While visiting the well known sites of La Chocolatera and La Lobería near Salinas, Ecuador, it’s worth the time to take a small detour up the hill to the Mirador Puntilla Santa Elena which overlooks the entire area. There you can spend a few minutes admiring the bird’s eye view from up high.
If you happen to be a lover of small birds, walk to scrub line surrounding the parking area. It is fairly easy to approach the small finches perched on small branches and the ground doves pecking seeds from the dusty ground. With a little luck you will hear the thrum of hummingbird wings and maybe catch a glimpse of a Small-tailed Woodstar. And ubiquitous Mockingbird is almost guaranteed to make an entrance.
But perhaps more stunning than even the view and the variety of small birds are the vultures that flock to this area in the late afternoon. They are attracted by tall antennas where they perch in between flights on the thermals that invisibly swirl around the immense blue sky. The vista point makes an excellent spot to catch these birds in flight. Though not as majestic as eagles or hawks, vultures have a stunning silhouette and this unique vantage point makes it possible to capture their portraits in flight.
La Chocolatera, Salinas
Mirador Puntilla de Santa Elena
Información para su viaje
Hay poca sombra , así que ven preparado para mucho sol. Durante los fines de semana y días festivos, puede haber vendedores que venden agua, helados y alimentos.
- Dirección en auto, use WAZE y busque La Chocolatera, Salinas, Provincia de Santa Elena
- Dirección en transporte público - en nuestra última visita, no fue posible entrar en la base militar en autobús, pero era asequible alquilar un taxi.
