24 Hours in Montañita

Montañita is well known for two things: surfing and partying. During a normal year I am sure we would have experienced the bumping music, packed bars, and endless dancing. However, travelers aren’t out in full force yet, so the Montañita we experienced was more subdued.

Lodging

For this trip, we stayed at Hostel Esperanto. We booked our stay through Airbnb a few days before our trip. I was more comfortable knowing we would have a place to sleep when we arrived. However, you can just show up and ask around town for places with vacancies.

Jacob isn’t thrilled with the idea of sleeping in a room with strangers, so I also booked ahead to make sure we could get a private room and bathroom. Our room was around $30 for the night, but you could stay for less if you stayed in a shared dorm room.

Hostels definitely don’t fall under luxury travel, but they are a great option when you just need a place to crash for the night. They are also a wonderful place to meet fellow travelers and the hosts can provide some very helpful information.

Dinner with a View

We took a long walk along the beach soaking up the sunset and watching the talented surfers out in the waves. Our host in Salinas recommended Shankha for dinner. The restaurant is right on the beach and serves sushi and Thai food.

We split an avocado roll and a California roll. Then Jacob ordered a seafood pasta and I ordered pad Thai. The food was amazing. The restaurant was cozy, warmly lit, and right on the ocean. Our chairs were literally in the sand. It was a perfect place to relax and watch the surfers until the sun went down.

Montañita Brewing Company is also right beside Shankha so you can grab a craft beer to enjoy with your dinner.

• 

• 

• 

Montañita Beach

Playa Montañita is highly rated for its surfing. Even though we visited during the low season, we saw many people out catching waves. The whole town has a relaxed surfer vibe and the beach even more so. We loved the wide beach to take walks on. It’s a perfect place to stroll and people watch.

Since we were only in town for a day, we didn’t do the one thing you probably should do when visiting Montañita. Take a surfing lesson! There are many places along the beach that offer lessons for around $20 an hour.

Despite my chronic clumsiness, I would have absolutely taken a lesson if we were staying in town longer. Yes, I would have left town sore, bruised, and exhausted, but I like trying new things even if I make a fool of myself doing them. Plus after years of frequent trips and falls, my fall to serious injury ratio is quite good lately. *fingers crossed, knock on wood, quick prayer, etc.

A Note on Dogs

Dogs are prevalent and often roam the streets in Ecuador. Some are stray as you would assume, but many have loving homes. There is a different view around dogs here. As dog owners ourselves, it can be strange to see pups running along the streets and beach with no owner in sight.

On the final day of our long weekend, Jacob and I stepped back and realized how much fun these dogs have. They roam the streets playing with friends and meeting kind strangers and wander home whenever they please. I do wish more pups were spayed or neutered to prevent puppies being born on the streets, but there are many rescues here that focus on sterilizing pups. Change takes time.

Nightlife

We passed on so many bars and cocktail stands. Not because we didn’t want a drink, but because we wanted a spot that we could sit, sip, and see all that was going on around us.

For better or worse (worse definitely) we aren’t great dancers. Let me clarify. We aren’t great dancers in the US and we are horrifying dancers in Latin America. The way people can shake and shimmy here is so far past what my midwestern, country self can muster up.

We ended up choosing a quiet little beach cabana where we could share a Pilsener. Our favorite beer so far in Ecuador. What we didn’t expect was a small crowd of people willing to dance carefree just as if they were in a club. It was absolutely delightful.

Even though we didn’t hit the dance floor, it was wonderful to witness people dancing for the simple reason that they enjoyed it. We watched a group of 10 – 15 people stay there for a couple hours and they only ordered 1 drink each at most! Watching people dance without inhibition and not under the influence of excessive amounts of alcohol was such a joy. Maybe they have even inspired us to bust a move more often.

Breakfast with a side of Spanish

Even better than the tasty food was the wonderful conversation we had with Rocke. He encouraged me to practice my Spanish with him. Jacob and I spent a couple of hours chatting with Rocke and learning more about Ecuador. So often it is the people you meet that make the destination memorable, and that was definitely the case in Montañita.