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| Important Towns
| Archeogical Ruins |
| Artisan Crafts | Indigenous
Groups |
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Towns of Historical &
Cultural Importance
Although the Pacific Coast may not be home to cities as well known for
their cultural heritage as the cities of the Andes, the Coast is home
to many sites where the history of centuries past lives on. A good example
of one of the Coast’s more colorful cultural heritage hot spots would
be Guayaquil’s colonial Las Peñas sector. Another great example
of the Coast’s rich cultural heritage is Vinces, in the province
of Los Ríos. Known as “Little Paris”, this area is famous
for its colonial estates which once belonged to the area’s rich cocoa
growers. Another coastal spot of great cultural importance is the is Zaruma,
located in the province of El Oro, in southern Ecuador. A tranquil village
home to an abundance of impressive colonial architecture, Zaruma has been
a National Heritage Site. Seven kilometers outside of Zaruma and eighty
km from Machala, is Portovelo, a town known for being the home of the
nation’s oldest gold mines as well as displaying its beautiful colonial
architecture. Another town displaying equally exquisite architecture is
Piñas, 65 km from the city of Machala.
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Archaeological Ruins
One of the nation’s most impressive archeological sites is the island
of Tolita, in northern Esmeraldas. This impressive site dates back to
pre-Columbian eras and contains artifacts from some of Ecuador’s
earliest cultures. Some of the archeological finds Tolita indicate that
the aboriginal cultures that inhabited the island worked with platinum
centuries before the Europeans did. Apart from the archeological finds
which abound on the island’s beaches, Tolita is also home an archeological
museum run by the community. Moreover, arriving in Tolita via motorboat
from San Lorenzo, crossing the sea and passing thriving mangroves, is
a treat in and of itself.
Another one of the Coast’s more impressive archeological sites can
be found along the central Ecuadorian Coast. Here, set amongst the beautiful
backdrop of Machalilla National Park, we find Agua Blanca, a site containing
vestiges of a settlement of the Manteño period which was home to
an estimated 5,000 residents. According to researchers, Agua Blanca was
once Salangome, the capital of an area which, in its most prosperous area,
was home to more than 600 hundred buildings – remnants of which can
still be seen with the help of a local guide. All in all, Machalilla is
home to over 500 sites of archeological importance and interest.
Outside of Machalilla, another point of archeological interest is the
valley of Julcuy. Among its many historical riches is an artificial ceremonial
mound of the Valdivia-Machalilla epoch, almost 5,000 years ago.
Nearby Salango, with an archeological museum dedicated to the area’s
marine culture as well as the history of southwestern Manabí and
its former societies, is another site of cultural interest.
In the province of Guayas, Valdivia stands out for its archaeological
riches. Remains of this culture are found in communities throughout the
region.
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Artisan Products and Handicrafts
Unbeknownst to most, Manabí, Ecuador, is the center of production
of straw hats known internationally as “Panama Hats”. Here,
you can witness the craftsmen of these fine hats at work, weaving the
product using the a process that dates back centuries. Montecristi and
Jipijapa are the most well known selling outlets for locally produced
hats, bags, chairs, and other accessories and furniture. A visit to the
artisan centers where these products are made offers an insight into the
vast richness of a culture dating back centuries. Another famous center
in the same province is La Pila, where artisans make sculptures of various
themes and also replicate pre-Colombian ceramics.
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Ethnic Groups
In the province of Esmeraldas, we find the indigenous groups of the Chachi
o Cayapa (seven thousand inhabitants), and the Awá. Their official
languages are Cha´palaa and Awapit respectively. The Awá
share territory with the Carchi Province. Their population is close to
four thousand inhabitants. In Guayas, are the Huancavilcas, another indigenous
community.
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| Important Towns
| Archeogical Ruins |
| Artisan Crafts | Indigenous
Groups |
|
Culture
