With its unspoiled, white beaches; its leafy, endemic vegetation; and La Isla de la Plata, where some of the Galapagos species thrive in abundance, Machalilla National Park is visited all year round by both local and foreign tourists. The main season is from June to October, which is when the whales come from the Antarctic to breed in the region. Situated 200 km (120 miles) north west of Guayaquil, the Park is also home to sites of archaeological interest such as Agua Blanca, with its remains of the Machalilla culture.
The Machalilla National Park is in the province of Manabí, a truly unique corner of our country. Its flora, fauna and scenery merge into a dream come true for residents and tourists alike. In the park you can visit the archaeological site in Agua Blanca and see the remains of the prehistoric Manta-Machalilla culture, an isle, the natural museum in Salango and the tropical rain forest in San Sebastián. In this area you can also visit the beautiful beaches of Puerto Cayo, De los Frailes and Puerto López. From Puerto López you can take a boat to the Isla de la Plata to see a large number of animals and sea birds similar to the fauna of Galápagos: blue and red-footed boobies, sea lions, pelicans, frigate birds, whales from July to October and dolphins the rest of the year. The place is ideal for scuba-diving tours or snorkeling.
The area has several townships: Manglaralto, Puerto Lopez, Montanita, Salango, which are primarily dependent on fishing and tourism. The area population is concentrated in these towns and have a need for volunteers and interns in different places and levels, primarily in education, day care centers and the health area. Other alternatives are in fishing and shrimping, for those with training in such areas. The area is also the location or the Machalilla culture, one of the oldest and most interesting cultures that populated costal Ecuador in 4000 BC.
This area is formed by an array of small fishing communities. They are located in the northern part of the Guayas Province, along the shores of the Pacific. The people make a limited living out of the sea, they still use rather primitive methods of fishing, and the industry of tourism is just beginning to develop in the area. It is a poor area with limited educational facilities. Many mothers work for the local canning industries, and there is a Day Care Center that is understaffed, and an elementary school that has two teachers K-6 where additional help is needed but cannot be afforded. For those in social sciences, be it Sociology or Poly Sci, the community development center could be a good place for an internship in the social issues of the area, whether related to labor (with the cannery), land ownership, fishing sites and the like. The community is willing to accept volunteers or interns, there are families willing to share their modest homes with the visiting volunteer. However, the person willing to undertake this experience would need to be very open to share life in an area of great beauty but limited facilities.