Jama Campay · Manabí, Ecuador
Things to do in Manabí, Ecuador — arranged, not just suggested
Fifteen ways to spend a day on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, from a fisherman’s boat at sunrise to a table set on the sand at night. Every one of them starts at Jama Campay and is booked directly through the hotel.
See the Full ListJama Campay Experiences
What to do in Jama, Manabí, and why most of it starts on the water.
Jama Campay Experiences is the activity program run directly by Jama Campay. It covers fifteen guided activities across five categories — fishing and boat trips, wildlife and nature, Manabí cuisine, hotel evenings, and surf and wellness — arranged for guests without a third-party booking site in between.
Manabí’s coast runs quieter than the Galápagos or Quito’s colonial center, but it holds its own case for a Ecuador itinerary: humpback whales passing offshore from June to September, one of the last dry tropical forests on the Pacific side of the country, and a fishing culture that still hands its catch straight to a chef. Jama sits roughly 2.5 hours by car from Manta and about 6 hours from Quito, on the Ruta del Spondylus.
On the Water
Five ways to spend a day on the Pacific
Boats leave from the hotel’s own beach. No transfer to a marina, no third party in between.
Net-to-Table Fishing
Go out with a local fisherman before sunrise or at dusk, depending on the tide. What comes up in the trasmallo becomes lunch, cooked by the hotel’s chef.
Punta Ballena: Pacific Lookout
A boat ride south from El Matal to a rock formation carved by the sea. Fish from the boat, snorkel at low tide, or just watch the coastline change.
Banana Boat Ride
Ten minutes of holding on. The fastest way to get the whole group laughing at once, right off the hotel’s beach.
Tu Tabla, Tu Ola
Take a surfboard out on your own schedule and go find your own wave along Jama’s beach breaks.
Paddle Board at Sunrise
Board, paddle, and life vest, out before the day gets going, on the calmest water of the morning.
Wildlife & Nature
The other reason to come to this part of Manabí
Humpback whales, one of Ecuador’s last dry forests, and a mangrove estuary that fills with birds at dusk.
Giants of the Pacific: Whale Watching
Humpback whales pass this coast on their migration, typically June through September. Go find them.
Wings of Manabí: Sunset Birdwatching
A slow boat down the coast to where the Jama River meets the sea, timed for when the birds come home to roost.
Lalo Loor Dry Forest
One of the last tropical dry forests left on Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Walk it self-guided, at your own pace.
Butterflies & Café La Capira
A butterfly reserve, then a coffee tasting on the farm where it’s grown. Two hours, two different kinds of quiet.
Taste of Manabí
Two ways to eat like you mean it
Manabí is a strong contender for Ecuador’s culinary capital. These two experiences make the case.
Dinner Under the Stars
A private table set on the sand. A tasting menu, cocktails made with what grows nearby, and nothing else on the schedule.
Atardecer a Fuego Manaba
Manabí’s traditional wood-fired oven, a dish that changes by the day, and a sky doing something different every night. Holiday dates only.
Surf & Wellness
One hour in the water, or one hour flat on your back
Two experiences, opposite paces, both built around what the coast is good for.
First Waves: Surf Lessons
Local instructors, beginner-friendly breaks, one hour in the water. For anyone eight years old and up.
Beachfront Massage
Volcanic stones, bamboo, or chocolate treatment. Choose the setting too — pool, beach, or the rooftop over the water.
Evenings at the Hotel
What happens after the sun goes down
No need to leave the beach. Both of these happen a few steps from the room.
Beach Bonfire
A fire on the sand and the Pacific behind it. Often the simplest evening at Jama Campay is the best one.
Movie Night by the Waves
Pizza, a screen set up on the sand, and a film chosen for the night. Built for families, good for anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a trip to this part of Ecuador
What is there to do in Jama, Ecuador?
Jama Campay runs a program of fifteen guided experiences from its own beach: fishing with local fishermen, whale watching, surfing, birdwatching, a dry-forest hike, a butterfly reserve and coffee tasting, plus beach dinners, bonfires, and spa treatments.
What are the best things to do in Manabí?
Manabí’s coast is known for whale watching (June–September), the Lalo Loor tropical dry forest, artisanal fishing villages, surf breaks near Jama and Canoa, and a food culture built around fresh seafood and wood-fired cooking.
What can I do near Manta?
Manta is the closest airport to Jama, roughly a 2.5-hour drive along the coastal highway. From Jama, day activities include whale watching, Punta Ballena, the Lalo Loor reserve, and the butterfly garden and coffee farm at La Capira.
What is there to do near Quito?
Quito’s historic center, the Middle of the World monument, and the TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha volcano are the main draws in the capital itself. For a coastal add-on, Jama Campay is roughly a 6-hour drive or a short flight to Manta followed by a scenic drive.
Where should I go in Ecuador besides the Galápagos and Quito?
Northern Manabí is a strong option: beachfront hotels, whale migration season, and a coastline that sees far fewer visitors than the Galápagos or the Andean tourist route, without giving up wildlife or food.
When is whale watching season in Ecuador?
Humpback whales migrate along Ecuador’s Pacific coast between roughly June and September, making this the best window to book a whale-watching trip out of Jama.
How do I book an experience at Jama Campay?
All fifteen experiences are booked directly with the hotel, either before arrival or at the front desk. Most require a minimum number of guests, noted on each activity.
Is Jama, Ecuador good for a family trip?
Yes. Movie nights, banana boat rides, birdwatching, and the butterfly garden are built with families in mind, alongside more adult-oriented options like the beach dinner and spa treatments.
What should I pack for a trip to coastal Ecuador?
Reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, a light rain layer for the dry-forest trail, and clothing that can get wet — several experiences involve boats, snorkeling, or surf.
Is northern Manabí safe for tourists?
Jama Campay’s experiences run through the hotel’s own guides and local operators the property has worked with directly, inside a small coastal community rather than a large resort zone.