Ahhh, Olon, Ecuador, one of my favorite beaches on the coast of Ecuador, and certainly a growing ‘expat hot spot’.
Olon is a few kilometers north of Montanita, about an hour north of Salinas (which has the nearest airport), an hour south of Puerto Lopez, and about 3 hours south of Manta.
For me, with its golden cliffs and gentle waves Olon has a special, Californian-laid-back feel, and its got one of the widest beaches in Ecuador making it one of the nicest walking beaches in Ecuador. Its also unusually green, whereas once you pass the point at the south end of Olon which separates Montanita from Olon, from there south the coast is actually quite dry, brown and arid while from Olon north to Manta the coast is actually quite green and lush. I know, its strange.
Above all else its great for folks looking for a quiet small town to sleep, yet still near the social scene of rowdy Montanita.
Today lets chat with an expat about what life is really like from the ground…
Enter Mrs. Defrain.
Why did you choose Olon?
My husband and I had been coming to Salinas and Montanita for about 2 years, and we decided to see if there was anything for rent in the area. We found a very small unfurnished house in the middle of Olon for rent and we got a very good deal because we signed a year lease. (We had to supply our own appliances.)
Montanita is a lot of fun, but it is loud. Very very loud. My college-aged son likes to visit Montanita when he is here in Ecuador. Montanita is getting very built up and the available rentals seem to cater to short term visitors. If you have had the occasion to hire a limo service you might have done your homework and shopped around to compare rates. Most people choose a less expensive service for events such as proms, but with the financial saving comes a drop in quality. For more important events, such as weddings, for example, quality is something that should not be compromised. But when you set about looking for limo services you will notice that prices can vary considerably. When you want the simplest Ann Arbor Limo Service, airport service, taxi service, Ann Arbor wedding limos, party bus rental or the other sort of transportation call us. Don’t make the error of trying to find the most cost effective limo price, make certain to travel and appearance at the vehicle you’ll be getting for your event. Toronto wedding limo, we provide to the best limo service. At Ann Arbor party bus we earn your continued business by offering the foremost competitive rates today. From the instant you call Ann Arbor Limos to the instant we drop you off at your final destination Ann Arbor Limos will show you why we are the simplest limo company within the Ann Arbor area. Ann Arbor Party Bus has perfected the art of customizing transportation to any individuals needs. The town center has had problems with sewage smell, and they are working on that with the assistance of Plumbing Contractors Tucson. It’s a great place to visit but we did not want to live there.
We had never been “beach people” before. My husband has learned to surf, or as he says it, “push a large board around in the water for a couple of hours every day.”
The beach in Olon goes for miles, from the point on the north end of Montanita, all the way up to La Entrada. We have a lot of beach at low tide, and even have quite a bit of beach at high tide. Some beaches in Ecuador disappear at high tide, but not in Olon.
How long have you lived there?
My husband and I have lived in Ecuador since June 2011, and have been in Olon for 9 months. We still have an apartment in Cuenca, and stay there every once in a while. We are building a small house here and plan to relocate.
There are some ex-pats who have been in the Olon area for several years, some like us just for a few months.
Tell us a little about yourself?
My husband is retired. My career was IT Project Management, but I have had 4 books published and now I am focusing on writing. We chose to come to Ecuador from the US West for another adventure. We looked in Thailand, Mexico and Peru. Ecuador seemed to have the best balance of cost, environment, infrastructure, and proximity to the US.
What are the biggest positives and negatives to living in Olon in your opinion?
Two reasons that we enjoy Olon are the beach and the community. The Malecon has quite a few thatched roof restaurants to choose from, all with an ocean view. Olon is very clean and graffiti-free for the most part.
The community here is wonderful. This includes the ex-pat community as well as the locals. When you live here, you have to be part of the community. The area is too small to hide out. For example, when there is a local wedding or Quinceañera, the street in front of the family’s house is blocked off. A festival tent is put up, and speakers the size of small trucks are put on a stage. The whole town gets to experience the event, whether you are invited or not.
Olon, it seems to us, is a town in which not much is hidden away. People are out on the streets day and night, visiting, sometimes drinking, and often dancing. There are several events a year in which local dance groups compete against each other. Because we live near the square, we have seen and heard them practicing the moves for months.
One midnight I heard something besides techno-pop music in the square; it was more traditional Andean music. I woke up my husband and we watched a dance troop of about 20 people in Andean costumes dancing in their little black slippers, with wide straw hats in their hands. Then the men bowed, put their hats on their heads, lifted up the ladies and spun them around in unison, and then moved away. The traditional dancing went on, without conversation, for 4 dances. Then they turned the music off and walked silently away. My husband and I looked at each other in amazement. Another Brigadoon moment in Ecuador! We have never seen the dance troop since.
