More than 2000 km long, the gorgeous coast of Ecuador is dotted with a large spectrum of beach towns. And Yes! The coastline of Ecuador features some of South America’s most beautiful beaches.
From laid-back fishing villages to vibrant resorts and pretty coastal towns, you’ll find an extensive mixture of places where you can relax, party or surf.
Whether you plan on travelling the length of Ecuador’s coast or just laze around for a couple of days away from the high altitudes, you’ll be pleased to find a rich variety of food, a great atmosphere and many activities such as hiking and whale watching to keep you busy.
Here is our selection of the best Ecuadorian beaches and beach towns, from South to North.
How to travel along the coast of Ecuador?
The bus system in Ecuador isn’t complicated as long as you travel from one large town to another. The small backpacker heavens by the beach we are all looking for, aren’t all large hubs with bus terminals and online booking systems. This often means you will face a challenge, need patience and last-minute organisation.
Getting to Canoa, Mompiche or even Montañita will often involve several 2 to 4-hour bus journeys with several changes in between.
To give you an idea of what it takes to travel along the coast of Ecuador, here is our itinerary with bus prices and changes required to visit 5 of the beach towns. It took us 3 weeks and more than 15 buses! Of course, you can skip a few towns or just spend longer in each place depending on the budget and time you have.
- Guayaquil -> Santa Elena (2hr – $4.40) -> Montañita (1.5hr – $1.75)
- Montañita -> Olon (15 min – $0.50) -> Ayampe (30 min – $2) -> Montañita (50 min – $3)
- Montañita -> Puerto Lopez (1hr – $3)
- Puerto Lopez -> Los Frailes (30 min – $5.50)
- Puerto Lopez ->Montecristi (2hr – $5)
- Montecristi -> Portoviejo (45 min – $2.50) -> San Vicente (2hr – $1.50) -> Canoa (30 min – $1)
- Canoa -> Perdenales (2.5hr -$3.50) -> Chamanga (1hr – $2) -> Mompiche (1hr $2)
- Mompiche -> Esmeraldas (2.5hr – $3.50) -> Quito (8hr – $12 / night bus)
Ecuador beaches: 5 amazing towns along the Pacific coast
Looking for more adventures in Ecuador? You may also like these articles
- Isla de la Plata Ecuador – bird and whale watching tour
- 5 budget-friendly day trips from Quito
- Baños de Agua Santa – 4 amazing things to do on a budget
- Cotopaxi National Park: Hiking to the Volcano Refuge Without A Tour
- Quilotoa Loop: 3-day hike vs day trip to the crater lake
MONTAÑITA: BEACH, PARTY AND SURF
Montañita is nationally recognised as the best partying town in Ecuador.
With its many restaurants, bars and street stalls serving $3 cocktails, it is actually hard to not get onto the mood of at least one late night out. But hang on, if you are not a party animal, don’t run away just yet. Montañita has a lot more to offer and depending on where you are staying, you can easily escape the madness as well!
What to do in Montañita?
Be a beach bum
Well, Montañita is a beach town so the first thing to do is hit the beach. At low tides, the main beach is very large and its fine yellow sand is really enjoyable for a stroll or just to relax and get a tan. Closer to the town, the beach is more crowded with families and people trying to sell food and drinks. This is particularly true on weekends when Ecuadorians head to Montañita for a day or two or during the high season that goes from Christmas to Easter.
For a bit of tranquillity, rent a deck chair and a beach umbrella for $2 to $5 or walk north toward the cliffs. You will find enough space to get away from people and loud music.
Go surfing or take a beginner class
If you feel active, rent a surfboard and enjoy the gentle waves! The swell in Montañita is good all year round and the water is warm enough to prevent you from needing a wet suit. During the low season, the waves are actually perfect for those just starting to feel comfortable on a board or wanting to practice their take-off and pop up techniques.
If you have never surfed before, we can recommend Montañita to learn if you avoid the high season. At that time of the year,
the waves tend to be bigger and the water more crowded with local surfers. However, whenever you go, you will always find classes for just a few dollars per hour via your hostel or directly on the beach.
