Summary

In December 2017, the author, Robert G. Longpré, and his wife experienced a transformative three-month stay in Olon, Ecuador, a small fishing village, where they immersed themselves in the community's traditions, enjoyed the serene sunsets, and were treated to local Indigenous dance performances, leading them to extend their stay for two additional winters.

Abstract

The A-Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations article by Robert G. Longpré recounts his unforgettable experience in Olon, Ecuador. After visiting Machu Picchu and other locations in Peru, the author and his wife arrived in Olon with the intention of staying for three months in an old casa filled with historical relics. They were quickly captivated by the village's traditional fishing practices, where the community worked together to haul in nets full of fish to feed everyone. The couple was also drawn to the daily ritual of watching the breathtaking sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, a pastime shared by many locals. A highlight of their trip was an Indigenous dance performance held in their own yard, arranged by their host. This cultural experience was followed by a boat trip to the "Poor Man's Galapagos," introducing them to the rich biodiversity of the region, including sea lions and blue-footed boobies. The author's fascination with the local way of life and the warm community spirit led to a longer-than-anticipated stay, with the couple returning for another two winters. The article concludes with mentions of other travel writers and their stories, as well as an invitation for readers to subscribe to the author's Medium publications for more travel insights.

Opinions

The author highly values cultural immersion, as evidenced by his appreciation for the Indigenous dance performance and community fishing practices.
The author expresses a deep connection with the local community, emphasizing the communal aspect of the fishing tradition and the free distribution of fish to community families.
Watching the sunset every evening is portrayed as a mesmerizing and unmissable experience that the author and locals equally cherished.
The author's fascination with the local culture is clear from his enthusiastic description of the dance performance and the subsequent cultural tours organized by their host.
The beauty of the natural environment, including the sunsets, the sea lions, and the blue-footed boobies, is conveyed with reverence and admiration.
The author's decision to return for additional winters suggests that Olon left a profound impact on him, indicative of a heartfelt recommendation for the destination.

The A-Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — Olon, Ecuador

Casa Valdivia, Olon, Ecuador — © Robert G. Longpré

Near the end of December 2017, my wife and I went to Ecuador after a month spent in Peru where we had been fortunate to visit Machu Picchu as well as other places there. We were booked to stay at a casa, a large and old casa filled with relics of the past, for three months. Little did we know at that time that we would return for another two winters.

Community men hauling in a net filled with fish to feed the community — © Robert G. Longpré

Olon is a fishing village where a small number of foreigners had chosen to be their home. It is a quieter place than its neighbouring town of Montañita, a thriving and bustling surfer town to the south. It was only a matter of days before we got to see this community in action.

Heading out with a net — © Robert G. Longpré

A small boat took a crew out from the shore with a net being played out behind them. The boat travelled out and then turned south towards the promontory of land that separates Olon from Montañita. Then it approached the shore with the rope that extended back out to the main net.

Another group of men was waiting for the rope. And then, the men holding both sides of the net began to pull it toward the shore, closing the gap between the two groups. When the net reached the shore, thousands of fish were trapped. Then the community families appeared with baskets and bags. The fish was free for them [and for us as we came to learn]. It was an event that we would see several times over the next few months.

Olon, Ecuador sunset — © Robert G. Longpré

Since we faced west, we spent as many of our late afternoons watching the sun set. It was a sight that never became boring or dull. We noted that many of the locals came to watch the sunset every day.

Indigenous dance performance in our yard — © Robert G. Longpré

The man who rented us his house, decided to have a local troupe of Indigenous dancers perform for us and a few other gringos. The setting was in our yard and it was impressive.

Sea lions were plentiful on a number of the tiny islands — © Robert G. Longpré

Now that he had our attention and saw that we appreciated the local culture, he decided to take us on a tour of his country beginning with a boat trip to the Poor Man’s Galapagos near Puerto Lopez.

Blue-footed Boobies — © Robert G. Longpré

And for those who are more interested in action, the waves off the beach in Olon are meant for surfing. A single winter stay wasn’t enough. We just had to return for more time in the community and the country.

Now for a few other writers to be acknowledged at Globetrotters:

Anne Bonfert writes about a day spent in Africa:

Somewhere in Africa

Another day in our life traveling and exploring the world

medium.com

Michele Maize writes about travel during 2020:

Cruising on Lakes During the Summer of 2020

We made the most of our social distancing summer

medium.com

And finally, Belcairn talks about a travel destination in my home country:

Where To Stay In Mont Tremblant

Spring break — woohoo!

medium.com

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