The A-Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — Olon, Ecuador

Casa Valdivia, Olon, Ecuador — © Robert G. Longpré

Near the end of December 2017, my wife and I went to Ecuador after a month spent in Peru where we had been fortunate to visit Machu Picchu as well as other places there. We were booked to stay at a casa, a large and old casa filled with relics of the past, for three months. Little did we know at that time that we would return for another two winters.

Community men hauling in a net filled with fish to feed the community — © Robert G. Longpré

Olon is a fishing village where a small number of foreigners had chosen to be their home. It is a quieter place than its neighbouring town of Montañita, a thriving and bustling surfer town to the south. It was only a matter of days before we got to see this community in action.

Heading out with a net — © Robert G. Longpré

A small boat took a crew out from the shore with a net being played out behind them. The boat travelled out and then turned south towards the promontory of land that separates Olon from Montañita. Then it approached the shore with the rope that extended back out to the main net.