Like flat oceans good for swimming?
Or maybe rockin’ waves?
How about lush green jungle right to the water’s edge?
Or dry-as-a-bone landscapes with low humidity?
For such a small country, the Ecuador coast has it all… so where should you begin?
Here are my top picks…
flat ocean good for swimming, snorkeling– Salinas, Ayangue, Punta Blanca
surf towns/ good waves– Montanita, Ayampe, Playas, Canoa, Mompiche
Sunniest beaches– San Clemente, Playas
wide, flat beaches good for walking– Playas, Olon, Atacames, Muisne
scuba / hand gliding / kiteboarding / fishing– Ayangue (scuba), Canoa, Crucita (hand gliding), Santa Marianita (kite boarding), Salinas (fishing)
green, lush right up to water edge– Olon, Ayampe, Jama, Mompiche, Muisne, Same, Puerto Cayo
dry, brown, low humidity and less mosquitos– Salinas, Playas, Punta Blanca, Ballenita, Santa Marianita, Manta, Crucita, Machalilla, Cadeate, Valdivia
Quiet spots near the action and shopping– Ballenita, Crucita, Manglaralto, Olon, Canoa, Atacames, Tonsupa
Bigger cities with health care– Salinas+ Santa Elena, Manta, Esmeraldas, Bahia, Pedernales
White sand beaches– Playa Rosada, Muisne, Atacames, Tortuga Bay (Galapagos), Isabela Island (Galapagos)
Palm tree forests to waters edge– Cojimes, Muisne
Established expat community– Salinas, Olon, Puerto Lopez, Manta, Crucita, San Clemente-San Jacinto, Bahia
Off the beaten track/ no foreigners– La Libertad, Chanduy, Palmar, Valdivia, La Entrada, Tunas, Pedernales, Cojimes, Muisne, Esmeraldas
People watch/ women in bikinis, men in thongs/ party towns– Montanita, Canoa, Atacames
Beachfront condos in highrises– Salinas, Manta, Bahia, Tonsupa
Large lots of vacant beach land– Jama area, Cojimes, Muisne
Gated beach communities– Manta area, Salinas area
Beachfront property on smaller lots– Same, San Clemente-San Jacinto, Ballenita, Cadeate, Canoa
Bird and wildlife watching– Isla de la Plata (Puerto Lopez), Everywhere in Galapagos
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