HOW TO GET HERE?
Costa (Pacific Coast), one of Ecuador's 4 Worlds
From Quito and Guayaquil:
Many international airlines have direct flights to the city of Guayaquil and Quito, then you can take a flight from Quito for a 35 minute flight to Manta. There are 6 flights a day, please contact us for more information.
At your arrival from the flight Quito or Guayaquil to Manta, we'll pick you up and drive you to the Montecristi straw hat workshops and then on to Chirije (total road travel time-1 hour 15 minutes).
Public Transport
Buses are another way to arrive. There are several companies which travel to Manta from Quito and Guayaquil, (it can be from 5-7 hours depending on the company and their stops). You have to take the buses at either city's Interprovincial Bus Terminal. Once you arrive take a taxi to CasaGrande Oceanfront Boutique Hotel from where we will make a transfer along the beach towards Chirije.
Driving from Quito
The distance from Guayaquil is about 125 miles, and from Quito about 200 miles. You can rent cars at the Quito or Guayaquil airport.
Driving directions from Quito to CasaGrande, in Bahia de Caraquez (Chirije) - Very close to 6 hours driving time from northern edge of Quito. Genreally very good road with not much traffice once out of Quito, but be watchful for speed bumps - especially in populated areas. There are usually warnings and although some are clearly painted yellow and white, others are unpainted and can be hard to see ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT! There is one 80 cent toll. Dec 2011
There are two main alternatives - the southern route and the northern route. This describes the northern route, starting at the roundabout at the junction of Av Mariscal Antonio Jose De Sucre/Av De La Prensa, at the northern edge of Quito. Beyond this starting point the route is easy to follow. One way to get to that intersection is by taking Sucre (commonly known as the western ring road, or Camino Occidental, which leads eventually to the Pan Americana Norte) north. That roundabout is crowded and one of the few well marked ones, with signs indicating 'Mitad Del Mundo' and Calacali. Approaching from the west it is the third exit from the roundabout and heads north on Av Manuel Cordova Galarza (Faced with uncertainty one can ask anyone for directions to Mitad del Mundo).
Once on Galarza you stay on that road. In about 15 minutes you will pass Mitad del Mundo and begin climbing toward the pass to the northwest. Just beyond the pass you can fill with gasoline to last the rest of the way (although there are plenty of gas stations en route). From Mitad del Mundo it should take you about 2 1/2 hours to where you take a turnoff to the left, not far beond Puerto Rico, leading to Concordia. (If you miss this shortcut you will soon come to a T in the road at Independencia, where you take a left to get to Concordia, 5-10 minutes south, where you will make a right turn to join the road described next). This road leads to one roundabout, where you continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (west) on a good, new, road leading to Pedernales, on the coast. There is only one major junction, about 1/2 hour further, where you curve right to continue toward the coast. From Concordia it is about 1:20 to Pedernales.
Continue straight into Pedernales until you come to the only signal light (which was not working last trip there). Turn LEFT at that light. From there it is about 1.5 hours to central Bahia de Caraquez. The road is mostly new, wide, concrete but sections are still under construction. Watch out for rough sections. As you approach Bahia you will see its lights across the bay, as well as the lights of its new bridge. Your road will lead directly to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, keep left. The road is one way and curves to the left and you will take the first clear left turn, which doubles back toward the bridge along the waterfront. After pointing toward the bridge, keep right (do not take the next curving left, which would take you back onto the bridge) through the commercial area, then around the point in a residential area. When you see the red and white small lighthouse kind of structure in the water to your right you have arrived at your destination - Casa Grande - although to get to the entrance you have to make a left U turn onto the divided road, then another immediate U turn. It is the large two-story house (with green roof) and beautiful gardens on the right one taller white building before the corner. Park in front. You will, no doubt, have a cell phone and a number of someone there to call when you arrive or for further guidance. You will see a small sign saying CasaGrande in the gardens of this boutique hotel. CasaGrande is just a few feet away from the ocean. This is where we have our main offices.
