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Local situation

How the area stands and how to reach PlayaMagma (November 12)

4 min readPlayaMagma

ERFEN warns El Niño could become very strong between November and December, beaches are covered in driftwood and Ayampe and Puerto López have red flags. PlayaMagma is reached by a 250-meter walk over a footbridge, and until the road is repaired your stay is 40% off.

Here is the latest on Ayampe, Las Tunas and Puerto López from what authorities and the press have reported up to November 12, 2026, plus how to reach PlayaMagma today. Conditions change fast: before you travel, check the official alerts and message us.

How to reach PlayaMagma today

  • Because of rain damage, cars cannot drive all the way to the farm. You park at the foot of the creek, cross a footbridge and walk about 250 meters.
  • The path is wet, with puddles and mud: we recommend boots.
  • If you let us know ahead of time, we will meet you and help with your luggage.
  • Until the road is repaired, your stay is 40% off. Please call us before booking at +593 98 011 1600 or +593 98 278 0852.

El Niño: what is coming

  • The ERFEN report published on November 5 warns that El Niño could reach a very strong or extraordinary intensity in Ecuador, comparable to 1982-1983 and 1997-1998. It is an outlook, not a final classification.
  • Pacific warming would peak over the rest of November and December 2026, and above-normal rain is expected on the coast this month.
  • Inamhi keeps forecasting moderate to heavy rain in parts of Manabí, including Puerto López.

Rivers, water and beaches

  • On November 4, 24 rivers and streams had overflowed in five provinces; the Ayampe river was one of them.
  • According to the National Risk Management Secretariat, the November 1 flood of the Ayampe river left communities cut off and without power, with about 100 families affected.
  • The flood damaged Puerto López's drinking-water intake systems.
  • Beaches in Olón, Montañita, Ayampe and elsewhere in Santa Elena and Manabí woke up covered in driftwood: logs, branches and sediment carried down by the rivers. Crews worked to clear it from the Ayampe river bridge.
  • On November 12, Ayampe, Puerto López, Machalilla and El Matal had red flags: do not go into the sea.

Why do beaches fill up with logs and trash when it rains? We explain it in our article about driftwood in the farm journal.

Sources

  1. El Diario · November 6, 2026 — El Niño en Ecuador podría alcanzar una intensidad extraordinaria como en 1982 y 1997, advierte el informe del ERFEN
  2. Expreso — El Niño en Ecuador: lluvias se intensificarán entre noviembre y diciembre, según el Inamhi
  3. El Telégrafo · November 4, 2026 — Lluvias en Ecuador: 24 desbordamientos de ríos en cinco provincias
  4. Secretaría Nacional de Gestión de Riesgos · November 3, 2026 — SitRep No. 70 – Lluvias 29/08/2026 al 03/11/2026
  5. El Universo · November 3, 2026 — Puerto López se queda sin agua potable tras la crecida del río Ayampe y las fuertes lluvias
  6. El Universo — Playas de Santa Elena y Manabí se llenan de palizada y sedimentos por las fuertes lluvias
  7. Primicias — ¿Qué es la palizada, fenómeno que invade Montañita, Ayampe, Olón y otras playas de Ecuador?
  8. Extra · November 12, 2026 — Las 25 playas con bandera roja en Ecuador este jueves 12 de noviembre
  9. Vistazo · November 9, 2026 — Lluvias en Ecuador: estas son las provincias con pronóstico de precipitaciones este 9 de noviembre

Have a booking or planning to come?

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