Ladrilleros

Where to stay

Ladrilleros is a tiny fishing settlement on the Pacific coast, sharing the bay with the neighboring village of Juanchaco. The two are so close that mototaxis shuttle between them, and most budget beds sit along the main road or near the waterfront where the surf breaks and tour boats depart. Staying here rather than in Buenaventura puts you directly on the water, but the settlement is small enough that everything is within a short walk.

Getting around

• Fast boats (lanchas) to Ladrilleros and Juanchaco depart from the Muelle Turistico in Buenaventura, roughly an hour away. If weather turns bad, boats stop running and you can be stranded, so do not book a tight onward connection or arrive with only enough cash for one night.
• Humpback whales migrate to the bay of Malaga from mid-July through September to calve. Boat tours leave frequently from Juanchaco and last around thirty minutes, offering a chance to see them without a full-day excursion.
• Bring enough cash for your entire stay. The settlements are remote, ATMs are scarce or nonexistent, and the local economy runs on small transactions for food, mototaxis, and boat tours that rarely accept cards.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest during the heavy rainy months outside of the whale season, particularly in the first half of the year. Rates climb and beds fill from July through September when humpback whales arrive in the bay, drawing surfers and wildlife watchers to the area.