Surf spots in Montañita
4 spots within 17 km of Montañita: 3 beach breaks, 1 point break. 1 suit beginners.
Live forecasts for every spot →
Best spots today in Montañita
- Intermediate: Montañita (Epic, 0.9–1.3 m, onshore around 08:00), Olón (Fair, 0.7–1.1 m, onshore around 18:00), La Punta (Montañita) (Fair, 0.6–1 m, cross-shore around 09:00)
- Beginners: Olón (Good, 0.7–1.1 m, onshore around 18:00), Montañita (Fair, 0.9–1.3 m, onshore around 08:00)
- Advanced: Montañita (Fair, 0.9–1.3 m, onshore around 08:00)
Forecast updated 21 Oct, 15:51 UTC.
The spots
- Montañita · beach break, intermediate, best on S/SW/W swell with E/NE wind, mid tide. Ecuador's best-known surf town, with a beach break in front of the village and a right-hand point at its north end. Popular with learners and travelling surfers.
- La Punta (Montañita) · point break, intermediate, best on NW/W/SW swell with NE/E wind, mid tide. The right point breaks off the rocky headland at the north end of Montañita beach, over reef and sand. NW swells from December to April link the outside and inside…
- Olón · beach break, beginner, best on NW/W/SW swell with E/NE wind, low to mid tide. The long sand beach in front of Olón village, under 4 km north of Montañita, takes the same swells with far fewer surfers. Peaks move with the sandbars; locals rate the…
- Ayampe · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/W/SW swell with E/ENE wind, mid to high tide. Ayampe village sits at a river mouth on the Manabí side of the border, about 30 minutes north of Montañita, with open sand facing west. Waves break fast and often close…
When to surf in Montañita
Good days per month for intermediate surfers; tap a month for where else to surf then.
Best months for intermediate surfers: March to June. For beginners: March to April. The water goes from about 24 °C in November (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 28 °C in March (Boardshorts / rash vest). Best-known spots: La Punta (Montañita). 1 of the 4 spots suit beginners, such as Olón.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 °C |
| Feb | 3 | 0 | 2 | 27 °C |
| Mar | 13 | 2 | 8 | 28 °C |
| Apr | 13 | 4 | 8 | 27 °C |
| May | 16 | 3 | 5 | 26 °C |
| Jun | 14 | 2 | 2 | 26 °C |
| Jul | 10 | 0 | 0 | 26 °C |
| Aug | 9 | 1 | 1 | 25 °C |
| Sep | 7 | 0 | 0 | 26 °C |
| Oct | 5 | 0 | 0 | 25 °C |
| Nov | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 °C |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 °C |
Days per month at the best third of the 4 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Lessons and boards in Montañita
Many surf schools, boards easy to rent. Established names include Montañita Spanish School. Lessons: about EUR 45 for a 2-hour lesson with hotel pick-up booked through an agency; about USD 80 a week for five 1.5-hour lessons as a Spanish-school add-on. Rental: about USD 5 an hour or USD 15 a day from shops in town and on the beach. Beginners use the beach break between the point and the town centre (the point itself is for experienced surfers), the water is warm enough for a rash vest, and many instructors speak mainly Spanish.
Prices change; check with the school. Sources: Wikivoyage – Montañita, Linguaschools – Spanish and surf in Montañita, Civitatis – Surf lesson in Montañita.
Staying in Montañita
- Car
- Not needed: The village is small and walkable, the beginner beach break is in front of town and La Punta is about 1 km north, and taxis to Olón cost a couple of dollars.
- Remote work
- OK: Most hostels and cafés have wifi, but speeds vary, power cuts are reported and the party noise is a problem, so many remote workers base themselves in quieter Olón; no currently open coworking space could be verified.
- Travelling solo
- Montañita draws many solo backpackers, but UK government advice reports serious sexual assaults against foreign women there and drink spiking in Ecuador, so choose well-reviewed, secure accommodation, buy your own drinks, avoid walking alone at night or on the dark beach, and avoid travelling after dark.
- Vibe
- A small, bohemian party village where Cocktail Alley and the bars run until dawn, with a crowded point at La Punta and a beginner beach break, and much quieter Olón and Ayampe nearby.
- Where to stay
- Stay in the north part of town near La Punta for the surf and less noise, or in Olón, about 10 minutes north, for quiet; the town centre is the loudest.
- Getting there
- Fly into Guayaquil (GYE), then take a CLP bus from the nearby bus terminal (about 3 hours, around US$7); after about 9 pm only taxis run.
- Budget
- $ (cheap)
- Busy and quiet months
- Carnival in February is the busiest and most expensive time, with hotels full, and December–April is high season on the coast, while September and October are usually the cheapest months.
From travel guides, government travel advice and nomad sites (Montañita – Wikivoyage, Montanita Ecuador – Where in the World is Nina, Montañita surf guide – Bus Hop, Ecuador safety and security – GOV.UK). Check current conditions before you travel.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Montañita?
The best-known are La Punta (Montañita), Montañita, Ayampe, Olón. In all, 4 spots lie within 17 km: 3 beach breaks, 1 point break.
Where can beginners surf in Montañita?
Olón: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Montañita?
For intermediate surfers March to June. For beginners March to April.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Montañita?
The sea goes from about 24 °C in November (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 28 °C in March (Boardshorts / rash vest).
Do I need a car to surf in Montañita?
No. The village is small and walkable, the beginner beach break is in front of town and La Punta is about 1 km north, and taxis to Olón cost a couple of dollars.
Can I work remotely from Montañita?
Most hostels and cafés have wifi, but speeds vary, power cuts are reported and the party noise is a problem, so many remote workers base themselves in quieter Olón; no currently open coworking space could be verified.
Are there surf schools and board rental in Montañita?
Many surf schools, boards easy to rent. Lessons: about EUR 45 for a 2-hour lesson with hotel pick-up booked through an agency; about USD 80 a week for five 1.5-hour lessons as a Spanish-school add-on. Rental: about USD 5 an hour or USD 15 a day from shops in town and on the beach.