If you’re used to surfing in the US, Ecuador is going to be paradise for you. Ecuador is what Costa Rica was 20 years ago. Rugged. Beautiful. Raw. Almost devoid of surfers.
The waves and beaches are similar in style to southern California. Here is a rundown of all the surf highlights of Ecuador:
Atacames
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: Fun beach town just south of Esmeraldas best when Quito has 3 day weekends.
Mompiche
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: Virgin, green area with empty waves, cheap accommodations, during Oct-Nov quite a few mosquitos though.
Pedernales
Swell: SW/ N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Jan-Mar
Notes: Interesting little beach town with an almost Brazilian feel. Few tourists, even fewer surfers, but I like Mompiche and nearby Canoa waves better.
Canoa
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: One of the top surf spots in Ecuador, and with MUCH fewer surfers on the waves than more popular Montanita.
Manta – El Murcielago
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Jan-Apr
Notes: Fun city with good nightlife, dry landscape, decent waves but often windblown…decent but better surf can be had further south in Ayampe or Montanita.
Puerto Cayo
Swell: NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: One of my favorite breaks in Ecuador…almost always nearly empty of surfers or tourists. Undiscovered.
Ayampe
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: Undiscovered little pueblo. A couple good accommodation options. Some days have unbelievable surf, other days can get quite wind blown.
Montanita
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: The party, backpacker hippie town of Ecuador. Just recently prices starting to rise due to demand but great place to surf for a couple weeks by day, drink by night. Waves always decent. Bigger in Jan-Feb. Only place in Ecuador where there are substantial line ups and waits for waves.
Mar Bravo Beach: Salinas
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: right
Best months: Dec-May
Notes: Undiscovered. Empty waves, decent rights, can get big during season. Within short taxi ride from Salinas.
El Faro: Playas
Swell: S / SW
Category: Point break
Wave: right
Best months: Jan-Feb
Notes: Undiscovered. Surrounded by lots of other good breaks in the Playas area, watch out for the rocks on the paddle out though.
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