Things to do & places to visit in El Oro Province, Ecuador

El Oro Province #17 destination in Ecuador 2023. The average rating score is 4.31 based on 340 traveler reviews, of 27 attractions. Timezone: America/Guayaquil, current date and time: Thursday, May 09, 2024, 21:23.

Top things to do (29)

Top destinations in El Oro Province 14

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Top places to visit (27 attractions)

5.0 Finca Happy Fruit (15 reviews)
- A highlight tour on my friends birthday October 22nd.
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Farms

Welcome to Happy Fruit. We are a family run Agroecological farm, cultivate fruits and food, transform it in creative and healthy farm products and do ecotourism. Love to receave you in our beloved paradise :) See more..
5.0 Colibrí Tours - El Oro (5 reviews)
- An Amazing Experience
City Tours • Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Cooking Classes • Private Tours • Bus Tours • Canyoning & Rappelling Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Bike Tours • Walking Tours • Eco Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Archaeology Tours • Day Trips

Our guided visit to the Buenaventura Natural Park was an unbelievable experience. The skilled and knowledgeable guides made the trip so much more enjoyable as we were told interesting facts about the many bird species endemic to the region and we were shown unbelievable specimens such as the famous umbrella bird. Excellent service, a great trip. See more..
5.0 Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Chilla (4 reviews)
- Una joya de El Oro al Mundo
Churches & Cathedrals

Recomiendo mucho visitar este santuario ubicado en un remoto paraje de la provicina del El Oro. La Virgen de Nuestra Señora de Chilla es sumamente milagrosa y cumple los milagros pedidos por miles de devotos año año. See more..
5.0 Vilatro Microteatro RestoBar (2 reviews)
- Microteatro
Dinner Theaters
Excelente lugar para vivir el arte, y disfrutar en familia o en pareja muy acojedor y son muy amables. Excelente atención. See more..
4.5 Petrified forest Puyango (56 reviews)
- Worth the trip!
Forests

The petrified forest was great to visit. Nice hike with knowledgeable guide, she only spoke Spanish however the points still came across. The wide trunked majestic trees with the bottom looking like elephant legs are great to see. Our taxi driver added to the trip taking extra care. Thanks See more..
4.5 Mina El Sexmo (53 reviews)
- Gold mine
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

El Sexmo is a mine dating from the XVI century that produced gold for the Spanish crown, then for a US company and finally for an Ecuadorian one. Zaruma grew literally around the miners. It brings us back to a bygone era. There is a knowledgeable guide in the premises but be patient if nobody opens the door for you as he could be showing it. It does need at least one more staff. See more..
4.5 Centro Historico de Zaruma (41 reviews)
- What a Storybook Series of Steep and Winding Streets
Spent More than 3 hours Neighborhoods

This village is like no other I've ever visited and it's by far the most vertical pueblo in a very vertical countryside. After 5 minutes you can surely tell why Zaruma is on a short-list for World Heritage designation. Both the architecture, unique to the country, and the layout of the village proper are worth getting off the tourist trail to see. Zaruma needs world recognition as a unique place worth investing in its preservation. See more..
4.5 The Banana Tour (7 reviews)
- A fantastic experience!
Farms

Welcome to the Banana Tour!A local banana farmer will take you for a walk on a fairtrade banana farm, where you'll see how the fruit evolves from a flower into a bunch of bananas ready to be shipped to Europe or the United States. We'll take you through the process of harvesting and packing the banana, and when the fruits are in their boxes you'll have lunch prepared by the farmers' wives. See more..
4.5 Santuario de Nuestra Senora del Carmen (7 reviews)
- God
Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals

The Sanctuary of the Virgen del Carmen is located in the historic center of Zaruma, is a very beautiful church that is characterized by wooden balconies and eaves. It has a large wooden altar carved and covered with gold and silver. The festivities in honor of the Virgin are made from 12 to 20 July, the date on which it is used to beautify the church more. Tourists take the opportunity to visit the Municipal Museum of Zaruma, the central park and enjoy the tasty coffee Zaruma See more..
4.5 Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios (3 reviews)
- Santuario Hermoso
Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

Es una parroquia muy acogedora, la Santísima Virgen De Los Remedios es venerada por miles de devotos, la principal fiesta religiosa es el 25 de Agosto de cada año, pero cada fin de semana se llena de turistas. La comida es muy buena, un lugar tranquilo para pasar en familia.
Es una parroquia muy acogedora, la Santísima Virgen De Los Remedios es venerada por miles de devotos, la principal fiesta religiosa es el 25 de Agosto de cada año, pero cada fin de semana se llena de turistas. La comida es muy buena, un lugar tranquilo para pasar en familia. See more..
4.5 Parque Central El Algarrobo (2 reviews)
Thursday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Parks • Gardens

