This past week I had to travel to the coast of Ecuador to work with one of our artisans there. On the weekend I had the opportunity to visit Puerto Lopez,
a small coastal town and popular destination among tourists for whale watching excursions.
One of the highlights of traveling to the coast is the excellent seafood available. My personal favourite is ceviche, a dish made of white fish and
shrimp that has been cooked in lime juice. While there are many varieties of ceviche in Latin America, the most essential element is the freshness of the
ingredients. Naturally, as you get closer to the coast, this becomes easier to access. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I ate, on average, two bowls of
ceviche per day…
For a large part of the population of Puerto Lopez, fresh seafood signifies more than just a good mea,l as fishing constitutes their livelihood. Fish is exported
all over the country and even to Perú. Every morning fishing boats return to shore to sell locally or to load the catch onto trucks. It is an impressive
sight to see as opportunistic birds flock overhead to snatch unguarded fish. Fishermen are, literally, battling off these birds while carrying loads of fish
ashore.
Apart from the fishing industry, the town relies greatly on ecotourism. The months of June, July, and August are particularly good for whale watching. It’s
difficult not to consider going on a tour because approximately every two meters one is practically assaulted by “tour guides” promoting their business. Here is
a picture of some of the humpback whales I saw on the tour.
Blog pics by Sandra ten Zijthoff
Hope you are all well!
Chiara