Cabo Pasado Forest, An Ecological Wonder

A pre-mountainous forest that sits about an hour’s drive north of Bahía de Caráquez, Cabo Pasado juts up from the Pacific Coast, just slightly south of the Equator. It’s also located right next to where the warm current of El Niño and the cold current of The Humboldt join together. As a result, there’s an incredibly unique commingling of waters and climes, which has spawned a forest and natural habitat like no other. Over time, Cabo Pasado has become an ecological exception that’s bursting with biodiversity.

Here, our guests will experience the only area in South America where fauna and flora of both the Tumbesian region and the tropical rain forest co-exist. So walking about this dry, tropical forest, it’s possible to see anything from cacti shooting up through rocky, desert-like sands to howler monkeys swinging from lush, tropical trees.

An isolated beach marks the forest’s most western edge. It’s a place for climbing about the rocks, discovering fossils amid ancient seashore sediment, going for a snorkel, or just sitting under the shade of a tent brought along just for Casa Ceibo guests.

A side trip to this adventure tour includes visiting a unique section of the Ecuadorian coast where Blue Footed Boobies come to nest. Typically associated with the Galapagos Islands, this particular colony has made a rugged, rocky inlet on the mainland their harbor instead. Peering through binoculars, it’s amazing to see these impressive, colorful blue-footed birds preening and nesting in the sunshine.

Traveling to Cabo Pasado can be a rugged adventure. Depending on the season, weather and tides, transportation for this excursion will be arranged either by boat or car.