Visit the surrounding parks and beaches
Montañita is also a nice place to base yourself if after a few days by the beach you want to discover the surrounding area, go sightseeing or join adrenaline-filled adventures such as paragliding.
Hop on a bus from the main street heading north and visit the close-by beaches of Ayampe and Olon, or take a day trip to Los Frailes National Park and Isla de la Plata to see blue-footed boobies and whales!
We would recommend staying in Montañita and taking day tours if you are into partying or don’t have much time to go beach hopping. For those who are a bit more flexible, keep reading to learn how to visit all
Where to Stay in Montañita?
You will find plenty of accommodation right in the centre of the town. But the best hostels and budget backpackers spots tend to be a little bit further out.
If you are looking for the best in-house parties and don’t plan on sleeping much at night, head to Iguana Backpacker hostel or Kalama Surf & Backpacker hostel.
Looking for a quieter place to stay? Walk just a few minutes toward the outskirts of town and you will find laid-back and quiet hostels.
For those on a budget, we recommend the Hidden House. It has a gorgeous garden with lots of hammocks to relax, a large kitchen and a quiet but fun buzz in the evenings.
With a higher
Where to eat local in Montañita?
Avoid the touristic restaurants and look for the local families serving delicious and copious local lunches for only $3, consisting of a soup, a main dish and a juice.
Our favourite is located near the main road, on Segundo Rosales, near the northern bridge (the
For breakfast we would recommend the stalls located off that street, on the right, serving big bowls of yoghurt with fruits, crepes, waffles and smoothies.
At night, in the lesser crowded streets, you can get a well-served fish or meat barbecue for $4-5. These places are generally filled with local families and the food is safe and tasty.
In the streets, there are also a few stalls selling empañadas and burgers. And finally, for a
How to get to Montañita?
The bus company CLP runs a direct route from Guayaquil to Montañita once per day. It takes 4 hours and cost $6. If you miss this direct bus you will need to go to Santa Elena first and change bus to Montañita. The bus stop in Montañita is on the main avenue. From there you will hop on and off to visit the surrounding beaches such as
If you come from Quito, you will need to take a few buses via Santo Domingo de
For a couple of months now you have the possibility to buy a bus pass that allows you to take a bus from Quito to the Pacific Coast or the highlands and back without having to worry. Once you have bought your pass, you can change your dates anytime for free. Passes are valid for up to 1 year. It exists a few routes: Montañita to Quito – Montañita to Baños (via Quito, Cotopaxi and Quilotoa) – Guayaquil to Quito via Montañita etc.
THE ALTERNATIVE BEACHES OF AYAMPE & OLON
Only 15 to 30 minutes north of Montañita lie the tiny villages of Ayampe and Olon. Here you won’t find any exuberant souvenir or cocktail stalls but a couple of dusty streets and a few quiet accommodations.
Ayampe and Olon are the perfect places to stay off-the-grid, to relax, go surfing and take yoga classes. Prices generally tend to be a bit higher than in Montañita with the clear intention to attract a different clientele but the beaches are beautiful and far from being crowded.
To get there hop on the bus linking Puerto Lopez to Montañita from the main street of both towns. It should cost about $1.50 to $2 per person depending where you get on.
Where to stay?
Ayampe:
Spondylus Lodge – Hostel
La Tortuga Hostal – B&B
El Lugar Ayampe – Appartements
El Campito Ayampe – Bungalows
Olon:
El Gran Azul – Hostel
Cuna Luna – Hostel
Where to eat?
In Ayampe there are a few really nice places to eat. For a relaxing drink, head to Cafe Cultura and sink in one of their sofas while sipping a freshly made smoothy.
Regarding food, if you fancy a burger, go to the Azucar Morena Restobar, but for something more local, La Cabaña del Corviche it is. Their $2 plate of delicious shrimp or fish with patacon is unmissable.
In Olon, choices are a bit more limited. It is probably best to cook in your hostel but if you head to the beach you will find restaurants serving fish.
