Chirije Archeological Site and Lodge

www.chirije.com

We met Patricio Tamariz in Bahia de Caraquez after a rather muddling bus trip from Canoa on Ecuador's Pacific Coast.  He owns and operates a beautiful little ecolodge on the beach south of Bahia.  We had read about his company, Bahia Dolphin Tours, and archeological site, Chirije, in a guide book and were keen to visit there.  Patricio and his staff were so friendly and helpful in arranging everything.  Patricio drove us out along the beach at low tide to get to the site.  The ocean was that lovely turquoise colour.  The landscape is tropical dry forest and due for rains to start in January.  Now it is incredibly dry and mostly brown.
The lodge was classy and comfortable.  We had the place all to ourselves which felt quite upper-class.  At high tide the waves run right up the drive and no one can come or go.  Walking the beach John found several beautiful pottery shards, and the ground is littered with them.  We also hiked up the mountain and had a closeup look at tropical dry forest vegetation.  The ceibo trees which look like African boababs were especially cool!
This is a wonderful and amazing place which I highly recommend!

Patricio also has a book recently published through Amazon:
The Secret of Paradise: Mysteries of the Pacific Coast of Ecuador by Patricio Tamariz and Bo Rinaldi