Things to do in Ayampe and Las Tunas: the guide we give our friends

Every time someone messages us on WhatsApp asking "so what is there to do out there?", we smile a little. Because the honest answer is: everything and nothing. You can spend three days in a hammock listening to the forest, and that's perfect. Or you can wake up at six, paddle out on a board, eat a freshly fried corviche for lunch and end the day watching the sun slip right between the rocks of the islet. Also perfect.

This is the list we hand to our friends when they visit the farm. No agency filters, no copy-pasted top 10. Just what we do on a day off between Ayampe and Las Tunas.

1. Surf (or try with dignity)

Ayampe is one of Ecuador's most authentic surf spots. It's a beach break over sand, not rock, so it's a friendly entry even on your first try. There are waves all year, but December to May brings the most consistent southern swell. Mid-tide with no wind is usually the sweet spot.

A real tip: the currents here are strong. If you're a beginner, take a lesson. In Las Tunas there's Otra Ola, a school with instructors who have spent decades in the water, and several hostels in Ayampe rent boards and bodyboards.

2. Look for the Esmeraldas Woodstar

It's the second smallest hummingbird in the world, endemic to this region and the emblem bird of Las Tunas. You'll find it on the El Colibrí trail along the Ayampe River, an Important Bird Area. Go early, walk slowly and bring patience: when it shows up, it's a jewel with wings that hangs in the air for one second and vanishes.

3. Hike to the waterfall

A trail from the village leads to the Ayampe Waterfall, about twenty meters of water falling through dry tropical forest. It's not a mountaineering trip, but wear closed shoes and bring water and repellent. The reward is an icy dip that resets your whole body.

4. Snorkel at Los Ahorcados

Right off Ayampe sits Los Ahorcados islet, great for snorkeling and diving. Ayampe has more islets per kilometer of coast than any other beach in the country, and you can tell underwater. If you like a sea full of life, don't skip it.

5. Eat like a local

Food here is a plan of its own. Order a corviche (a green-plantain fritter stuffed with fish, pure Manabí) at La Cabaña del Corviche on the Ruta del Spondylus. Look for the catch-of-the-day ceviche, rosemary fish and, in the afternoon, coffee and something sweet at The Barn. And if you'd rather stay in, we can arrange a local cook to prepare traditional dishes with local ingredients at the farm.

6. Go a little further

• Los Frailes beach, inside Machalilla National Park: pale sand, turquoise water, zero buildings. For many, the most beautiful beach in mainland Ecuador.
• Isla de la Plata, about 40 km from Puerto López: blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and sea lions. Locals lovingly call it "the poor man's Galápagos".
• Agua Blanca: an archaeological museum and a sulfur lagoon where you get muddy from head to toe.
• Salango Archaeological Museum, about 5 km away: the pre-Columbian story of this coast, told without hurry.

7. Do absolutely nothing

We mean it. Some guests arrive with a list and leave without ticking off a single thing, and they leave happy. The farm's hammocks hang between tropical trees, the fire is lit almost every night, and silence here is a sound: crickets, wind in the leaves, the sea in the distance.

PlayaMagma is 900 meters from the Ruta del Spondylus, between Ayampe and Las Tunas: 15–20 minutes from Montañita and 20–30 from Puerto López. Close enough to do it all, far enough to truly rest. If you're not sure what to do on your dates, message us. We love making plans.