Holiday rentals near Machalilla National Park

Matteo (host) was exceptional in advance and during the stay. Accommodating, provided useful tips and local places to try. This venue is the larger 3 room villa separate from the Vistamar property offering more independence (solitude) but misses out on none of the services (cleaning, laundry, etc.) - so best of both worlds. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but mosquitos and humid climate dampness) means light sleepers will struggle. And that’s assuming the roosters and dogs don’t get you up early. Ayampe offers great quietness in contrast to Montanita or Puerto Lopez (and similar places). But the cost of this is limited (and unadvertised) opening hours of local venues which themselves struggle with stock - food or alcohol - be it post COVID demand or location differences. We used this as a stopover location whilst touring Ecuador. Any seasoned backpacker will thrive in this close knit and helpful community, anyone looking for a more luxury end experience may pine for more.

We very much wanted a property with a pool to use/sit by with supplied sun-beds. The pool is a plunge pool overlooking a car park, it’s not to relax by. I did ask the owner this and if I’d had a full reply on this and had it clarified we never would’ve stayed. The pool was dirty and the block tired. If you like a surf beach holiday with a very noisy beach not that attractive (competing music) large loud groups you’ll love it. This was our first time in Ecuador and whilst we thoroughly enjoyed scuba diving in the Galapagos I didnt really enjoy Olon. It’s a very dusty and unattractive small coastal town. We usually go to the far east/Asia and I don’t prefer this. If you like Ecuador I guess it’s ideal. The info pack from the owner needs to be updated as there was some backwards and forwards that could’ve been avoided. The cleaner was very good. The apartment was clean but tired the rooms could do with a paint and the bedrooms need side lamps, lighting is like a prison block. Just not for us.