A Bird Tour in Ecuador
- Peter Stromberg
- May 15, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 27
By Peter Stromberg
It’s upon us, a special time of year. Sometime in May, generally, things change on the coast of Ecuador, the dry season begins. Off shore winds and the classic North swells that provide the waves for the surf season abide and are replaced by a consistent onshore wind. This wind over the eons has shaped and persuaded the sandy cliffs that tower out of the ocean like ancient walls protecting a lost city. As these magnificent golden towers jut out of the sand and water, you can see the delicate hand of the wind in shaping the landscape with her breathtaking way of expressing art through erosion. The seasonal winds are the paintbrush and the cliffs are the canvas of a landscape that changes and evolves into forever.
Because of these constant onshore winds and the cliffs that characterize the South American continent, a special combination called dynamic lift is created, and with that comes one of the great adventures and thrills in life…flying. More specifically what I mean is paragliding. The coast of Manabi is regarded internationally as one of the best paragliding destinations on the planet. Because of our geographical location in the tropics we don’t get hurricanes or other crazy storm conditions that come with the convergence of widely ranging temperatures in the air. Ecuador is in the tropics, so it stays pretty warm at the lower elevations of the coast which allows for safe and consistent flying conditions and breathtaking scenes.
