Montañita: Beach, Surf Culture and Surroundings

Montañita combines a beach with fine beige sand and blue water with surf offerings, a monument, and activities in the surrounding area. The beach is in the Manglaralto parish, within the Montañita commune. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between experiences within the commune and destinations in the surrounding area: activities range from lessons and beach volleyball to trips to other places.

Beach, Surfing, and the Monumento al Surfista

The Monumento al Surfista stands on the way to the Punta of the Montañita commune, along the main road of the Ruta del Spondylus. It is located in a small plaza established in 2013. The monument is 6.50 m high, while the figure measures 4.20 m. These measurements therefore refer to different parts of the structure. Along with the beach and surf offerings, the monument gives surfing its own point of reference in the town.

Surf schools within the Montañita commune teach beginners from the ground up, with specialized instructors. There are also numerous beach breaks around the destination. These details show different aspects of its connection to surfing: lessons in the commune and beach breaks in the surrounding area. Montañita is also a starting point for fishing and diving tours, so these types of tours extend beyond surfing.

Beach volleyball is played by tourists and residents of the Montañita commune in a designated sandy area. Alongside the tours, this adds a beach activity and its defined playing area to the townscape. If you are planning a specific fishing or diving tour, check the current schedules in advance.

Activities in the Surrounding Area

South of Montañita, horseback riding is offered in the Dos Mangas commune. Dos Mangas is also considered a destination for jungle hikes and natural swimming pools. North of Montañita, cycling and hiking are offered in the Olón commune. This makes it possible to distinguish the surrounding options by direction and activity: horseback riding and nature destinations are in the southern area, while cycling and hiking are mentioned for the north.

There is also a specific local culinary recommendation: a typical dish in Montañita’s cuisine consists of fried fish, patacones, arroz con moro, and salad. This combination provides a distinct culinary point of reference alongside the beach and outdoor activities.

More Scenic Destinations in the Wider Destination of Santa Elena

In the wider destination of Santa Elena, La Chocolatera is the westernmost point of the Ecuadorian coast and the second-farthest headland in South America. Five viewpoints there are connected by self-guided trails with information boards. In Santa Elena, the coastline and viewpoints are distinct landscape features in their own right, alongside the description of Montañita’s beach.

Also in the wider destination of Santa Elena, the Las Cascadas hiking trail in Dos Mangas passes through the humid forests of the Chongón-Colonche mountain range and by several waterfalls. During the rainy season, the main waterfall can reach a height of up to 20 m. The hiking trail and the seasonally described waterfall height add a natural destination to the overview, with a feature explicitly tied to the rainy season.

Discover more destinations: Valdivia, Ayampe, Anconcito, San Pablo, Olon, Simon Bolivar, La Libertad, Ayangue.

For the wider travel overview: Santa Elena.