Getting to and away from Muisne

A good paved road heading south from Muisne to Pedernales simplifies (to some extent) travel down the entire length of Ecuador’s coast. El Salto, a dusty one-horse-type town, is the main hub for bus travel to and from Muisne and places to the south. From El Salto, the road heads 56 kilometers south, before hitting the turn-off for Mompiche and continuing on to Chamanga, a link-up town for buses to Pedernales. From El Salto, grab a bus heading to Muisne. You’ll be dropped off at the docks, from which you can hop on a boat to Muisne, across the Río Muisne. Once you get to the other side, take an EcoTaxi to the beach on the other end of town ($1.00/5 minutes).

To get out of Muisne, the earliest boat leaves around 06:00. Once on the other side, walk up the cement steps and either catch a bus back to Quito (Trans-Esmeraldas, 8 hours/$9, Tel: 06-248-0661 ) or to El Salto ($0.50/30 minutes). In El Salto change buses to Chamanga ($1.70), the bus to Chamanga drops you off at entrance to the road into Mompiche, it’s a 3 kilometer walk from here or you can wait to hitch a ride. From Chamanga you can catch a bus to Pedernales ($2.00). If you’re hungry there are a number of food stalls and cheap eateries around Pedernales bus station, mind the hygiene and your bags. From Pedernales you can catch a bus to Canoa ($2.50). (Tel: 06-248-0661).