If you’re planning on backpacking Ecuador, don’t miss this guide to Montañita! This little has so much to offer: great food, awesome day trip options, one of the best beaches in the whole country, and a ton of options accommodation choices that won’t break your bank. And if you’re looking for a place to party in Ecuador, look no further. No matter what kind of vibe you’re looking for, Montañita should definitely be on any backpacker’s Ecuador itinerary.
Getting to Montañita
Montañita is on the southwestern coast of Ecuador. Getting there might take some time depending on which method you choose, but as one of the countries most popular destinations, you have lot’s of options. Since most backpackers start their trip from the capitol city of Quito, I’ll be basing my directions from there.
By Airplane
A round-trip flight from Quito to Guayaquil will cost between $60-$100, while a one-way will be closer to $35-$65. The flight takes about 45 minutes, and from there you’ll just take a bus onward to Montañita. When you arrive in Guayaquil head over to the bus terminal and find the CLP (Coop Libertad Peninsular) bus company. They offer service to Montañita throughout the day for around $6.00 for the 2-3 hour trip.
By Bus
A bus ticket from Quito to Guayaquil ranges between $11-$20 depending on which company and which route you take. I recommend Transportes Ecuador. They’re closer to the top of that price range, but their buses are very nice. The trip from Quito to Guayaquil will take about 9-10 hours, then an additional couple of hours from Guayaquil to Montañita.
There’s also the option to take a bus straight from Quito to Puerto Lopez which is only about an hour away from Montañita via the bus company Reina del Camino. This option will cost a little bit more, and there are more stops along the route, but in theory, you could shave a couple hours off your travel time using this option.
Where to Stay in Montañita
Finding a place to stay in Montañita couldn’t be easier. As one of Ecuador’s most popular destinations for backpackers, there are lots of options for accommodations. When we were there we knew we wanted something close to the beach with a great atmosphere that wouldn’t break the bank. At $6 for a bunk bed in a shared dorm, Funky Babylon – now rebranded as My Little House Surf & Backpacker Hostel – checked all of those boxes. The rooms were very basic with spotty A/C, but they did provide mosquito nets. And the communal atmosphere and laid back vibe was exactly what we wanted.
But this is far from the only great place to stay in Montañita. Below is a list of other great hostels that you’ll love.
- Kamala Surf & Backpacker Hostel
- $6 for bed in shared dorm
- Located just south of Montañita, but a 20 minute walk along the beach
- Has a pool! (Incredibly rare find)
- Montañita Chill Out House
- $25 for private room with double bed
- Right on the beach
- Great if you want a little more privacy
- Kiwi Hostel Montañita
- $5 for bed in shared dorm
- Very clean rooms, all indoors (No mosquito nets required!)
- Away from the beach, but a great view
Party in Montañita
Stretching all the way from the main road all the way down to the beach is Cocktail Alley. During the day, vendors sell everything from fruit smoothies to ceviche to key chains and hats. But at night, every little stand becomes a full service bar. All the stands have roughly the same things at roughly the same prices, so you’ll never have to wait more than a a minute or two to get yourself a refill. My personal favorite was the Maracuya (Passion fruit) cocktail. If you get one, just be sure to turn away so you don’t see how much sugar and rum they put into that blender! Beware though, at as low as $2-$3 for a strong mixed drink, you’ll be dragging yourself out of bed the next day with a nasty hangover if you aren’t careful.
Day trips from Montañita
Montañita on it’s own can absolutely keep you occupied and happy for days. People from all over the country and beyond flock to Montañita to for the surfing alone. Whether you’re a pro or have never touched a surfboard in your life, you’ll be able to enjoy your days at the beach. Just walk a couple feet in any direction, and you’ll find surfboard rentals, someone selling sunglasses and hats, drink vendors, and pretty much anything else you need.
Or if you want to learn the national language of Ecuador, the spanish schools in Montañita are world class. You can enroll for a week or months at a time depending on how long you’re able to stay in this South American paradise town.
But if you want a break from the party and the surf, there’s lots of things near by to check out.
Isla de la Plata
Sunset in Puerto Lopez
You’ll be back in Montañita well before sunset after your day on Isla de la Plata, but I highly recommend staying in Puerto Lopez for at least one night if you have the extra time. During the day it’s packed with people embarking on various trips and tours from the marina, but after 5:00pm everything slows down. Way down. If you’re there after all the tourists leave, you basically have the town to yourself. You can grab a drink and dinner right there on the beach, and just sit and watch the one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life. When we were there, there was a big group of stray dogs that we’re super friendly and an even bigger group of local children showing off their acrobatic skills using the beach-side gym and a spare tire.
A hostel in Puerto Lopez will be around $10 per night. For about $30 total, my two friends and I got a beautiful private hotel room with A/C overlooking the hotel’s pool.
Los Frailes
If serenity and an unspoiled coastline is what you’re looking for, don’t miss Los Frailes. The beautiful beach is located inside Machalilla National Park and it’s not located inside a town, so you’ll need to arrange a 10 minute bus ride from Puerto Lopez to the park’s entrance which will set you back a whopping $0.50. Once you arrive, you can either walk the 2.5km trail which offers lots of trail shoot offs to various look outs and beaches, or you can ride in a tuk-tuk for about $2.00 and be at the beach in minutes.
Once you arrive at the beach, it’s all soft white sand, a gentle breeze, and gorgeous views everywhere you turn. It’s a crescent shaped beach with cliffs on either end. There’s zero shade though, but you can rent an umbrella for $4.00. The waves are small, so it’s really perfect for families and children of all ages. The park closes at 4:30pm and is very popular on the weekends with locals, so I recommend starting your day with a trip to this stunning beach. I promise you won’t regret it!
If you found this guide to Montañita helpful, be sure to check out my detailed itinerary for Two Weeks in Ecuador!
Excellent read! You have covered a lot of details to plan a trip well. I will definitely return to read this when I plan a trip to this part of the world.
Sounds like you found a nice little Ecuadorian gem! Definitely budget friendly too! Great tips Robby 🙂
If i come to Equador, i will visit Montanita..
Thanks for the detailed guide with lots of experiences..