A couple of Tips
- There are no ATMs in Ayampe or Olon and you can’t really rely on using your Credit Card as electricity and internet shut down regularly.
- Make sure to bring repellant with you, mosquitoes love the tropical atmosphere of the Ecuadorian coast.
- You may want to shop in Puerto Lopez or Montañita as there aren’t an extensive choice of groceries in Ayampe or Olon.
PUERTO LOPEZ: FOR THE LOVE OF NATURE
The main reason to stay in the town of Puerto Lopez is to visit two of the main destinations of the Machalilla National Park: Los Frailes beach and Isla de La Plata.
in fact, all the excursions and activities like whale watching and scuba diving advertised along the south part of the Ecuadorian coast leave from Puerto Lopez.
If you choose to stay a couple of days here, you are sure to get cheap deals as no transport to or from the port are necessary. You can also directly negotiate the prices with the company owners instead of going through resellers.
Isla de la Plata, blue-footed boobies and whales
Isla de la Plata is well-known for being a cheap destination (
It is one of the best day-trips- from the coast of Ecuador and more specifically from Puerto Lopez.
However, in order to protect its fragile ecosystem, the access to the island is regulated and tourists must join an organised tour via a licenced agency.
It costs on average $35 for a day tour with snorkelling and whale watching, depending on the season.
We invite you to read our complete guide about this one-day excursion to visit Isla de La Plata, go whale watching and snorkelling. You’ll know everything you need to organise your trip!
Los Frailes, an easy day-hike without a guide
Take any bus from Puerto Lopez heading north (towards Manta) and ask the driver to drop you off at the “Machalilla” National Park. You may need to go to the bus terminal outside of town. To get there, hire a tuk-tuk from the main square for a couple of dollars.
Once at the entrance of the national park, you can either walk along the road, follow a 1-hour trail in a scattered forest along the coast or take a tuk-tuk directly to the beach Los Frailes.
If you like walking in nature, we would recommend the 1-hour walk which will take you to 2 additional beaches and a few viewpoints. Be aware there are a lot of lizards and also snakes. We saw 2 near the path in less than 15 min.
For those who prefer the Tuk-Tuk to reach Los Frailes directly, it will cost $2 to $3 one way – the ride is about 5 min.
Upon entering the park and registering yourself, you may need to show the inside of your bags. For obvious reasons, Rangers don’t allow food or disposable products such as plastic bottles in the park.
Whale watching near Puerto Lopez
Between June and September, Humpback whales
During the breeding season, these huge marine mammals can be seen from the boat to Isla de la Plata or during a whale watching trip from Puerto Lopez. They usually are quite active during these few months which is an excellent time to see them breaching out of the water.
You can book a tour directly in Puerto Lopez for half a day ($35) or hope to see some during your trip to Isla de la Plata.
RELATED: ISLA DE LA PLATA, FOR THE LOVE OF BIRD AND WHALE WATCHING
Where to eat in Puerto Lopez?
Puerto Lopez itself doesn’t have much charm but it has the means to be quiet at night and to offer both local and touristic atmospheres in one.
During the day, the “Malecon” is packed with tour resellers trying to get you to sign up for an activity, at night, it becomes super local with friendly restaurants offering fresh fish on the barbecue for a bargain. Here, you can be sure the fish will be fresher than ever!
If you have a bit of time, we would recommend heading to the beach in the morning to witness one of the most typical slices of the life of a sea-based town. As the boats come back onto the sand, fishermen weigh and negotiate with local buyers and restaurant owners for their catches, which can be anything from small fish to medium sharks and huge tuna or marlin.
Where to stay in Puerto Lopez?
Right in the centre of town, you will also find the Hostel del Mar. They have no kitchen but offer breakfast and have a swimming pool.
Couples will find affordable double bedrooms at the Yemaya hostel but don’t expect any atmosphere or an area to meet other travellers.
For those on a budget and who don’t mind staying away from the town but right on the beach, head to the hostel Viejamar (near Puerto Rico). The atmosphere is very relaxed and you can rent surfboards.
