Port
Puerto Bolivar (Machala), Ecuador
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At (prices in USD)
$400
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 7¼ Hours
Meals Included
Meals included
The city of Zaruma is famous for its Republican-era architecture, gold mines, culture and traditions, art, and coffee. Between 1536 and 1820, the Spanish colonists mined approximately 2,900 tons of Zaruma gold from the region. Prosperity declined after 1749, when an earthquake destroyed the city and most of its mines. An indigenous rebellion erupted, and the mines later re-opened with the Native peoples working the mines and rebuilding the local economy.
Take a short walk among the city's heritage houses, learning about the history and traditions of this beautiful place in the company of your tour guide.
You'll also visit the El Sexmo Mine -- the first in the Zaruma-Portovelo district. The mine is open to the public. Enter with a guide to discover the secrets behind the extraction of minerals and metals. All around you is the distinctive scent of iron and sulfur, and the constant trickle of water that is endemic to this industry.
End your Zaruma experience with a cooking demonstration. The chef prepares a typical and tasty local dish, teaching you step by step how to make it. Then, lunch is served, and you will savor this delicious Ecuadorian food.
Please note: Time spent inside the mine is approximately 30 minutes. Distance covered on the walk is approximately a quarter mile. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress in layers as it can be cooler in the mine. The train in the mine is muddy. Where shoes that you don't mind getting dirty or you can borrow a pair of plastic boots at the mine entrance. Wear a waterproof outer layer. Travel time to Zaruma is approximately two hours each way.