For a place with so much history there is surprisingly little heritage to be seen in the town itself. You can visit the Banco Central’s Casa de la Cultura [open Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm], with its collection of pre-Columbian treasures found in the sea and antique maps of the region.

Around Bahia de Caraquez
For close encounters with wildlife comparable to those on the Galapagos Islands, boat trips from Bahia to islands in the estuary can be arranged with tour operators. At the Islas de Fragatas, frigate birds can be observed and photographed at close range, along with herons, pelicans, cormorants, oyster-catchers, spoonbills and blue-footed boobies. The best time to see the magnificent frigate birds puffing up their red breast sacks is during mating rituals from August to January. Shrimp farms have destroyed most of the estuary’s mangroves during the last 20 years, except those that are protected on the islands.

Isla Corazon. With bird colonies located at the end of the island but may be seen only by boat.

Other interesting places to visit around the area are: Punta Bellaca, a beautiful beach on the way to Chirije close to the Cerro de las Orquideas hill.

Saiananda. Located 5 km from Bahia, is a very interesting private park with accommodation and restaurant. Has a very unusual combination of native and domestic animals and birds such as: Chuchuchos, sloths, ostriches, macaws, deer, geese, rabbits, peacocks, donkeys, and cows. The park also has a cactus collection and a bonsai garden.

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||

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