MONTECRISTI: THE GENUINE PANAMA HAT
The town of Montecristi located inland about 10 km from Manta is an optional place to stop between Puerto Lopez and Canoa. Definitely off-the-grid, Montecristi isn’t much of a tourist hub. It, however, holds within its steep dusty streets the secret of the finest straw weaved hats.
Also known as “Toquillo” or “Panama hat”, the Montecristi hats are the main reason to stop and spend a couple of hours window shopping in the city.
Most of the main shops will be found near the central square, on Calle 9 de Julio and Sucre. Here, you can buy Genuine Panama Hats from Montecristi but also see the weavers at work.
It is a unique opportunity to learn this ancestral technique and purchase a world-famous product from its original home town. Just make sure to buy an original hat made of Jipijapa palm in Montecristi and not a false copy in plastic.
The price for a medium quality Panama Hat should start at $25. Any cheaper and it won’t be an original.
>> You can also take a tour to learn more about the confection of the Panama Hat in Montecristi.
What else to do in Montecristi Ecuador
If shopping for Panama hats isn’t a good enough excuse for you to stop in Montecristi, maybe will you be interested in the historical importance the town holds for
You can also visit the main square to see his statue, a giant painting of him and also visit the colonial basilica “Santisima Virgen de Montserrat”.
Where to stay/eat in Montecristi?
There aren’t many places you can book in advance to stay in Montecristi. The best is to head down and look for a
If you want to book online, here are the two places available.
- Balcones del Cerro Hotel – double from €60
- Montecristi Golf Resort – double from €160
These two places aren’t budget-friendly, so if you are looking after your budget we would recommend staying in Manta or heading to Canoa or Puerto Lopez.
How to get to/from Montecristi?
There are no direct buses from Puerto Lopez or Canoa to Montecristi. You will need to change bus at least once in Manta, Jijipapa, P
From/to Puerto Lopez
From Puerto Lopez, take a tuk-tuk to the bus terminal and hop on a bus to Jijipapa then change to Montecristi. You can also take a direct bus from the main square to Manta and change to Montecristi. Same route from Montecristi to Puerto Lopez.
From/to Canoa
From Canoa, you can get a direct bus to Portoviejo, but if there aren’t many passengers travelling along this route, the bus will stop its service in San Vicente and the bus driver will ask you to wait for another bus. Once in Portoviejo, you will be able to get a bus easily to Montecristi.
If you come from Montecristi, take a bus from the main street. There are no bus terminals but bus companies have shops on the main avenue. We would recommend looking at the bus timetable when you arrive in town in order to know what time the next buses leave.
Tips to visit Montecristi but not stay
– Plan on arriving early in the morning and leaving in the afternoon – the bus will drop you off on the main road. Ask to be dropped off close to the main square.
– Check ahead if Political meetings are happening during your visit. We happened to stop the exact day of one of the biggest one ever and it was impossible to catch a bus out of town. We had to hitchhike…
– You can ask to leave your bags at the city council while you visit around the town – They let us drop off the bag for 2hrs for free. We kept our valuables with us.
– The best toilets in town are inside the museum Eloy Alfaro (free)
CANOA: THE LOCAL DESTINATION
During the week, Canoa is a sleepy dusty fishing town with almost no atmosphere, despite the few wooden shacks blasting music at night. But come the weekend, the town turns into a beast spitting out drunk partiers and piling up litter on one of the nicest beaches in Ecuador.
We know, this description isn’t appealing but if you travel along the coast of Ecuador, you might not have the choice than stopping here between Puerto Lopez and Mompiche, and better knowing the truth. However, if you stay in a nice hostel and take the opportunity to do a couple of great things around the town, you will enjoy your time!
Go surfing, kayaking or beach bumming
The beach in Canoa is well known for its good surf all year long and in particular for beginners during the high season. You can rent surfboards and bodyboards directly on the beach and around town. Board rental should cost $3-4/hour. You can also take surfing lessons.
The north side of Canoa is tucked in by beautiful cliffs hosting hidden coves and caves. To access these remote places, you can take a kayaking tour. A nice way to visit the area and be active! Also, discover the beach while horseback riding!
