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Montañita is a magical place, a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador, on its "Ruta del Sol" ( "Highway to the Sun" ) known for its unique combination of small tourist/friendly villages and towns, magnificent unspolied beaches, world-class surfing and both island and mountain natural reserves. Over the years a relaxed, multicultural atmosphere has evolved.

A hidden treasure that did not even appear on the maps just a few years ago, the combination of perfect waves, golden sand and tropical vegetation have slowly developed its reputation as a tropical paradise.

Montañita started as a beach to run waves on hawaian style surfboards, with a few rustic houses of native fishermen and some surfers in tents. Over time it's grown to include vacation homes, small hotels and rustic restaurants, created by people seeking to scape the frantic life-style of Guayaquil, ecuador's largest city and main seaport. Montañita has its share of foreigners who felt in love with the place and settled down - everyone from surfers to those loving the tropics, the sea, the perenial warm water and the relaxed, multicultural atmosphere of the this village.

Nowadays Montañita is a multicultural seaside location, with tourists arriving from all over the world to enjoy surf lessons, great food, and fantastic music and nightlife.

Montanita has been known for bringing fantastic tourism and impressing tourist so much that many of these people have decide to stay. These people include Ecuadorians, Argentines, Americans,Australian, Canadians, and Germans, Russians as well as from lots of other European countries.

[edit] Get in

The usual way to reach Montañita and the other villages in Manglaralto Parish is overland via the Route of the Sun (Ruta del Sol), a beautiful coastal highway running along the Ecuadorian coast.

[edit] By bus

• From Guayaquil: From the bus station, you can take a direct bus to Montañita - CLP bus line- , with daily departures at 05h00,06h00,10h00, 13h00 and 16h30. Approximate time: 02h30. Price approx: US$6. You can also go from Guayaquil to the town of Santa Elena (departures every 15 minutes, price approx US$3) and take a bus from there to Montañita (price approx. US$1.5) - total time about 3 hours.

• From Cuenca, Machala, Loja or other cities in the southwestern/southern part of Ecuador: Take a bus directly to Guayaquil and follow the directions above.

• From Quito, Esmeraldas or other north/northeastern cities of Ecuador: From Quito take a direct bus to Jipijapa or Portoviejo. From there you can get a bus directly to Montañita, or by changing in Puerto Lopez.

• From Peru: Cross into Ecuador at the International Bridge over the Zarumilla river, near Huaquillas-Aguas Verdes (customs/immigration control!). From Huaquillas you can get a bus to Guayaquil. From there, follow the directions above to Montanita.

[edit] By taxi

• From Guayaquil or Santa Elena you can take a taxi to Montañita, either for greater comfort or when the busses aren't running (generally after 21h00).

[edit] Get around

Walking is the best way to get around town as Montañita is a very small village and the streets can get too crowded for cars. However, taxis and buses are available and make it possible to consider staying also in the more serene and safe villages of Manglaralto and Olon only 5 minutes away yo ythe south and north respectively.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Learn Spanish

Montañita is a popular destination to learn Spanish. Montanita Spanish school [1] is located right near the beach and is highly recommended. There is a variety of courses on offer from travellers survival Spanish to intentsive Spanish, Medical Spanish (interning at the local hospital), Spanish and Volunteer, Spanish and Surf, and Spanish and Dive.

There is also another organization where is possible to arrange Spanish courses in Montanita: Ecuador Spanish Schools [2], they offer language courses in Ecuador in 4 different locations: Quito, Manta, Cuenca and Montanita.

[edit] Surf & Bodyboard

From beginners to experienced surfers, everyone agrees that Montañita and its surrounding beaches are an ideal location for surfing and bodyboarding. Many shops in town and on the beach rent out surfboards for about $4/hour. If you want to catch early waves, some of the shops will rent you a board in the evening and you return in when the shop opens.

There are a choice of beaches, both in and near Montañita:

• The Point known as the End in Montañita is a point break just north (1 km) of the center of Montañita. Waves are fast, strong and some of the more respected waves in Ecuador. If swell of the north, the west hard has the propitious conditions with some or the south and little wind. Waves can reach 3 m with sections of impressive tubes. Appropriate for surfers of intermediate and advanced level. The bottom is rocky but the route ends in sand.

• Between the Point and the center of Montañita, you'll often find fast, beach-break, running waves (both left and right) playing along the sandy bottom. Great for beginners to more experienced surfers, especially when the Point is not working well.

• Ecuadorian Air Force (F.A.E Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana). Located 70 km south of Montañita, in Salt mines, this sensible left to nobody swell, is one of the favourites of tablistas Guayaquileños. Special permission is required to enter the beach, because it belongs to the Armed Forces of Ecuador.

• Tunas/Ayampe. Located 25 km north of Montañita, Tunas and Ayampe (3 km apart) both offer powerful and tubular waves almost every day. With lefts and rights, the waves of Tunas and Ayampe are a good option when the water is calm in Montañita, since they always can give a good wave for you to have fun.

[edit][add listing] Buy

You can buy souvenirs like rings, bracelets, and earrings on the main street.

There are also a lot of surf stores where you can rent swimming stuff. On the main street, one of the neatest and exotic things they have are necklaces made out of strings from marijuana that hold neat things like shark tooth. These usually sell for about three to four dollars.

Also, if you are in the need for marijuana, you can ask any of the surfers or restaurant owners as they will have some for you. Montanita is the most famous weed smoking beach towns, although the quality is not good, the amount is alot.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Montañita has a well-deserved reputation for culinary variety and surprises. From vegetarian pizzas to a delicious spaghetti with shrimps, the lists of restaurants and of special dishes are both long. Like a good coastal pueblito, most restaurants have a fish/seafood menu for reasonable prices. For example, you might find a menu with vegetable soup as the starter, a second course of fish with rice, fried bananas and salad from US$2. Another important point is the fruits. It is practically a religion in Montañita to take a good breakfast with pineapples, bananas, papayas with yogurt and granola here, nutritious food that the restaurants offer from 8h00 to before lunch.