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4.0 Machala (87 reviews)
- A beautiful city in Ecuador
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Machala is a city that belongs to the province of El Oro, Ecuador. It is an amazing city with representative gastronomy and friendly people. One of the places you should visit is Zoila Ugarte Park , it is huge and has spaces for family recreation, on December nights this place looks beautiful and beautifies the city. Machala is waiting for you this Christmas. See more..
4.0 Catedral de Machala (39 reviews)
- Night Lights
Churches & Cathedrals

The cathedral is beautiful at night when all lit up. The park area around it, is lit up as well. Very pretty. See more..
4.0 Cascades De Manuel (8 reviews)
- Off-the-map waterfall trek
Waterfalls

A bit of an adventure to get to the waterfalls, but really worth the hike! Start in either Machala or El Guabo (both in El Oro province) and look for the provincial bus route between the two city centers. The bus will read Machala- El Guabo in the front window, and should cost about 75 cents per person. As you pay the bus toll be sure to tell the bus driver that you want to be dropped off at the entrance for Cascadas de Manuel. There will be a large sign along the side of the highway, and the entrance will be along a banana plantation. From the main highway you'll need to hire a pickup truck taxi, or be comfortable with hitch-hiking, as the entrance to the waterfalls is around 5 miles from the main highway. My girlfriend and I went on a Sunday and we were able to thumb a ride after walking up the entrance road for about 30 minutes. The park had a good number of people visiting for a Sunday, but not too crowded. There are 8 waterfalls along the hike, with numbers 2 and 8 being the most impressive. You can enjoy your entire visit around the first two waterfalls, if you have young children or aren't confident in your hiking ability. The first two waterfalls are easily accessed, but from there the trail becomes steeper and slicker. We both wore flip-flops which were a bit slippery for climbing the muddied rocks along the trail. Durable shoes and a good level of fitness are advised for making the full trek. Most of the waterfalls have a nice pool to swim in, or wash the mud off your feet. The park is open everyday from 7am to 6pm, and costs $2 per person. Pack some water and food, as there are no vendors around the park. There are no designated camping sites, and if you want to 'rough it' make sure to bring bug-repellant. See more..
4.0 UP By Lua (4 reviews)
- Hermosa
Thursday: Spent More than 3 hours Dance Clubs & Discos
This place was created 3 years ago, and nowadays is number one club un Machala. You can always find different parties and different artists nationals or internationals. You can't lose this experience. Follow us in Instagram: @luaclub See more..
4.0 Skuisyto Cocteles (2 reviews)
- Un buen lugar
Bars & Clubs

Una atención especial, un ambiente bueno para cualquier ocasión, lo visito que algo de frecuencia ya que siempre nos va bien. See more..
3.5 Bar La Fragata (3 reviews)
- Buen ambiente. Buenas bebidas
Bars & Clubs

Calidad de atencion, buen servicio hay agua alimentacion vista al mar agradable tomarse una cerveza bien fria y descansando con la paz y la armonia del mar See more..
3.0 Iglesia de Santa Rosa (1 review)
- Parrocchia molto importante
Churches & Cathedrals

La parrocchia di Santa Rosa, appena dopo Ambato lungo la E491, è molto importante per la vita e lo sviluppo della comunità ed anche la chiesa ha una struttura che colpisce, anche se non ci siamo fermati ad osservarla bene, avendola incontrata lungo la strada ma proseguendo oltre. See more..
1.0 Voce Club (1 review)
Thursday: 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM Spent More than 3 hours Dance Clubs & Discos
It`s a Bar - Discotheque with a modern industrial decoration, placed in Machala city. You can enjoy with friends of the good service and music, in a comfortable and exclusive place!! See more..
Cascada Arcoiris (0 review)
Waterfalls
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Bocana Chocolatera (0 review)
Speciality & Gift Shops
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Marone (0 review)
Thursday: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Boat Rentals

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Museo Mineralogico Magner Turner (0 review)
Speciality Museums
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Reserva Ecológica Arenillas (0 review)
Farms
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Bocana Chocolatera (0 review)
Speciality & Gift Shops
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Carlos Efraín Chávez Mora (0 review)
Eco Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

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Cascadas El Blanco (0 review)
Thursday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Waterfalls
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