Montañita is a village on the Ecuadorian Santa Elena Peninsula, known for its beaches with strong surfing breaks and bohemian scenery.
Montañita is a village on the Ecuadorian Santa Elena Peninsula, known for its beaches with strong surfing breaks and bohemian scenery. Lively bars, nightclubs, and rooftop restaurants pave the way. Further north along the coast is the village of Olón.
1. Surf
Surfing in Montañita offers strong, consistent waves and good tubes make it a great place for accomplished surfers and challenging for newer surfers. Montañita is an increasingly popular destination on the international surfing circuit. In the summer months wave heights range from 0.3 to 1 meter. In the late fall and winter waves can be as large as 1.5 meters. On occasion, from January to March, waves as large as 2 meters can be seen. Each February during Carnival, Montañita hosts an international surfing competition.
2. Visit Olón Beach
The Beach of Olon is one of the longest of the Ecuadorian Coast, with a length of over 7.6 km. Along its path, you can find a lot of local Flora and Fauna, and some great places to relax, eat, drink and stay! The Mangroves are green and pristine, and the little rivers are alive with shrimp and birds all year round! Olón Town is small, safe and relaxing, with the wide streets with streetlights, low traffic and plenty of Shops, Stores, Restaurants and Cocktail Bars!
3. Visit Valdivia
South of town lies the modest beachfront village of Valdivia, mostly known for its Pre-Columbian history museum. The town also has an aquarium with a decent collection of blue-footed boobies, penguins, and turtles on display. Stop off at Libertador Bolivar on the way home for some cheap, high-quality artisanal souvenirs.
4. Visit Los Frailes
A couple of hours north of town lies Los Frailes, widely considered to be the best beach in Ecuador. With blindingly white sand and inviting turquoise water, this crescent-shaped slice of paradise is sheltered by high cliffs on each side, meaning it’s a tranquil spot for a relaxing swim.