From here we will guide you on the beach towards Chirije!
Driving from Guayaquil
From Guayaquil please take the road to Daule, before you get to Daule make a right hand turn at the monument of Narcissa de Jesus, from here you will pass Jipijapa (in about 2 hours time) from here 15 minutes you will pass La Pila (where you have all the ceramic handicrafts at the edge of the highway) and then take a right (go about 5-10 minutes) and reach a traffic light, turn right again and reach a toll booth. Once you pass the toll booth, (in about 5 minutes) you will reach the Portoviejo Bypass (you will see flags on your left) take a left and pass about 2 roundabouts and in about 10 minutes reach a deadend and take a left on the main road coming out of Portoviejo. In about 10 minutes you will reach the second gas station on your right then turn right and cross the Portoviejo River Valley and reach Rocafuerte (in about 5 minutes) then turn left and after going up a hill in about 1 minutes time, turn left again to the road towards Charapoto. Then it is a straight drive all the way to San Jacinto, San Clemente, then thru the Balsamo forest (Las Coronas) towards a junction where it says Pajonal Chirije (20 minutes). We will wait for you there to take you out to the beach and on towards Chirije. If your car is a low riding car then you have to go to Bahia or we will have a driver there to take your car to CasaGrande Oceanfront Boutique hotel where we will leave it parked there until your checkout.
Many international airlines have direct flights to the city of Guayaquil and Quito, then you can take a flight from Quito for a 35 minute flight to Manta. There are 6 flights a day, please contact us for more information.
At your arrival from the flight Quito or Guayaquil to Manta, we'll pick you up and drive you to the Montecristi straw hat workshops and then on to Chirije (total road travel time-1 hour 15 minutes).
Public Transport
Buses are another way to arrive. There are several companies which travel to Manta from Quito and Guayaquil, (it can be from 5-7 hours depending on the company and their stops). You have to take the buses at either city's Interprovincial Bus Terminal. Once you arrive take a taxi to CasaGrande Oceanfront Boutique Hotel from where we will make a transfer along the beach towards Chirije.
Driving from Quito
The distance from Guayaquil is about 125 miles, and from Quito about 200 miles. You can rent cars at the Quito or Guayaquil airport.
Driving directions from Quito to CasaGrande, in Bahia de Caraquez (Chirije) - Very close to 6 hours driving time from northern edge of Quito. Genreally very good road with not much traffice once out of Quito, but be watchful for speed bumps - especially in populated areas. There are usually warnings and although some are clearly painted yellow and white, others are unpainted and can be hard to see ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT! There is one 80 cent toll. Dec 2011
There are two main alternatives - the southern route and the northern route. This describes the northern route, starting at the roundabout at the junction of Av Mariscal Antonio Jose De Sucre/Av De La Prensa, at the northern edge of Quito. Beyond this starting point the route is easy to follow. One way to get to that intersection is by taking Sucre (commonly known as the western ring road, or Camino Occidental, which leads eventually to the Pan Americana Norte) north. That roundabout is crowded and one of the few well marked ones, with signs indicating 'Mitad Del Mundo' and Calacali. Approaching from the west it is the third exit from the roundabout and heads north on Av Manuel Cordova Galarza (Faced with uncertainty one can ask anyone for directions to Mitad del Mundo).
Once on Galarza you stay on that road. In about 15 minutes you will pass Mitad del Mundo and begin climbing toward the pass to the northwest. Just beyond the pass you can fill with gasoline to last the rest of the way (although there are plenty of gas stations en route). From Mitad del Mundo it should take you about 2 1/2 hours to where you take a turnoff to the left, not far beond Puerto Rico, leading to Concordia. (If you miss this shortcut you will soon come to a T in the road at Independencia, where you take a left to get to Concordia, 5-10 minutes south, where you will make a right turn to join the road described next). This road leads to one roundabout, where you continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (west) on a good, new, road leading to Pedernales, on the coast. There is only one major junction, about 1/2 hour further, where you curve right to continue toward the coast. From Concordia it is about 1:20 to Pedernales.
