I’m finally sharing my adventure to South American, Montanita, Ecuador with all of you! This trip was such a great experience for Dan and I. We fell in love with the culture and the people. Montanita is a village on Ecuador’s Santa Elena Peninsula and is known for it’s beautiful beaches. It has a strong surfer atmosphere and a Bohemian vibe.
Montanita waves attract so many surfers from everywhere. It’s so nice to wake up in the morning and hear the waves crash, while we walk down to grab a coconut drink. Everywhere you walk you will be captivated by the sights of carts carrying fresh fruit.
At night Montanita turns into a party. People love to live life in their village. On any give night, you’ll find several dance clubs playing loud techno music into the streets. The party will continue at the beach where you will find local DJs spin house music. Flyers around town promote all-night raves. The bars stay open until 4am in the morning and bonfires light up the beach with music playing, as the waves crash on shore. What an experience!
As for the culture, I really fell in love with the people and environment. It’s such a layback town which will make you feel like a hippie. I met people that live in Montanita that were from Argentina, Chile and Venezuela.
I wasn’t disappointed with the food. This town is known for good fried seafood and fresh ceviche. I also really enjoyed their fried bananas served with avocado, lime and onions.
The beach was so nice, especially when we went into for a swim. The water was warm and I just sat on the shore and had the waves just crash against my body. I felt like I was 5 years old playing in the sand again. I think this was my fondest memory.
We also traveled to another beach called Salinas. It was 0ne and a half hours away by taxi and was really beautiful. Salinas is more of a city vibe and reminded me a little of Waikiki, Hawaii.
Overall the cost of are trip was really affordable. You could get lodging at a hostel for $11 a night or rent a Airbnb luxury suite for $1800 for the week. We always ate well and never exceeded a bill over $40 including drinks for two. I would have loved to stay there for another week.
This town will leave you feeling blessed and wanting more of Montanita. So if you are looking for a vacation spot, I highly recommend Montanita, Ecuador. You will fall in love. Thank you for stopping by!
