We invite you to see this documentary created by VISTAZO magazine, “Hidden Paradise of Ecuador: Canchimalero“. Where our cameraman Manuel Aviles talks about a beautiful island with different types of mangroves around and among the largest in the world, nice and humble people, their diverse foods and traditions. An experience that will really catch you and even make you want to visit and don’t be surprised if you even want to move to the island.
You can watch the video on Youtube , here we will provide you with the entrance ; it were published on 10th of March
And you can also follow Manuel Aviles on Instagram to get closer to these hidden paradises in Ecuador.
Canchimalero, in addition to its beaches and hiking, is also important for its celebration of San Martin de Porres, traditional of the Black Saint that in this small town located in front of the sea is the axis of a visit to the cultural attractions.
What you should know about Canchimalero?
- The beach of Canchimalero and Las Peñas are the most popular in the Eloy Alfaro canton of the coastal province of Esmeraldas (north), has pristine beaches, mangrove walks and a mixture of religious and cultural tourism.
- Access to this town is by the E-15 highway north from the provincial capital, Esmeraldas. It can also be reached by the E-10 road along the Quito – Ibarra – San Lorenzo road to the Las Peñas beach resort.
Then you enter the parish of La Tola until you finally travel by boat admiring a landscape one hundred percent green by an intricate network of large arms of the sea.
- Playa Bendita, an uninhabited place, with a distance of about 15 km of beach are good options. Also Canchimalero beach, with about 12 km of sand that blends with the forests of land. Something that is rarely achieved in certain towns where they work to conserve the ecosystem.
- In addition to the beaches you can reach the town of La Barca for a hike. In three hours you can observe large mangroves of three species and go into them.
- You can also take a tour through the mangrove tunnels. A tour through small rivers to admire this ecosystem and the species it shelters. It is necessary to travel in boats without motor so as not to alter the normality of the species and to be able to watch them.
San Martin de Porres, the great procession of the river.
Canchimalero, in addition to its beaches and walks, is also important for its celebration of St. Martin de Porres, traditional of the Black Saint . that in this small town located in front of the sea is the axis of a visit to the cultural attractions at the beginning of the month of November.
Tourists, devotees, villagers and others gather there. The arrival of people is so great that the bleachers of the small boardwalk fell down on one occasion.
From each town, dozens of boats go down the Santiago River towards Limones.
where a large raft carries the saint on board and leads the procession towards Canchimalero.
All in the middle of the arms of the sea, which receives all kinds of small boats full of devotees. In Canchimalero, San Martin de Porres wears a white cloak, which makes him shine in the middle of the boats. In the feast of the black saint, cooing, praises and prayers are heard to the rhythm of the marimba.
When the beach of Canchimalero can be seen, the atmosphere becomes intense, the euphoria of the devotees is expressed in the rhythms of drums.
the lullabies dance and sing, getting ready for the disembarkation, where the Saint begins his pilgrimage to the church.
During the November celebrations, this Afro-Ecuadorian town organizes tourist activities, water tours that depart from Borbón or La Tola.
Passing through Limones until reaching Canchimalero where handicraft and gastronomic fairs are held, where the encocaos of crab, crab, fish and shrimp stand out.
