Ecuador Travel

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Montañita is a small village on a peninsula on the southern coast of Ecuador, in the Santa Elena district of Guayas province. Montañita, which means “little hill,” is a popular destination for surfers, and is considered to be Ecuador's best beach for surfing. The town began to attract surfers decades ago, and nowadays Montañita also draws international tourists to its parties, pleasant climate, warm waters and relaxed atmosphere. The multicultural town is home to a mix of locals and foreigners, including bohemians from around the world, as well as Ecuadorians on weekend and holiday getaways.

Montañita, also known as Punta Montañita, has a population of approximately 1,000, and runs 10 blocks along the beach, and four blocks from the water inland. New hotels and restaurants are constantly being built along its narrow dirt roads, which are crammed with hostels and budget hotels, restaurants, bars, surf shops, milkshake and cocktail stands, Internet cafes, and hippies selling artesanal goods. There are hotels for all price ranges in Montañita, from $5 to $50 a night. Most of the accommodations on the roads running off Calle Principal are in the budget price range. Montañita's many restaurants serve seafood and a range of vegetarian food. You can find everything from pizza to sushi at Montañita's restaurants, many of which turn into dance clubs at night.

Montañita's famous beach has the longest right surf break in Ecuador, La Punta. The break is not recommended for beginners, as the waves are big and fast, and the rip tide can be very strong. In 1997 and 1998, most of Montañita's beach was washed away during El Niño, leaving a rocky strip of land along the water. Swimmers should be careful, as there are jagged rocks in the water, and occasionally stingrays. The best place to swim is in Olon, 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) north of Montañita, just a half-hour walk from town. There is a kilometer of empty beach between the town and the point break, and north of Montañita, there are cabins, bunglows and a few modern hotels, as well as good swimming spots and restaurants. Manglaralto, south of Montañita, is another good location for swimming, eating and sleeping.

Montañita has basic services. Montañita doesn't have medical services, but there are basic medicines and remedies available in stores. There are medical facilities in Santa Elena, Salinas and Puerto Lopez. Montañita doesn't have banks, but there a couple of ATMs. You can make national and international calls at many of Montañita's stores. The center of Montañita can get very loud at night and into the morning, due to all of the partying. The north end of the beach is quieter, and for a peaceful sleep, look for accommodation outside of town.

Montañita is considered to be the best surfing beach in Ecuador. There are surfing competitions year-round, particularly during the high season, December to April/May. In addition to surfing you can enjoy other water sports, as well as activities in the town and visits to destinations around Montañita. Montañita's right wave break point, La Punta, along the rocks near the north end of the beach, is just one kilometer north of town. La Punta has strong, quick, consistent waves, which can swell to 2 or 3 meters. (6.5-10 feet), and is a good location for experts and challenging for intermediate surfers. Between La Punta and Montañita, there is a beach break of lefts and rights that is great for beginners; farther south, there is a left break at Punta Brava. Surf shops and hostels offer lessons to surfers of all levels, and you can rent surfboards, boogie boards, bodyboards and bicycles.

Other activities in Montañita include scuba diving, waterskiing and windsurfing. Have one of the many bohemians artists braid your hair or give you a henna tattoo, or wander around town or stretch out in a hammock. It is also possible to take a trip up the coast to Puerto Lopez to go whale watching, or visit nearby Machalilla National Park and Los Frailes, Ecuador's most beautiful beach.

Transport to Montañita Ecuador

The easiest way to get to Montañita is by bus. Montañita is located at Km 59 on the E15 coastal highway, better known as La Ruta del Sol (The Sun's Route), a paved road along Ecuador's southern coast that passes through many beach towns. From Guayaquil's Terminal Terrestre bus station, Libertad Peninsular (5:30 a.m., 1 and 4:30 p.m.) and CLP (6 a.m., 1 p.m. And 4:30 p.m.) buses go direct to Montañita. Montañita is 180 kilometers from Guayaquil, and the trip takes three and a half hours. You can also take a bus from Guayaquil to Santa Elena, followed by another bus to Montañita.

Buses run between Puerto Lopez and Santa Elena, passing through Montañita. Puerto Lopez is 35 kilometers from Montañita, and buses depart every 15-20 minutes daily. From Puerto Lopez, get on at the town's main bus stop, or along the highway. From Santa Elena, go to the town's bus stop for Puerto Lopez. Montañita is 60 kilometers from Santa Elena, and the bus trip takes 50 minutes. You can also travel by private taxi. Buses from Quito go direct to Puerto Lopez, Jipijapa and Portoviejo. From there, buses travel direct to Montañita. It is also possible to fly from Quito to Guayaquil on Aerogal, Icaro, LAN and Tame airlines (45 minutes).

Montañita has a tropical climate, with an average temperature of 28°C (82°). Water temperatures fall between 13°C and 20°C (56-58°F). There is a rainy season from December to May, though there is generally low rainfall, apart from in the evenings and overnight. The best time of year to surf in Montañita is during its high season (December-April/May). Since 2002, often during Carnaval (January or February), Montañita has hosted the Montañita International Surfing Contest, which is part of a Latin American surfing tour. High tide in February and May brings the best waves, and In June and July there are waves as high as 10 meters (3 feet). Montañita is the busiest in January and quietest June.