Los Frailes is located 10Km north of Puerto Lopez inside Machalilla National Park. You can take a taxi there or simply hop on a northbound bus and ask to be dropped off at Los Frailes.
Agua Blanca is also nearby and is a small village and archaeological site of the Manteño people. It’s named after a pre-incan sulphur-water pool in the village.
Ten minutes south, The Salango Archaeological Musem is the first insitu Museum of Ecuador. The collection consists of 245 pieces of pre-Columbian pottery dating from the year 5000 to 1500 AD. It shows the use and function of the pieces, pottery technology, and the interrelationship with nature and daily life of these human groups at different stages of their settlement and cultural development.
Testimonials
The owner Raul with his stories and his desire for conservation gives you a new perspective. The cabins are very comfortable, perfect for relaxing, hot water, very comfortable beds, hammocks. And the most amazing is their ocean view for a rich and delicious breakfast (chocolate is the best I’ve had in my life) …. If you go through Puerto Lopez is the best place to relax after a long journey.
-Lina M
Colombia
– Rodrigo Calcagni
Santiago, Chile
We really enjoyed it and stayed longer. It is such a chilling place with really good breakfast, the best view, and a friendly owner! Also the surfing, rainforest, Isla de Plata and bike tours were well organized and a lot of fun. - Nora, Weißenborn, Germany
– Rotifero
Marbella, Spain
We have stayed in eight hostals/hotels in Ecuador and this is, by far, the most memorable one. The staff, especially the owner, assisted us in many ways, including, but not limited to: arranging taxi drivers to come to pick us up, walking us to the taxi with an umbrella during a rain shower, arranging a tour with a guide and connecting us with a fellow traveler. Have I said enough yet? The room was simple, neat, clean with a comfortable bed. The room had an attached bathroom with hot water. The breakfast was the best one we ate at in our Ecuadorian stay. The grounds were elaborate and colorful with both flowers and plants We had a special appreciation of the owners’ interest and financial support of an indigenous farming site in Ecuador and wished that we had time to visit it – maybe you can…
– Bob
New York, USA
I loved the place because its very simple, natural, full of trees and plants, the price is low and the breakfast that was included was really tasty… The owners were very nice and helpful and they make also bike rentals and bike trips, and surfing lessons for a fair price… We really enjoyed our time in Puerto Lopez!
-Mary J
Cartagena, Colombia
We stayed at Hosteria Itapoa for two nights, it’s located right on the beach, less than a 5 min walk to nearby restaurants and the center of town. The hostel has a number of en suite cabins that were comfortable and clean. Breakfast was served overlooking the sea and included croissants with chocolate from the owner’s cocoa plantation. The hostel itself feels very safe and the owners are extremely helpful, they arranged a boat trip to nearby Isla de la Plata which ran very smoothly. I would definitely return.
– Conkerpow
Waterford, Ireland
The true feeling of Ecuador… Highly recommend!! Yo quiero Puerto López!
– Rashida
Englewood, USA
Lovely rooms, good showers. Very helpful staff. From there we organized an excellent jungle trip, as the owner, botanist Raul Nieto also has a very basic lodge deep in the lowland rainforest which you can get to from about 3 hours from Quito. Inexpensive program, off-the-beaten-track and free of tourism, we went on a 3 hour bumpy truck ride followed by a 6 hour trek where you set up camp. Did all sorts of stuff – swam in waterfalls, saw loads of amazing birds and butterflies (it’s one of the ten most bio diverse regions in the world), got wee-ed on by a group of brown-headed spider monkeys (!)… You can see pumas and jaguars if you’re lucky…we only saw their footprints. Be prepared for lots of mud and being kept awake a night by all the sounds of the jungle including the howler monkeys! The last day of the trip we went back to Raul’s lodge in Puerto Quito and learned how to make chocolate from cacao seeds (that come from a small community in the rainforest) and palm-nut rings. LOTS of fun and worthwhile too – the money goes to help fund research and conservation work in the area. Raul is a great guy – passionate in his fight to stop the destruction of the rainforest and extremely knowledgeable: he can tell you everything about the jungle, its past, present and future. It’s completely no-frills, food is basic (but fine. lots of chocolate and fresh coffee!) and bring yourself a pack of cards for the evenings…but if you want an authentic jungle adventure and want to see and learn loads, get in touch with Raul at raul@itapoareserve.com. It’s 4hrs from Quito, 3 hrs from Esmeraldas.You need to give him about a weeks notice so he can plan the trip (to prepare the horses etc).
– Isabella
Quito, Ecuador