Eight Days of Ecuador…Day 6

On day 6 of our eight days of Ecuador photography travel abroad class, I awoke excited to explore Bahía de Caráquez. I was starting to feel a bit under the weather, but staying in the same hotel for more than one night was helping me sleep better. Be sure to read day 5 if you missed it!

Day 6: Wednesday, April 25: Exploring Bahía de Caráquez

Bahía de Caráquez is a city brimming with tourism potential, though its primary economic engine remains shrimp farming in the Chone River bay. The area is also rich in wildlife, bird sanctuaries, and lush mangroves, offering abundant opportunities for exploration. One consistent highlight, no matter where we traveled in Ecuador, was the incredibly friendly and happy nature of its people.

Early that morning, a few of us rose before breakfast for a special photography session with Chantal. We met her around 6:30 AM under a covered deck by the water at our hotel. Chantal shared her profound philosophy on photography, emphasizing the vital role our work can play in helping the community – a belief she holds very strongly. She then challenged us to see our surroundings through a fresh lens, encouraging us to explore and capture the unique landscape of the hotel with our cameras.

After about 30 minutes of shooting and challenging our creative vision, we loaded up in two vehicles and headed down the road to photograph the local people, their homes, and culture.

The roads and sidewalks still showed signs of damage from the earthquake two years prior, and there were men in hard hats laying new brick along the highway.

Capturing Joy at Bahía de Caráquez Sri Sathya Sai Baba School

After breakfast back at the hotel, we gathered the rest of the students and headed to a local school for a special photo session. One of the most touching moments of our trip unfolded at the Bahía de Caráquez Sri Sathya Sai Baba School. We visited the children as they practiced music in a dedicated area, built entirely through donations after the devastating 2016 earthquake.

This remarkable school is committed to upholding the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the renowned Indian guru and philanthropist whose organization has established a global network of free hospitals, clinics, drinking water projects, auditoriums, ashrams, and schools.

When class ended, the children, one by one, approached each of us with heartfelt hugs and kisses. There are truly no words to describe how incredibly special that moment was for all of us. The depth of love we felt was profound, almost spiritual, leaving us all in tears. We were deeply moved by the realization that these were the same children who lived in the modest homes we had visited earlier.

Despite coming from impoverished families with few, if any, material possessions, they radiated more happiness and gratitude than we could ever have imagined. We spent several hours interacting with the kids, absorbing everything on a profoundly emotional level.

Approximately 330 children attend the school. Their classes begin later in the morning, a schedule designed to allow many students time to fish with their parents on boats in the bay. Fishing is a crucial source of income for many families in this region, underscoring the school’s thoughtful integration with the local community’s daily life.

Alexandra Cale shows the kids some of her photos.

Eric Dulberg shares a dance with a student while Matthew shoots video.

Some of our Nossi students took part in showing the kids some dance moves!

Our very own Jason Lyell offered to teach the kids a new exercise called “burpees” with Michiah Posey and Jaime Rock assisting.

Sightseeing in a Bahía de Caráquez Neighborhood

After our visit to the school, an indescribable energy settled among us. We all felt as though we had just experienced something truly bigger than life. For the remainder of our trip, the school and its incredible children became a recurring, compassionate topic of conversation. We briefly ventured into the nearby neighborhood for a few final photos before heading back to the hotel for lunch, carrying with us the profound impact of that morning.

Gabby Karademos offered one of the locals her earplugs as a gift, and he graciously accepted.

Our lunch was prepared by the hotel staff and included eggs, rice, gravy, plantains, salad, and pan de yuca bread served with fresh fruit juice.

Afternoon Adventure: Birds, Boats, and Mangroves

After lunch, our adventure continued as we boarded boats from Saiananda. Our first stop was an island in the bay, where we had a fantastic opportunity to observe diverse birdlife. From there, we ventured to Isla Corazon, nestled within the Chone River estuary. Here, we transferred into smaller canoes, gracefully paddled through the intricate mangrove forests, immersing ourselves in the unique ecosystem.

Escaping the Heat: Exploring Canoa and Coastal Towns

It was another intensely hot day (much like every day of our trip so far!), and we were all eager to escape the sun and freshen up. As had become the norm, we were constantly on the move, always rushing to the next destination. After a quick shower and change of clothes, we were off to photograph in the lively beach town of Canoa, making sure to stop in smaller towns along the way to capture more of the local culture.

It was hard to believe we were there almost two years to the date of the 2016 earthquake.

Canoa stands out as a fantastic, reasonably priced destination for travelers seeking the perfect blend of a laid-back beach atmosphere and adrenaline-fueled water sports. This vibrant coastal town offers incredible opportunities for surfing, paragliding, stand-up paddleboarding, and kite surfing. It was also the first place on our trip where we actually heard other visitors speaking English, a subtle reminder of its growing appeal to international travelers.

Chantel and Alfredo joined us on the beach for sunset and photos later, and shot our last group photo on the beach.

A Day of Discovery

Before heading back to our hotel, we indulged in some fantastic seafood at Bambú Restaurant, a beautiful spot located near the water and attached to a hotel. It’s a place I’d absolutely love to return to and stay at on my next trip to Ecuador.

Day 6 truly exceeded our expectations, revealing so much more than we could have imagined, easily making it the highlight of our entire trip. It was another long day immersed in Ecuadorian culture, with just one full day left before we began our journey back home.

Stay tuned for Day 7… we get to visit a vibrant local market, and I can’t wait to share all the details!

If you would like to know more about day 5, you can see it here.

*NOTE: all Sheri Oneal blog posts are ©2018 by Sheri Oneal. Feel free to share my blog link, but any other use of photos or content must be agreed upon in writing.

*If you would like to leave a review of my work, please do so here, here, or here!