Salango Village

The diving village Salango is just ten minutes to the north of Puerto Lopez. The sight affords a great historic experience: its museum of the first inhabitants of this part of the island. Salango, apart from having an exquisite local cuisine known as comida manabita, also offers the opportunity to explore the coral reef and enjoy the snorkeling experience in the new marina. Here a group of qualified divers share with the visitor their knowledge and experience of protection of marine resources such as black coral and Spondylus shell and they aid tourists in their underwater diving practise. Additionally the parcel offers the opportunity to undertake another adventurous activity: sport fishing. The Mirador de Salango offers stunning views of the natural landscapes of Machalilla National Park, Paragliding, bicycle outings, ecotourist trails and much more...

The principal intention of the Salango community is to show, disseminate, conserve and preserve the ecosystems, forms of life, customs, economy and the rest of the aspects of the lives of the inhabitants of the commune. This is complemented by guided visits to the ecological trails, Nurseries, lookout points, artisan workshops, the island, the marina and principally the Archaeological Museum.

The visit to the ecological route comprises of a tour in which people of all ages can enjoy all the peace, tranquillity and the rest of the pleasures which nature affords; at the same time one learns to preserve and take care of all our natural resources and the environment. The ecological route La Josefina is situated just twenty minutes from the commune in the enclosure of the river Chico in a very characteristic zone of the dry tropical forest. It is a place where one can combine the natural riches of Machalilla National Park with the simple way of life of the indigenous Manta countryside folk. The tourist enjoys discovering all the native species, the sounds of nature, the landscape of tropical forest from the tourist lookout point which has some fantastic scenery.

El Mirador or lookout-point "The Blade", has one of the most breathtaking panoramas of tropical dry forest in Machalilla National Park. To reach the lookout one must walk the nature trail, admiring the surrounding nature, trees, shrubs, birds, insects, mammals and the charm of the forest landscape. In addition to the viewpoint you can visit the eco nursery “La Josefina”.

An organic nursery has been introduced, its main objective is to produce different tropical forest plants for reforestation. It also produces fruit plants so that the people in the community may get to know the flora which exists in the area as well as ornamental flowers and fruit orchards. The nursery is part of the buffer zone of reforestation which is being created around the forest with integrated landscape planning with the aim of improving native flora and fauna.

Salango Island is located in the southwest of the district and is the home of many native birds such as blue legs, pelicans, gulls, etc., there is also xerophytic flora from the island’s marine environment and the area is also the cosmo-ceremonial centre of six pre-Columbian cultures: (Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera-Engoroy, Bahia, Guangala, Manteña) native to the Ecuadorian coast. It has white sand beaches which can be reached by boat. The panoramic view of the island is excellent for its spectacular cliffs and white water.

The plot, which is a large natural aquarium marina, is located at the edge of the Salango island and is just three feet deep. Here tourists can enjoy diving or snorkeling and see coral reefs, colorful fish and all the infinite beauty of the marine fauna of the coast of Ecuador. For these expeditions the tourist enjoys qualified native divers as guides, who share with visitors their knowledge and experience in the protection of the marine resources of the Manta’s ancestral village.

The Pre-Colombian Archaeological Museum of the Salango Commune is the premier in-situ museum of Ecuador. It has an extraordinary collection of original and authentic pottery and spondyllus which reflect the worldview, social structure, and craftsmanship of the pre-Columbian peoples of what is now Ecuador. The exhibition shows the use and function of the pieces, pottery technology, and the interrelationship with nature and daily life of these human groups at different stages of their settlement and cultural development. The collection consists of 245 pieces of pre-Columbian pottery dating from the year 5000 to 1500 AD
The Archaeological Museum is divided into six cultural collections:
• Valdivia
• Machalilla
• Resume-Engoroy
• Bay
• Guangala
• Manteña
They are located on the southern coast of Ecuador at Puerto Lopez in the province of Manabi.
Salango seeks to consolidate its development process with community ecotourism at the forefront. It wishes to take advantage of the natural and cultural resource potential that it has, which it believes are the heritage of the aboriginal peoples who settled in this area.
The current estimated population of Salango Commune is 3,000.
The parish consists of the Salango urban zone and the Salango commune and Las Tunas.
The commune consists of the Salango site that is the parent parish, and the Rio Chico campus.
The commune ‘Las Tunas’ compromises: Puerto Rico, Ayampe and Las Cabanas.
The communities established in the southern coastal Ecuador (of which Salango is one) are descendants of the indigenous Huancavilca Manta, whose first settlements belonged to the Valdivia culture, followed by the Machalilla, Chorrera-Engoroy and Bahia; culminating in the Guangala Regional Integration Period known as Manteña (800-1530 AD). 1526 marked the first contact between the Spanish and Indian sailors in Salango; this at the time of the powerful chiefdom of the Lordship of Salangome which was at the core of a "league of merchants" that dominated the seagoing trade for seafood such as Spondylus.

The diversity of natural resources: SALANGO. Home to beautiful seabird species such as blue-footed boobies, frigates and pelicans among others. At just a few meters deep, the marina boasts shoals of fish and coral reefs. It is perfect for snorkeling and has spacious and quiet beaches. In the heart of the community one can find the Center for Research and the CIMS Museum where studies and research are realized and objects found at archaeological sites in the area are exhibited.

The traditional subsistence activities of the inhabitants of Salango have been, from time immemorial, fishing, hunting and agriculture. These are practiced in almost the same way now, as always, with only minor technological differences. The Salango Commune undertakes ecotourism as an alternative economic activity, it has charge of the administration of Salango Archaeological Museum and also possesses: ecological nurseries, an ecotourism trail, viewpoints, the marine plot, eight restaurants, community kitchens, an inn, two cabins, three travel agencies, rental vans, and a community craft Workshop for pre-Columbian craft making.

The people of the Salango Commune maintain and preserves several ancient traditions; both historical and cultural. One of the most deeply rooted traditions in the Manta Village is the “Festival de la Balsa Manteña” which showcases 5000 years of history and culture. We remember our indigenous roots in order to transmit and strengthen our Pre-Colombian identity. The spectacle displays the rafts upon which the Manteños and other tribes conducted marine tours, before the arrival of the Spanish. The tribes were intrepid sailors, they explored the coasts of Chile, Mexico, Peru and possibly Hawaii! Year after year, through the construction of the raft, the festival has staged these adventurous experiences.