Isla de la Plata Cruise Shuttles

Just off the shore of Ecuador, Isla de la Plata (or ‘Plata Island’) is an especially great place for getting to know the lush tropics and wildlife all growing along the equator. Cruise ships arriving to the area can expect an array of unique landmarks, whether it be the wide variety of shoreline lookouts and sprawling beach coves that make up Machalilla National Park, or an array of unique downtown beaches that make up the nearby Manta region. About a dozen miles from the town of Puerto Lopez, cruise ships are more likely to anchor or dock somewhere between the island and the mainland - especially popular is the nearby Terminal Portuaria de Manta, a fishing pier north of central Manta located about thirty miles away, and offering instant access to the small mainland city. Vehicle transfers can easily be utilized in Manta, something not so easily said about the hiker-friendly atmosphere of Isla de la Plata, an island where little transfers are needed, save for a few boats coming to and from Puerto Cayo and Puerto Lopez.

When it comes to all there is to do on the island, guests will find no shortage in fun. First look forward to the beauty of the Isla de La Plata Protection Center, located along the north shore of the island and home to an extra popular tourist information center. The center offers local tours ranging from snorkeling by water and hiking by elevated plateau. From select viewpoints along the water, guests can also expect to see extraordinary blue-footed boobies walking along the land as well as epic whales jumping out of the bay. For those looking to get an intimate look at aquatic wildlife, guests can also take a snorkeling tour along the shoreline, a task made a lot easier if guests bring a bit of extra cash and some flip flops. The protection center also offers cool access to a central island pathway connecting guests to a small beach along the southern shore.