In Puerto López and its surrounding areas, the locals celebrate many special events with festivals and fiestas. Street parades, marching bands, live musicians, dancing; the people of coastal Ecuador know how to enjoy life. The table opposite gives a list of the more widely celebrated events, but, in addition to these, you may be lucky to be in town for the Fishermen's Ball, the National Park Birthday Party or one of many similar reasons for music, song and dancing.

Cantonización of Puerto Lopez August 31

Celebrates the founding of the Canton (= shire or county) of Puerto López. Celebrated with a large street parade that can take a couple of hours to pass - marching bands from the school practice for weeks before hand - followed by a fiesta, live bands and dancing on the malecón (esplanade). A day to demonstrate your pride in being from Puerto López and from Ecuador.

School drum band in the street parade

Fiesta de San Pedro y San Pablo June 24-29

A curious celebration, rooted in antiquity and catholicism; Saints Peter and Paul are paraded in a flotilla of fishing boats of all sizes leading up to a blessing-of-the-fleet by the local priest. The folkloric side of the festival reenacts the meeting of two cultures. A president and government is elected for each of a Black and White Republic and people dress in black and white costumes to hold banquets, dances and parties in honour of the two governments. The general festivities can last for several days and happen in villages all along the coast.

Parade of boats during the Fiesta of San Pedro and San Pablo

Festival Balsa Manteña October 12

A celebration of indigenous culture, which honours the Manteña people who, over 800 years ago, were sailing their balsa craft from here as far as Chile and Mexico to trade. Decorated balsa rafts are sailed and performances of indigenous song and dance are held on the beach in Salango; as usual the fiesta continues on into the night with much music and dancing.

Launching a balsa raft