Finally, Canoa is a nice place where you can just be a beach bum… There are a few tents and sunbeds you can rent for the day but if you want some tranquillity, walk along the beach and find a nice spot towards the south. Just be aware this part of the beach can host turtle nests that are very delicate.
Littering on the beach in Canoa
The beach in Canoa is, unfortunately, littered in some places (mostly around the tents that are rented by local families on the weekends). During our stay, we have volunteered to clean up the beach. We found dirty diapers, food containers, fishing nets, broken glass, etc. despite the few bins around.
But what infuriated us the most, was to see the locals throwing the garbage in the sand, right next to us when they knew exactly what we were doing and didn’t care to follow the example for a second.
Visit Rio Muchacho
Rio Muchacho is a farming community about 10 km north of Canoa. They have been hit very strongly by the 2016 earthquake and some families still use the UN tents that were provided by the international help after the disaster. But Rio Muchahco is a nice place to visit and to see another side of the Ecuadorian coast and learn about the local traditions.
The “Rio Muchacho organic farm” organises self-guided and guided tours of the farm to educate visitors about permaculture, sustainable agriculture and self-sustainability. During our visit, all these programs were on hold while they were rebuilding the farm, but these days (updated in March 2019) it seems that the place is up and fully running.
They also offer 1 to 4-day programs with yoga retreats, Spanish classes, workshops and dining experience.
During our day
Prices & timetable
Self-guided tour: $18/person – Family tour: $25/person (with chocolate making, lunch & horse riding)
Multi-day program: from $60 to $200
How to get to Rio Muchacho Organic Farm from Canoa
We wouldn’t recommend to turn up at the farm without notice. You can call them if you plan a last-minute visit or send them an email at least a week before. Be aware, they don’t have internet at the farm but often go to Canoa to check their inbox.
- Take any bus passing through Canoa heading north. Ask the driver to drop you off at the corner (la
esquina definetely recommend you to follow the bus with a GPS app and remind the driver as you approach the corner. Our driver remembered to stop 3 km later… From the corner, you will need to walk about 7 km along beautiful farms or hitch a ride. - If in a hurry or don’t want to bother, we would recommend taking a taxi from the pharmacy Cruz Azul.
The 2016 Earthquake that changed everything
One of the reasons why the town feels less developed or less attractive than the others along the coast would be the earthquake that damaged the entire town in April 2016. On the 22nd, a 7.8-magnitude quake shook this part of the world, destroying most of the buildings and taking the lifes of many.
Today, the town is still being reconstructed but some families have lost everything and have not been able to rebuild their house or business like they used to be. You won’t find 3-story buildings anymore but wooden shacks and gazebos serving incredible seafood and affordable hostels with bar made of bamboo.
Staying in Canoa is definitely a way to help the economy and the locals.
Where to stay in Canoa
We stayed at the Coco Loco hostel when the new owner started the refurbishment and construction of the outdoor bar, kitchen and living room. We never saw it finished but heard that it became one of the best places on the coast!
We definitely recommend this place. We adored the double bedroom, and the view over the ocean, but also the sustainable approach the owner was trying to
- Hostel Coco Loco, Canoa Ecuador
You can also check the following places to stay: Coconut Surf Hostel, Canoamar, Hosteria Canoa or Hotel Canoa Beach
Where to eat in Canoa
There is one little grocery shop on the main road where the bus stops and another one, one street down towards the beach. But you can easily eat out and very well.
Go to one of the wooden shacks and order a ceviche, Encebollado or Camaron (shrimp) plate. It’s remarkably cheap, good and fresh!
You can also buy fresh fruit and veg from locals pulling trolleys in the street along the beach.
If you stay at, or close to the Coco Loco hostel, you might find a man selling freshly cut
MOMPICHE: REMOTE BEACHES
Mompiche is a small town in the northwest of Ecuador. Here, life happens at the beach when the fishermen come back to land with their fresh catch. It is a peaceful beach town, without much nightlife but great surf and a dreamy tropical atmosphere.
If you come to Mompiche expect beach hopping, surfing and relaxing in a hammock by day while spending quiet evenings in your hostel chatting with fellow travellers.
