This beautiful village near the coast of Ecuador hosts many happy backpackers, surfers and yogis
We got this question a lot! It might be an easy guess for the people who know a little bit of spanish. Montaña means "mountain" and "-ita" means it's a little mountain. This name refers to the hillside this village was built on.
The little city is located at the west-coast of Ecuador. Just between the two larger cities "La Libertad" in the south and "Manta" in the north. It's just a two hour busride from Guayaquil.
Or you might question what you can do? Montañita has been living for surfing and parties many years now. But that's not the only reason travelers pass through this town! It's a great stop to visit nature, make a diving trip or just enjoy some local nature. We wrote a small guide on the surroundings to help you around.
When you stop by, try one of the local dishes in town. Around these areas in Latin America we eat three famous dishes. The first is Ceviche, a seafood soup that originates from Peru. It is mixed up with citric fruits, giving the dish a very fresh taste. Second is Encebollado. Ecuadorians really love their soups. This dish is a soup or a stew made with onions casava and often with a lot of cilantro. Third is Arroz con Menstra. They serve this rice-dish typically with both fish or pork. Try all these three dishes if you want the full experience! When passing through town, remember the following names: THE WAVE CAFE - the best coffee and a fusion cuisine PAPILLON RESTAURANT - national and fusion food CAÑA GRILL RESTAURANT - probably the most cultural place in town
The village ranges perfectly for tight budget to big spenders. For people on a tight budget it's already possible to score a breakfast in the street for $2. This offers pancakes, wraps, eggs and fruits. If you're heading out for lunch, you can find small restaurants offering you soup, a main dish and juice for $3. Remember we also include breakfast already in our roomprice! Renting a surfboard is always between $5 and $10 depending on the season. You can find shared hostel rooms in this town from $8 to $12 in high season and from $6 to $10 in low season.
Yes, we absolutely think so. As opposed to the bigger cities, Montañita is a smaller community and has always been living together peacefully. We've got a police station at the edge of town if needed. There have not been many reports of problems in town. That said, we would recommend to be most cautious around the party areas. Drunk people and flashing jewelry can always attract opportunists from the bigger cities. Hence we would always advise you not to stroll around the beach by night (since there will be no one to watch you) and be especially aware during large party seasons in town.
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