Montanita Travel Guide

Introduction

180km (112 miles) NW of Guayaquil; 59km (37 miles) N of Santa Elena; 44km (27 miles) S of Puerto López

Montañita is a tiny beach town that has garnered a fair amount of fame among surfers and backpackers. The few streets here are densely packed with funky hostels, cheap eats, lively bars, and a handful of surf shops. You'll also find a fair number of bohemian artisans from Ecuador and other Latin American locales selling their wares or offering to braid hair, pierce some body part, or lay on a henna tattoo. If you're an avid surfer, looking to learn how to hang ten, or just want to party, you'll probably love it here. If not, you may find Montañita a bit seedy and limited.