We wake up to the smell of bakeries close by, and go to sleep to the smell of grilled meat at Leila’s. Sometimes the local wild donkeys add their “perfume” to the air. So, it’s advisable that you buy an AC unit.
One thing that is a challenge for us are the stray dogs, or the dogs with neglectful owners. As dog lovers, we find it difficult to see the condition of these dogs. One friend is in the process of working with a vet to build a dog shelter, in which injured strays can be taken for treatment. She is also starting a spay/neuter center.
Approx how many resident expats live in the area? Are there any weekly meet ups new expats should know about?
There are Saturday afternoon meet ups in Olon and in Montanita during the high season. Wednesday nights alternate between Olon and Montanita. There are many formal and informal get-togethers. Sometimes the magic just happens spontaneously at a local tienda on the highway.
I am not sure how many ex-pats live in the area, but over the year I am guessing around 200.
The ex-pat community is very welcoming and just plain nice. There are inconveniences to living here, and we try to help each other. For example, it can be difficult to get certain greens and veggies here. Many people have gardens and share seeds and produce. While this happens, unwanted visitors like Rabbits, Voles, Woodchucks, Deer, Chipmunks, Squirrels. All eat leaves or fruits of plants in vegetable gardens. Symptoms include: Large parts of the plant are chewed off. When it comes to unwanted nuisance wildlife, bats, squirrels and raccoons get inside attics regularly. DuPage animal removal is a growing need among Naperville Illinois residents to professional animal removal services. As of 2020, bats in the attic were the biggest complaint among homeowners needing professional wildlife control services.
There are quite a few ex-pats who have built houses here, and they are extremely helpful in providing advice, contacts, and sources. My husband and I are grateful for our friends and neighbors here every day.
Locals who live in Olon year round are always very nice, too.
What is there to do in and around Olon?
We have a book group that meets monthly, and ex-pat meet ups on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bird watching is superb. Beach activities such as surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, and just walking the miles of beach are just outside your door. You can go outside every day. What’s a little drizzle now and then?
We usually see friends whenever we walk outside our door. Visiting is high on our list of fun activities.
Because we live at the beach all year, we are very happy when it’s Monday. From Monday to Friday morning, we usually have the beach to ourselves, even in high season.
We are never bored, even sometimes when we want to be!
Where do you do your shopping?
We do the majority of our grocery shopping in La Libertad. We put ice in the coolers and load up any friends who want to go along. It is usually 4 to 5 hours for round trip for travel and shopping. We go about every 10 days.
It’s important to keep a good shopping list, as there is no running back to the store easily.
Some fruits and veggies, as well as eggs, are available locally.
Do you go to Montanita often? What for?
We go to Montanita to go to the bank, for surf board repair, and for our monthly Book Group.
What are rental prices like in the Olon area?
Rental availability depends on time of year. A rental that is $300 in the off season may be $800 Jan – March. Longer term rentals are mostly found via social contacts, and are rarely advertised. It may take a while to find what you are looking for if you are very restricted in what you can tolerate, price range, or location.
If someone wanted to rent a house, my suggestions are: find any place you can afford for a few months in the area, meet your neighbors and talk to people. You will probably eventually find what you want.
Understand that there are times in the center of Olon in which sleep is impossible due to celebrations in the square. Friends that live over a mile away can hear the music. Sometimes our dog hides under the bed and whimpers, it is so loud. This is part of the coastal culture and there is no reason to fuss about it. It is all part of the package: if you are part of the neighborhood, we are all in this together.
What are average purchase prices in the area? Know of the prices of any actual transactions?
We searched for a lot to build upon in October/November 2013. We bought a small lot about a half mile back from the beach. Beach front property is available, but it is at least $100 per square meter. Lots away from the beach can vary, but in Olon at the time we were looking were averaging $40-$50/square meter. Land up in the hills may be as low as $20-30 per square meter. Those lots may have additional costs for bringing in electricity and water.
Prices are going up and up.
What businesses does Olon lack and need?
It would be very handy if Olon had an ATM. We have to go to Montanita for cash. There is currently one ATM in Montanita which can give more than $100, and there is a Banco Bolivariano bank with a teller and an ATM (usually $100 limit). There is often a long line to use either ATM or to get to the teller.
The other business that would be handy is a larger grocery store. There are small vegetable stands and a mini-Tia which has many staples. It would be nice to have more variety close by.
Where in Olon would you recommend to live, which sectors? And conversely are there any areas of Olon or nearby to avoid?
