The famous town of Montañita is located on the coast of Ecuador in the northern part of the newly province of Santa Elena 200 km away Guayaquil city. The town name comes because it is located in a cove surrounded by little hills (montañitas in Spanish) and due to the vegetation that reaches the shore of the ocean. Today Montañita is tourist hot spot. Domestic and foreign surfers are attracted for its perfect waves reaching up to 2.5m in good swells.
Montañita is peaceful comunity, with a bohemian touch which you can check after walking through the streets filled up with all kinds of bars, casual restaurants, craft vendors, campfire at sunset, surf lessons, and foreigners of various nationalities partying around.
Their habitants:
Locals use to live of fishing, and farming, but the main source of income nowadays is by far, tourism.
This village has a community status, like several fishing-villages in the coastal area of Ecuador. It is administered and run by an assembly of cooperated settlers. Although the state limits greatly the real power of the coastal communities, Montañita due to its abandonment by the authorities, to preserve the ancestral community structures and now because of the large flow of money coming from tourism, enjoy a somewhat broader autonomy than other communities.
Tourism:
In the 1960s, the place became a meeting point of usually foreign people, linked or inspired by the hippie movement and other alternative movements for fun, rest and to be in close contact with nature. At that time there was an enormous affinity between the alternative life of these visitors-both domestic and foreign- and the structure, community organization and autonomy of the village.
Montañita’s architecture is mainly costal-like rustic, based on bamboo or wood structure with straw roofs but with excellent accommodations with hot water and private bathrooms.
Today the landscape of this beach has changed by the arrival of lighting, public sewer and paved streets even though you can still find a few visitors with alternative lifestyles or subcultural lifestyle.
Gastronomy:
Montañita has many places to eat, and restaurants specializing in:
- Typical Ecuadorian Coastal food
- BBQ
- Vegetarian Food
- Pizza places
- International Food
- Bakeries
Some of the restaurants offer vegetarian dishes
Beach season:
During the Ecuadorian sunny season (November to April), Montañita welcomes tourists from all over the world. It is an ideal surfing place. Every Year Surf championships are held here sponsored by Ecuadorian and international companies and major brands.