'''Montanita''' 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.
Montanita 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. Montanita 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 Montanita 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.
Get in
The only way to reach Montanita is overland via the '''Route of the Sun''' ('''Ruta del Sol'''), a beautiful coastal highway running along the Ecuadorian coast.
By bus
From Guayaquil: From the bus station, you can take a direct bus to Montanita 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 Montanita (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 Montanita, 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.
By taxi
From Guayaquil or Santa Elena you can take a taxi to Montanita, either for greater comfort or when the busses aren't running (generally after 21h00).
Get around
Walking is the best way to get around as Montanita is a small town and the streets can get too crowded for cars.
Do
Learn Spanish
Montanita is a popular destination to learn Spanish. Montanita Spanish school [http://www.montanitaspanishschool.com] 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 [http://www.ecuadorspanishschools.com], they offer language courses in Ecuador in 4 different locations: Quito, Manta, Cuenca and Montanita.
Surf & Bodyboard
From beginners to experienced surfers, everyone agrees that Montanita 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 Montanita:
The '''Point''' known as the '''End in Montanita''' is a point break just north (1 km) of the center of Montanita. 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 Montanita''', 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 Montanita, in Salt mines, this sensible left to nobody swell, is one of the favourites of tablistas Guayaquilenos. Special permission is required to enter the beach, because it belongs to the Armed Forces of Ecuador.
'''Tunas/Ayampe'''. Located 25 km north of Montanita, 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 Montanita, since they always can give a good wave for you to have fun.
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.
Eat
Montanita 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 Montanita 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_c everything can happen in Montanita. Tourists come to enjoy the beach, but also because they know that the nightlife is spectacular.
Drink
As far as bars and drinks, Montanita will not disappoint! The delicious mixture of licores with fruit juices results in tempting daikiris or enganadoras strained fragmentation hand grenades. The supply of bars is ample and a large range of styles.
'''Karukera''' [http://www.infomontanita.com/karukera Restaurant Karukera]. This is a bar and a good ecuatorian and french restaurant. The flamming shots are the best here.
'''Cana 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. lose 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!
Sleep
'''Montanita Cabanas '''. [http://www.montanitahotel.com]. 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 Montanita'''. [http://www.infomontanita.com/hotelmontanita]. 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'''. [http://www.tabubahostal.com]. Modern Hotel, located in front of the beach. All rooms have private baths, Satellite TV, Air Conditioned.
'''Hostal Papaya''' [http://www.infomontanita.com/papaya] Hostal and Restaurant situated in the center of the village. It has nice balconys, good cousine, Laundry service; TV Room with armchairs;
'''Charo's Hostal''' [http://www.infomontanita.com/charos] is the premier hostel in the center of Montanita. Located on the boardwalk, Charo's offers first-class accommodations at competitive prices. Swimming pool and Restaurant.
'''Kundalini Hostal'''. [http://www.infomontanita.com/kundalini] 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'''. [http://www.infomontanita.com/refugio_aves]. Eco Wooden and Bamboo houses with kitchen. Also offerings rooms for days or month with shared clean kitchen, laundry, tv, confort. (Tigrillo Neighborhood - Montanita)
Insomniac Cafe. ext to the town church. cross 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
.
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
Contact
There are few internet cafe's and call centres around with similar prices.
<listing name="Cyber Hostel" alt="" directions="At the end of the busiest street." address="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Open late" price="$1/h"> The cheapest internet cafe in town. The connection is usually fast enough but the computers are slightly out dated.</listing>
Get out
Direct CLP buses from Montanita to Guayaquil depart few times a day. Check the departure times from the small CLP office in Montanita. 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.