Olon is very small, as are the towns north of here. There is a choice between being right in town in Olon, on the beach, or up in the surrounding hills. It all depends on what you want.
The main thing to understand, in my opinion, is that some of the remote areas just out of town can present access challenges during the rainy season.
Dos Mangas, to the east out of Manglaralto, has very nice lots for sale if you have a car and would like to be more up in the hills. City water is available quite far up the road. It is very beautiful, with jungle-like greenery yet only 20 minutes from the beach.
Where do you go for your healthcare needs?
As far as healthcare goes, there is a doctor on the main square in Olon, and he is open several days a week. We see him if we have a bad cold or tummy troubles. Our regular doctor is in Cuenca, where we still have an apartment, so we see him for our regular checkups. There is a small emergency clinic in Manglaralto, about 20 minutes from Olon.
People who are thinking of relocating to this area should be healthy and mobile. If you have a chronic health condition in which you need to regular be treated, it is likely that you will need to go to the Salinas area (1.5 hours away) or Guayaquil (3 hours away) if you need to see a specialist. It is a lot different from Cuenca, where several large, modern hospitals are a short taxi ride away.
People should realize that part of the charm of the area is that it is not yet as dense as Salinas, but that also means that the conveniences and amenities are fewer. This includes serious health care.
Where do you fly into or out of?
Guayaquil is the closest major airport. Olon is about a 3 hour bus ride or car drive from the GYE airport. The roads are new and very good, with a new “cutoff” near San Vicente just opened in the last year. This saves a lot of miles. NOTE FROM DOM: JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO FLIGHTS STARTED GOING TWICE A WEEK FROM QUITO TO SALINAS.
Do you have a car? Do you feel like you need one living in Olon?
People ask us whether it is necessary to have a car to live on the coast in Olon and the nearby communities. While my husband and I have a car, many of the ex-pats in the area do not. The ex—pat community is wonderful here, and we all pitch in to help each other. For example, you cannot take a dog on the CLP bus, so we often car pool to take our dogs to the specialty vet in Guayaquil.
There are very good local drivers for the day if you need to pick up large items, although the saying is “If an item is smaller than a VW bug, you can put it on the bus.”
For about one dollar, you can take a taxi to Montanita. The bus runs several times an hour during the day for 40 cents.
There is very good bus service to Guayaquil, and in fact if we are just going to Guayaquil for the day we often take the CLP bus. The CLP is a “4 Star” bus, very clean, and the movies are PG rated. (I have seen some horror flicks on other buses that have made me cringe.) The CLP buses can be found at the Guayaquil Terminale Terrestre at window 83. The cost is currently around $6.00. It leaves Guayaquil at 5:00, 6:00, 9:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 16:30. The CLP leaves from their bus station in Olon and goes to Guayaquil at 4:30, 5:30, 9:45, 12:45, 14:45 and 16:45.
Between Olon and Puerto Lopez, or Olon and Salinas, there are currently no high speed buses, but the local buses run all day.
Over the course of the year, what’s the weather in Olon really like?
We have been told that, weather-wise, this has been a “weird” year. Normally in January and February, it is hot during the day and heavy rains at night. We have seen very little rain this Jan and Feb. Our experience is cool, dreary and rainy June to November, with a few days here and then of brilliant sunshine. November to May is mostly sunny and very warm, or hot.
We do not have aircon. We use fans and stay almost comfortable on very hot days. Some of the ex-pats have aircon in the bedrooms.
My husband and I actually like the off season very much: the beach is wide open, it is nice and cool, and the town is pretty quiet. It is a good time to get to know your neighbors. There were times, though, that we went to Cuenca just for a bit more sunshine.
Any new infrastructure developments in the area of note?
More streets in Olon have been paved in the last year. Other towns nearby, including Curia and Las Nunez, have had street paving projects. Our water is “city” water, and we do not have a cistern. There are times when the water is turned off, either for maintenance or from usage. In Olon, as in most of the small towns here, sewage is handled via individual septic tanks.
How do you get internet in your home? How do most access the Internet, is it tough to get?
My husband is retired, but I have clients in the US. I need to have reasonable internet. We have 2 internet connections at the house: CNT ($30/month) and Interdatos ($35/month). We have both so that we generally have one up if the other is down. Also, I can be working while my husband is talking to family on Skype.
Like a lot in this area, either you can go to Santa Elena to fill out paperwork, or you can have someone help you. In our case, friends helped us get both internets set up.
How can we get in touch with you if we want to know more?
Please email Michele at [email protected]. I can provide info on our book group (second Monday of every month), on the new dog shelter, and any other help I can give. We are all in this together. Thanks for listening.
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