San Luis de Pambil

Join the Hipporoller Challenge

Help the Travel Guide reach 20,000,000 characters and we'll donate 63 hipporollers worth over $6000. Read more.

Contributors

• EcuadorFan (84%)
• Peter (16%)
  from My Shout

Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.

Introduction

San Luis de Pambil is an agricultural village on the western side of the Andes in the lower, warmer part of Bolivar Province. This little-visited area between the mountains and the sea has no famous tourist attractions but is worth a visit to get off the beaten track and see genuine rural life.

Note that there are no banking facilities, so bring enough cash for your stay.

Sights

Nothing famous, just little farming communities in beautiful countryside in the foothills of the Andes, growing oranges, maize, avocados, papayas, sugarcane, coffee, cacao (chocolate), etc. Streams and waterfalls, virgin forest higher up the valley.

Wildlife to see includes hummingbirds, toucans and howler monkeys.

Activities

Walking
Trekking
Birdwatching
Rafting
Horseriding
Visits to sustainable rural development projects such as an organic sugarcane farming cooperative, CADO http://www.progresoverde.org/cado-eng.html.

Guides and/or tour and activity information available through charity project Eco-Friendly Farmstays, http://www.farmstaysecuador.org/activities.html

Events and Festivals

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

Around 6 hours from Quito on a direct bus (Macuchi or Flota Bolivar from the Terminal Terrestre, both leave early morning, one a day). Or take a bus along the main Santo Domingo - Guayaquil road to Zapotal (between Quevedo and Babahoyo), then wait on the corner for local buses to San Luis de Pambil (a further hour, $1, last bus around 6pm).

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Plain local foods (chicken, rice, avocado, corn, cheese, etc.) from a couple of very basic restaurants in the village, or eat with local families by arrangement (through Eco-Friendly Farmstays).

Drink

Aguardiente is the local 'firewater', made from sugar cane. See how it's made and try it for yourself, but be warned it is around 60% alcohol, so drink with caution!

Sleep

Budget

A local reforestation charity, CRACYP, works with local families to offer farmstay accommodation, see Eco-Friendly Farmstays www.farmstaysecuador.org http://www.farmstaysecuador.org.

The one hotel in town is cheap (~$4) but the buses depart from just outside it and they hoot the horn as they leave - at 2am, 3am, 4am, etc. It does not have mosquito nets.

Mid-Range

Upscale

Keep Connected

Internet

No internet service available.

Phone

You can make phone calls from various cabinas in the village.

Post

No postal service, packets can be sent on the local buses for a small fee.