Continue straight into Pedernales until you come to the only signal light (which was not working last trip there). Turn LEFT at that light. From there it is about 1.5 hours to central Bahia de Caraquez. The road is mostly new, wide, concrete but sections are still under construction. Watch out for rough sections. As you approach Bahia you will see its lights across the bay, as well as the lights of its new bridge. Your road will lead directly to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, keep left. The road is one way and curves to the left and you will take the first clear left turn, which doubles back toward the bridge along the waterfront. After pointing toward the bridge, keep right (do not take the next curving left, which would take you back onto the bridge) through the commercial area, then around the point in a residential area. When you see the red and white small lighthouse kind of structure in the water to your right you have arrived at your destination - Casa Grande - although to get to the entrance you have to make a left U turn onto the divided road, then another immediate U turn. It is the large two-story house (with green roof) and beautiful gardens on the right one taller white building before the corner. Park in front. You will, no doubt, have a cell phone and a number of someone there to call when you arrive or for further guidance. You will see a small sign saying CasaGrande in the gardens of this boutique hotel. CasaGrande is just a few feet away from the ocean. This is where we have our main offices.
From here we will guide you on the beach towards Chirije!
Driving from Guayaquil
From Guayaquil please take the road to Daule, before you get to Daule make a right hand turn at the monument of Narcissa de Jesus, from here you will pass Jipijapa (in about 2 hours time) from here 15 minutes you will pass La Pila (where you have all the ceramic handicrafts at the edge of the highway) and then take a right (go about 5-10 minutes) and reach a traffic light, turn right again and reach a toll booth. Once you pass the toll booth, (in about 5 minutes) you will reach the Portoviejo Bypass (you will see flags on your left) take a left and pass about 2 roundabouts and in about 10 minutes reach a deadend and take a left on the main road coming out of Portoviejo. In about 10 minutes you will reach the second gas station on your right then turn right and cross the Portoviejo River Valley and reach Rocafuerte (in about 5 minutes) then turn left and after going up a hill in about 1 minutes time, turn left again to the road towards Charapoto. Then it is a straight drive all the way to San Jacinto, San Clemente, then thru the Balsamo forest (Las Coronas) towards a junction where it says Pajonal Chirije (20 minutes). We will wait for you there to take you out to the beach and on towards Chirije. If your car is a low riding car then you have to go to Bahia or we will have a driver there to take your car to CasaGrande Oceanfront Boutique hotel where we will leave it parked there until your checkout.
Just 30 minutes away from Quito, Manta's airport caters to the largest of the domestic carriers of Ecuador. And one hour and fifteen minutes by car to the north, you will reach Bahia Dolphin Tours main office. Costa or the Pacific Coast of Ecuador is largely undiscovered, whalewatching, archaeological sites, great culinary delights await you.
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CONTACTAR / Contact us:
tamarizp@gmail.com
Mobil / Mobile: 011 593 9 9 171935 (Marcando desde Estados Unidos y Canadá / Dialing from the United States and Canada)
00 593 9 9 171935 (Marcando desde Europa y América Latina / Dialing from Europe or Latin America)
09 99 171935 (Marcando desde Ecuador / Dialing from Ecuador)
Oficina / Officce: 05 2 690 257 (Marcando desde Ecuador / Dialing from Ecuador)
Páginas Web / Web pages:
www.chirije.com
www.casagrandebahia.com
tamarizp@gmail.com
Mobil / Mobile: 011 593 9 9 171935 (Marcando desde Estados Unidos y Canadá / Dialing from the United States and Canada)
00 593 9 9 171935 (Marcando desde Europa y América Latina / Dialing from Europe or Latin America)
09 99 171935 (Marcando desde Ecuador / Dialing from Ecuador)
Oficina / Officce: 05 2 690 257 (Marcando desde Ecuador / Dialing from Ecuador)
Páginas Web / Web pages:
www.chirije.com
www.casagrandebahia.com
