Breaking on that beach are the waves that make Montañita an internationally known surfing destination. They come from Ecuador and other South American countries, but increasingly, tourists from North America, Europe, and even Australia are making their way to this beach town to surf, swim, and party. “Montañita” means “little mountain.” It gets the name from the small cliff that separates it from the beach of Olón (more about that later) to the north. Montañita is separated into four main sections, the beach, the point, trigrillo neighborhood and the center of Montañita.On December 5, 2014 the movie "Sexy Montañita", directed by Alberto Pablo Rivera, hit the cinema. The Worst?

I not only like to travel, but I love to travel. Most of the east/west roads have beach access.

Generally, it is Montañita that is the better know, though they sit a scant 5 minute drive apart. A colorful cast of hippies make up the resident population, and sell a variety of textiles and jewelry along the streets. Olón and Montañita would barely exist, at least in their current incarnations, one without the other. There are restaurants and food vendors of all types, including pizzas, burgers, Chinese, Thai, Perúvian, Ecuadorian—if you have a craving for it, you can probably find it somewhere in town.The beach is a big attraction in its own right, and colorful umbrellas and canvas pavilions dot the shore most days. I thought Montanita would be everything I dreamt it to be and more…but really, I don’t think it’s for me.

47 reviews. The layout town of Montañita is a grid of small streets crowded with shops and restaurants. From December–April, consistent swells and a variety of different breaks create optimal conditions for beginner and expert surfers alike.

But in the Summer they are about 3 feet high, which is perfect for learning!

Ecuador Parapente.

But we’ll be there to keep you current and show you the best-value escapes—the safe, warm, welcoming, low-cost havens where you can live large for less than it would cost you to stay home.Each month in International Living magazine, we share the actionable, on-the-ground guidance you need to match the retirement dream you see in your mind with a real-world spot where you could make it your reality.Every year, tens of thousands of tourists flock to the small village of Back in the ‘60s there were only two cement-block buildings in Montañita; today, it’s dozen or so streets are packed with restaurants, bars, hostels, hotels, travel agencies, souvenir shops, bakeries, and more. […] Post #7:  Montanita, Ecuador:  Out of My Comfort Zone […]I am currently in Montanita, and I appreciate your honesty. It looks pretty cultural! Yes, I had to be honest and say that it wasn’t for me either. Each day, he and the kiddos would borrow a surfboard and head out to “catch a few waves”. There are Whether you are an ardent surfer “dude”, or the worst beginner “Barney” on the waves, you owe it to yourself to plan a visit to Montañita. Surrounded by hills, and vegetation at the bottom of the sea, offering a multicultural environment, as well as a natural space. In the Alley, you can get a big plastic cup of your favorite adult beverage from one of many colorful bamboo Dance clubs like the prison-themed Alcatraz (decorated with chain link and barbed wire) and bars like the Hola Ola pump out the music and pulsate with colored light and strobes well into the night during the week, and seem to never stop on weekends.

International Living Magazine . Across the Ruta del Sol from the beach, you find verdant green tropical cloud forest, with groves of bamboo and tropical flowers growing like weeds. I’m still trying to decide if I missed out… Yes, that is a dead puffer fish that ended up on shore that night, on our walk home from the town to our “resort”. As a rowdy backpacker hub, Montañita offers travelers a lively scene alongside white sand beaches and world-renowned surfing.Waters off the coast of Machalilla National Park team with fish. Yikes!So here I am, expecting a “hidden treasure”  with “perfect waves”,  “golden sands”, and a “tropical paradise”. Montañita is definitely an eclectic beach and town with many vendors and street performers.The streets of Montañita are filled with bars, restaurants, and cafés, as well as banners of peace symbols and portraits of Also, at night, while returning back to our bungalow after dinner, there were some unusual characters that washed up on shore, things like dead turtles and pufferfish!One of the best activities I did while in Montanita was to people-watch while my husband and kids went surfing each morning. )[…] Montanita, Ecuador:  Out of My Comfort Zone […]Where or what part of Ecuador would you suggest? Third, and perhaps most important, it is a place where housing can be bought or rented at very attractive rates, and affordable land is available for private homes or development.

It is illegal however to sell weed in Ecuador.If you are spending the night here, or more likely looking for a place to crawl into at 4am, there are many options available.