Isla de la Plata - the "Poor Man's Galapagos"

Isla De La Plata: A nature trail (Belfast Telegraph): "The coast of Ecuador has abundant exotic wildlife. So why does everyone head for the Galapagos Islands? Peter Johnson travels instead to Isla de la Plata for some top birdwatching - dodging whales on the way. Isla de la Plata is an uninhabited and relatively untainted lump of rock 22 nautical miles off the coast with sheer cliff walls rising to a gently sloping tableland of dry tropical forest. The walk up a steep, well-marked path on to the tableland takes only 30 minutes, and you are immediately among the hubbub of marine birdlife."

The author describes his trip to the Ecuadorian seacoast north of Guayaquil, with reports on the attractions and places to see along the way, plus some recommended travel companies and observations and suggestions.