MONTAÑITA

Montañita is a surf town located at the beginning of the Coastal jungle. Not long ago Montañita was merely a small village. However, over the last few years the town has been developing hotel and restaurant infrastructure and now offers a fun party-surf vibe that brings in a large mix of international tourism. Montañita is safe, with a strong local community that doesn't tolerate crime. You will never have to worry about traffic jams, stop lights, or highways! Most commuting is done by foot or bicycle.

Montañita is truly the Ecuadorian surf capital, offering one of the best and most consistent surf spots in South America. "La Punta" ( the Point) is located just a ten minute walk down the beach, or you can surf the beach break directly in front of town. The high season is from December to May, and generally it is sunny and warm every day.  This is also the best time for good surf and many surf competitions. From the end of May to November, the weather is overcast and cooler and mists with rain most days. During these months, the Humpback whale travels up the coastline to mate. Amazingly, there are many days you can see them swimming from your hotel balcony, or you can chose to take a whale watching expedition and see them up close.

Libertad and Salinas are two large cities located only 45 min south of Montanita. They boast all the amenities you can ask for: fancy hotels and restaurants, big "American style" shopping malls, open markets, a state-of-the-art hospital, a marina and a new boardwalk to cruis the coast and shop.

Not only is Montañita known for its surf, but also for the laid back fun atmosphere with people from all the over the world. The town boasts live music, has several dance clubs and a "Cocktail Alley" known for making the best fresh fruit drinks in town.  From the hardcore surfer who gets up early to score some insane right hand barrels, to the party animal who wants to rage in town until dawn or to the person who likes to relax in a hammock and admire the peaceful beauty of the Point… it really does have something for everyone.

ECUADOR

Ecuador is a diverse South American country located between Columbia and Peru on the pacific coast of the South American continent. Ecuador was ranked in the top ten countries in the world for Adventure Tourism since it is a small country but has four main geographical areas all of which offer an excellent adventure. Ecuador is about the size of California with a population of 12 million mostly residing in the cities. The four main geographical areas are the Sierra, Coastal Plain, Jungle or Oriente and the Galapagos Islands.

The Sierra of Ecuador consists of a series of Volcanoes reaching as high as 23,000 feet above sea level. They are great for mountain climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, horse riding and general adventure. Quito, the Capital City of Ecuador, is a perfect place to start your adventure if you are interested in Mountain Sports. Quito Ecuador is located on the Equator 9000 feet above sea level. It is a very beautiful colonial city with new modern areas and lots of museums, bars, disco techs, hotels and hostels, and travel agencies. Generally speaking Quito is a very cool city with a lot to offer the traveler. We recommend taking it easy the first day you arrive since it is at 9000 feet. A hangover after the first night out can really be devastating! Regarding the weather in Quito you can expect very sunny days with cool nights. The weather is extremely unpredictable so make sure you bring warm clothes even though it looks sunny.

The Coastal plain of Ecuador has dry areas and jungle areas. It has great surfing throughout the year but the best months for wind and general weather conditions are December through May. The main tourist route starts in Guayaquil and travels through the towns of Playas, Salinas, Montanita, Manta, Bahia de Caraquez and finally Esmeraldas. Each beach town in Ecuador has its own flavor. Playas is a truly Ecuadorian beach town with balsa fishing boats, seafood markets, kiosks on the beach and lots of Ecuadorian Tourists. Salinas with its high rise hotels and boardwalk offers a feel of a more developed tourism zone that caters the tourists seeking five star hotels.
Manta is small port city located halfway up the Coastal Highway. It's a cool city with nice beaches but it's more of a city vibe. High rise apartments, fishing boats, and lots of services such as banks, supermarkets, restaurants, etc... It has all the comforts of a city.
Bahia de Caraquez is a smaller version of Manta but much more quaint. It has a free anchorage for traveling sailors and therefore is home to many sailboats. It has high rise apartments also but feels more like a small town where everybody knows each other. There is a ferry which crosses the bay to take you into Canoa which is a very small but popular beach community and into the northern Manabi Province which will then lead you into Esmeraldas.

Esmeraldas is some of the most beautiful scenery in Ecuador offering very tropical beaches.

NOTE: Casa del Sol also offers direct airport transfer service

Montanita, Ecuador Surf Forecast