The 3 most beautiful beaches of Mompiche
The towns beach
The main beach is mostly taken over by the fishermen. Come in the morning or around lunchtime to see them coming back from the sea and emptying their nets.
Walk further down the beach and you will find a dog shelter and a larger area to drop your towel to sunbathe.
At night, you can go for a swim towards the tropical forest where the bioluminescence phenomenon can happen. If the plankton is here, the water will turn blue!
Playa Negra
Playa Negra is one of the most famous beaches near Mompiche for its black sand and its great surf all year long.
However, the beach has been strongly been impacted by sand mining to uncover titanium and other valuable minerals over the past few years. Thanks to the local communities battle, part of the mining has stopped and the beach is now safer. You can go there to surf or just chill for half a day.
How to get to Playa Negra?
The beach is only a short 30-min walk from Mompiche. The best way is to follow the main beach towards the south and turn left via a small path cutting through fields. Once on the main road, continue to your right and look for a gravel path with “no mining” signs.
Playa Portete
Playa Portete is a pristine beach lined with coconut trees,
Portete Beach is close to an all-inclusive resort where locals come in mass during the weekend and school holidays. In the morning, shuttle boats bring dozens of local tourists from their hotel to the beach where they rent sunbeds and chill until the shuttle comes back to pick them up.
It can be quite overwhelming but fortunately, the beach is long and tourists mostly spend time at the tip of the beach where the water is shallow and the waves small. We would recommend walking further down the beach where you will quickly feel the last person on earth.
How to get to Playa Portete
You can hire a taxi or walk (5 km) to a small harbour and take a small boat to the island of Zapotal. Once on the island pass the few restaurants and find a nice spot under a coconut tree to spend the day. Be careful of the strong current and cross-shore winds that often pick up in the afternoon.
If you don’t plan on bringing your own lunch, we recommend the wooden shacks where you can order a “menu del dia”. You’ll more than likely be served a plate of local Camarones (shrimps) or Conch (shellfish) coming from the nearby mangrove.
Be aware
– Parts of the island are private. It is best to not venture inland and you should stay on the beach at all time.
– The Portete Beach is a nesting beach for turtles. Do not approach the nest or touch any animals if you see one.
What else can you do in Mompiche
- From June to October, whales migrate nearby the coast of Mompiche. For a tour, it is best to negotiate with a local fisherman to take you at sea for a couple of hours.
- Visit the Mache-Chindul Ecological reserve, a tropical rainforest along the coast of Manabi and Esmeraldas where you can go bird watching or hiking. It is best to visit from July to December.
- Volunteer at the dog shelter on the main beach of Mompiche
- Bioluminescence is known to happen on the southern side of the Mompiche beach. Go at night but be aware of the dogs from the shelter.
- Go surfing from December to April at Playa Negra or the main beach.
Where to stay in Mompiche
For a sleepy small town, Mompiche has a few accommodations aimed at backpackers. The most famous is the DMCA surf hostel, but we didn’t like it. It was very noisy, we felt unwelcomed and the outdoor kitchen was disgusting.
We preferred the Mudhouse, only 5-minute walk from the beach. The owners are really nice, the kitchen well equipped and clean, and the bedrooms very comfortable. They have privates and dorms for €7.
Useful information
- There is no ATM in Mompiche – the closest one is in Esmeraldas;
- Eat Ceviche from the lunch food carts near the shore and Camarones as part of a $3 menu del dia in any of the restaurants.
- Talk to the fisherman and ask if you can buy some fish from them – should only cost about $2.
- During the low season, it can rain a lot in Mompiche and the streets get very muddy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen – Owner, writer & photographer – has lived for the past 10 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling long-term in Latin America, North America and Europe. She has visited more than 60 countries and set foot on every continent in the world!
>> Favourite countries: New Zealand, Bolivia, Iceland.
>> Wishlist: Svalbard, Japan, Botswana, Alaska.
>> Philosophy: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Jen is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife and outdoor activities. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. For more info, check out the About page.
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