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Montanita

From Wikitravel

[+] Get in
- By bus
- By taxi
Get around
[+] Do
- Learn Spanish
- Surf & Bodyboard
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Get out

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Part of Manglaralto Parish, Montañita is a magical place, a small village 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 hawaiana table solely, 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 worldwide 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, Argentenians, Germans, Russians,Americans, Canadians, and from lots of other European countries. One of the unique things about this small town is that smoking marijuana seems perfectly legal as people so often do in a casual manner around town.

[edit] Get in

The only way to reach Montañita 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 from company CLP, with daily departures at 05h00, 13h00 and 16h30. Approximate time: 03h30. Price approx: US$6. You can also go from Guayaquil to Santa Elena (approx. hourly departures, price approx US$3) and take a bus from there to Montañita (price approx. US$1.5) - total time about 4 hours.

From River basin, Machala, Loja or other cuidades center, in the southwestern/south part of Ecuador: Take a bus directly to Guayaquil and follow the directions above.

From Quito, Esmeraldas or other north/northeast 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 river Zarumilla, near Huaquillas-Water 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

Hostería Piqueros Patas Azules - Blue Footed Booby Hotel

Thirty seven kilometers North of Montañita you will see a great big sign on the road decorated with the birds with the blue feet - you can't miss it. Piqueros Patas Azules combines a bar, a restaurant serving delicious seafood, an archaeological museum and a private beach complete with hammocks, deck chairs and parasols. Its an easy place to spend a whole day learning about early Ecuadorian culture as well as eating, drinking and relaxing in the sun.

The bar is decorated with old nautical equipment and relics of bygone days such as huge tortoise shells and shark jaws. Signs warn of the dangers of the wanton destruction of the past that almost resulted in the extinction of these creatures.

The museum stands testament to its owner's passion for archaeology. All the excavations you will see were carried out by him on his own land. You approach it along a path which is home to a community of large red, yellow and blue crabs. They live in holes in the ground but surface to observe visitors with their pop-eyes on stalks. There are also uncovered graves en route where the skulls of past residents try to rest in peace in cracked funerary urns.

Salango

This tiny tranquil fishing village has only a couple of streets but is home to an impressive and well-maintained archaeological museum. The exhibits feature numerous artifacts demonstrating ancient innovations in ceramics, fishing techniques and shipping technology. There's an excellent reconstruction of an early fishing raft which looks none too sturdy given the size of the Pacific waves that crash on the beach behind the museum building

Puerto Lopez

Puerto López is the ideal place from which to explore Machalilla National Park. This sleepy seaside town sits in a picturesque horseshoe bay with gentle waves, rocking fishing boats and a tree-lined promenade. The beach is the focus of local life with fishermen mending their nets, courting couples, unaccompanied cows wandering along the shore and kids running down to play in the breakers at sunset.

Machalilla National Park encompasses 55,000 hectares of land and 2 offshore islands, Isla de la Plata and Isla Salango. It constitutes the last remnants of dry tropical forest in Ecuador and is home to a rich variety of birdlife as well as some reptiles and mammals.

A 5 day entrance pass to the Park, including the islands, costs $20 in the high season (May to September) and USD 15 at other times

[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. 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 mts 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 kms 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 kms north of Montañita, Tunas and Ayampe (3 kms 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.

[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 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.

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 the range of styles is incredible: want your beer with great reggae, movies in the background, or some electronic music? You'll have no problem finding a place that fits your style.

One great place is Karukera Restaurant Karukera. This is a bar and a good ecuatorian and french restaurant. The flamming shots are the best here.

Another great place to look for is Caña Grill. This bar is half indoor and half outdoor. The stage faces the outdoor portion, which is completely covered in sand. Loose your shoes at the door and get lost in the great music (great DJ) and AMAZING atmosphere. Be prepared to dance until the sun comes up, because you won´t want to sleep!

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Montañita Cabañas . Montañita Cabañas Eco Friendly Hostel located in quiet area bordering the farmland, but just 2 minute easy scroll 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.

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. 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