Ecuador Travel

Montañita surf

Overview

The Ecuadorian Pacific Coast has some world class spots for surfing. Some of these can be found at Salinas, Ballenita, Olon and Montanita.

In particular, Montanita has some of the most well known surf in Ecuador. The beach here hosts a number of international surfing competitions each year. Because the beach is such a popular surf spot, it can get very crowded here. The swell is north to north west and it varies from mid sized to large. The bottom of the sea is rocky. For confident surfers who do not mind the crowds, this can be an excellent place to catch some waves with the locals.

Nearby Olon also has some decent surf. Just a short hop from Montanita, Olon has less crowded waters which makes it a good option for the tourist-weary surfer. Often times there will be no other surfers here. Olon’s waves are best surfed very early in the morning, ideally at 6 a.m. At this hour, the wind is offshore and the tide is falling. This also helps to avoid the crowds, as many will be still sleeping off the night before. That said, waves here can be surfed at any time of the day as they are fairly consistent along the seven kilometer sandy beach.

Salinas is another good locale for the keen surfer. The western portion of the beach is the best place for this, since it is less crowded with boats. However, those headed west may come across Navy property. It is usually fine to continue surfing and the navy will advise if this is not allowed at a certain time. There are good breaks everywhere, but at the navy property, the breaks are outstanding.

Ballenita should also not be overlooked by surfers on Ecuador’s coast line. More famous for its whales than its surf, there are still some decent waves here. In addition to the surfing here, the backdrop of the beach is beautiful and the town is less well known by foreign travelers, making it a good stopping point for those wishing to escape the hoards found in Montanita.

Those who do not already surf might like to try this activity in Montanita, Olon, Ballenita or Salinas. It is possible to rent either surf boards or boogie boards in these towns. It is also often possible to get surfing lessons, which will usually cost approximately $10 per hour.

Highlights

Picturesque beaches – the beaches of Montanita, Ballenita, Olon and Salinas are very beautiful, but also quite different from one another. Montanita is a fairly rustic little village with a stone and sandy beach, while Salinas is a thriving urban resort. Ballenita and Olon on the other hand, have beaches that are sandy and palm-lined. All of these beaches provide different surfing opportunities.

Excellent breaks – for keen surfers, or those just learning, the towns of Montanita, Salinas, Olon and Ballenita all have excellent breaks to be enjoyed. It is worth talking with a local surfer to get the low down on exactly the best places for experienced surfers or those that want to learn or practice.

Sun bathing – after a busy morning spent catching some large waves and enjoying the breaks on this part of the coast, travelers can enjoy relaxing on the beaches of Montanita, Olon, Salinas and Ballenita. All of these towns have a decent stretch of beach upon which to set a towel and chill out in the sun. Never relax in the sun on Ecuador’s coast without sun screen that is of a very high SPF (50 and above. Even on a cloudy day, the sun is strong. Sit under an umbrella from 11 a.m. til 3 p.m, to avoid burning.

Whale watching – aside from surfing, from the months of July to September, it is possible to see whales in this area. The humpback whale visits the coast of Ecuador during these months to find a mate. Trips can be taken from these coastal towns out into deeper waters where the songs and jumping out of the water of these majestic beasts can best be observed.

Sea food – with its proximity to the sea, the towns of Montanita, Salinas, Ballenita and Olon are great places to get excellent sea food. All of these towns have a variety of different and good sea food restaurants to choose from. Here you can eat anything from shrimp to squid to cerviche and wash it back with a nice cold beer or a delicious cocktail from the bar.

Nightlife – the nightlife in the towns of Montanita, Salinas, Ballenita and Olon varies as widely as the towns themselves do. In Montanita you can expect beach bars, colorful cocktails and parties around the fire on the beach, where in Salinas, there are fancy bars and clubs to attend. In Ballenita and Olon, things are more laid back and you can expect beachside bars with a cold refreshing beer.

Getting there

To get to the coastal towns of Montanita, Salinas, Ballenita and Olon from Quito, travelers can take a bus from the Quitumbe terminal to the south of Quito, or alternatively take a flight. A bus will take approximately 6 hours to Guayaquil (at a cost of approximately $6 to $8), with onward journeys to the towns from there taking from two to four hours (costing $2 to $5). Flights to Guayaquil can be taken with several airlines. They cost around $60 one way, and take approximately 30 minutes. In particular, TAME flies to Guayaquil several times per day. It is necessary to take a bus to the beach towns from Guayaquil.

For those taking a bus from Quito, to get to Quitumbe, they need to take a taxi directly to the terminal, a journey of half an hour at a cost of $10 or so, or alternatively take the Trolebus to its final stop and alight for the terminal. The cost of this route is $0.25. The journey on the Trole will take approximately one hour, or in a taxi, about half an hour, depending on from where in Quito the person is traveling.