Las Nuñez
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Fishing cove
Setting
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Murals
Known for
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Local crafts
Artisan tradition
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Small & quiet
Atmosphere
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Overview
Las Nuñez (also written Las Núñez) is a small fishing and artisan community on the Ruta del Spondylus (E-15), located north of San José and south of La Entrada. It is one of the least visited communities on the route — easily passed through without stopping — but rewards those who do stop with a glimpse of genuinely local coastal life.
The community sits at the edge of a small cove with a narrow beach sheltered partially by a rocky headland. The sea wall is painted with murals — some commissioned, some spontaneous — depicting local scenes, marine life, and abstract motifs. The murals have become the most distinctive visual feature of the community and are increasingly known among photographers travelling the route.
Art & Crafts
Las Nuñez has a small but growing reputation for artisan craft production. Several residents work in wood carving, shell craft, and textile work, selling pieces from their homes or from informal roadside displays. The emphasis is on locally sourced materials and traditional techniques.
Purchasing directly from artisans here supports the community directly and avoids the markup of market stalls in larger towns. Quality varies — look for work with natural materials and fine finishing. Prices are typically lower than equivalent items in Montañita or Salinas markets.
The murals on the sea wall have been painted by a mix of local residents and visiting artists; together they form an evolving public gallery along the waterfront wall. They are freely visible from the road and beach.
The Beach
The beach at Las Nuñez is narrow and composed of dark volcanic sand. It is a working beach primarily — used by local fishermen for launching and landing pangas rather than as a recreational space. Swimming is possible but the cove offers limited protection from Pacific swell; the water is not calm in the way of Ayangue. It is better suited to walking and photography than to sustained swimming.
Getting There
Las Nuñez lies on the E-15 and is served by all northbound buses from the Sumpa Bus Terminal in Santa Elena. Because the community is small, not all drivers will announce the stop — ask to be let off at Las Nuñez and watch for the painted sea wall as a landmark. Journey time from the Sumpa Bus Terminal approximately 3–3.5 hours.
From San José: 10–15 minutes north by bus. From Montañita: roughly 1 hour north.
See Also
- Portal:Ruta del Spondylus — route overview
- San José — fishing village to the south
- La Entrada — next community to the north
- Photography — locations along the route
Community facts
| Status | Comuna San Francisco de Las Núñez, Manglaralto parish, Santa Elena canton |
|---|---|
| Beach | About 1.4 km |
| Water | Junta Regional de Olón (community water board, groundwater) |
| Nature | 641.6 ha protected under the Socio Bosque programme |
| Recent works | Streets paved and a shelter for fishing boats built by the Prefectura (2018) |
Source: PDOT cantón Santa Elena 2023–2027 (beach lengths p. 220; water coverage of Aguapen's network, Oct 2023, p. 104); PDOT Provincia de Santa Elena 2015–2019 (water boards, p. 216).