At the most populated streets, there are small stalls during the evenings and the night time selling hamburgers and hotdogs for about $1.5.

Many restaurants are transformed into bars, and many bars soon transform into discotheques… everything can happen in Montañita. Tourists come to enjoy the beach, but also because they know that the nightlife is spectacular.

[edit][add listing] Drink

As far as bars and drinks, Montañita will not disappoint! The delicious mixture of licores with fruit juices results in tempting daikiris or engañadoras strained fragmentation hand grenades. The supply of bars is ample and a large range of styles.

• Karukera Restaurant Karukera [3]. This is a bar and a good ecuatorian and french restaurant. The flamming shots are the best here.

• Caña Grill bar is half indoor and half outdoor. The stage faces the outdoor portion, which is completely covered in sand.

• One of the streets leading to the beach is transformed into an open air bar during the afternoon or at latest when the Sun goes down. Small stalls offer loud music and cocktails from $2.
• Cafe del Mar, (close to the centre). vegetarian restaurant with the most relaxed atmosphere in the village lots of cushions and sofas, books for sale and exchange, low prices for quality homemade healthy food, caters to special diets, ooatmeal cookies and brownies, carrot cake etc etc, dont miss!  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Montañita Cabañas . [4]. Eco Friendly Hostel located in quiet area bordering the farmland, but just a 2 minute easy stroll to the beach and three minutes to centre of town. Beautiful huge cabanas, large swimming pool, Jacuzzi and hang out hammock areas. Private bathrooms. Communal kitchen and some cabanas have private kitchens and air con.

• Manglaralto Sunset Hostel. [manglaralto_beach@yahoo.com] . Just south of downtown Montañita, five minutes by car or a twenty minutes walk along the beach separate you from the village of Manglaralto and its tranquil setting. This is the quieter side of Manglaralto / Montañita, stay at the Manglaralto Sunset Hostel. It offers some of the most comfortable rooms in the Manglaralto/ Montañita area, each with large private bathroom and hot-water shower, independent entrance and multicoloured hammock on Portal.

There is a café and bar located in the hostel also. 24-Hour Reception, Travel Info Desk, Lounge, Free Parking, Linens Included, 24-Hour Hot Water, Towels Included, Telephone/Fax Facilities. Credit cards (MasterCard/Eurocard, Visa) accepted. Other Amenities, Services and Facilities near-by include , Laundry Service, Internet Facilities, Medical services, Park, Church.

• Hostal Centro Del Mundo. Located, weirdly enough, in the centre of town, this basic but tidy place offers both single and double rooms at about $6 per person, or you can sleep on one of the mattresses in the loft space for $3 a night. To find it, just walk along the beach (near the centre of town).

• Hotel Montañita. [5]. This is the biggest hotel in town, located north of the village on the beach with 36 rooms with private baths, swimming pool, parking and restaurant.

• La Casa Blanca is a comfortable place to stay in Montanita. Rooms have private baths, mosquito net, fan and hammocks. Some rooms offer ocean views.

• Hotel Funky Monkey. Located north of the village. Rooms with private and shared baths. Bar, restaurant, common area with satellite TV and pool table.

• Hotel Tierra Prometida. Located in the middle of town. Rooms with private and shared baths. The hotel has a good Bar-restaurant, hammocks corner and pool table.

• La Casa del Sol. This is a luxuriously rustic hotel, located towards the point. All rooms have private baths, fan and Cable TV. Bar-Restaurant also available

• Tabuba Hostal. [6]. Modern Hotel, located in front of the beach. All rooms have private baths, Satellite TV, Air Conditioned.

• Hostal Papaya [7] Hostal and Restaurant is in the center of the village. It has nice balconys, good cousine, Laundry service; TV Room with armchairs;

• Charo's Hostal [8] is the premier hostel in the center of Montañita. Located on the boardwalk, Charo's offers first-class accommodations at competitive prices. Swimming pool and Restaurant.

• Kundalini Hostal. [9] Small relaxing hotel at the bottom of the beach. Private bath. Hot Water. Rustic cottage with ample garden in front of the sea.

• El refugio de las aves. [10]. Eco Wooden and Bamboo houses with kitchen. Also offerings rooms for days or month with shared clean kitchen, laundry, tv, confort. (Tigrillo Neighborhood - Montañita)
• Insomniac Cafe, Next to the town church (across from the town park). Real Coffee, Espresso based drinks from an espresso machine from Italy, great fast snacks, full bar, the gringo location in town, NFL football  edit

• Las Palmas Hotel. Las Palmas Hotel. Atmosphere conviviale, a l'abri du bruit du centre ville (c'est a dire on peut dormir bien). Good hotel away from the downtown crowd and noise. Great rates. Groups welcome. English/Spanish/French/Portuguese  edit

[edit] Contact

There are few internet cafe's and call centres around with similar prices.

• Cyber Hostel, (At the end of the busiest street.). Open late. The cheapest internet cafe in town. The connection is usually fast enough but the computers are slightly out dated. $1/h.  edit

[edit] Get out

Direct CLP buses from Montañita to Guayaquil depart few times a day. Check the departure times from the small CLP office in Montañita. More frequent buses go to Santa Elena (Ecuador), where you can catch another bus to Guayaquil.

Puerto Lopez is the ideal place from which to explore Machalilla National Park.

Salango is a tiny tranquil fishing village has only a couple of streets but is home to an impressive and well-maintained archaeological museum.