Ecuador

Ecuador is a diverse South American country located between Columbia and Peru on the pacific coast of the South American continent. Ecuador was ranked in the top ten countries in the world for Adventure Tourism since it is a small country but has four main geographical areas all of which offer an excellent adventure. Ecuador is about the size of California with a population of 12 million mostly residing in the cities. The four main geographical areas are the Sierra, Coastal Plain, Jungle or Oriente and the Galapagos Islands.

The Sierra of Ecuador consists of a series of Volcanoes reaching as high as 23,000 feet above sea level. There are great for mountain climbing, mountain biking, horse riding and general adventure. Quito, the Capital City of Ecuador, is a perfect place to start your adventure if you are interested in Mountain Sports. Quito Ecuador is located on the Equator 9000 feet above sea level. It is a very beautiful colonial city with new modern areas and lots of museums, bars, disco techs, hotels and hostels, and travel agencies. Generally speaking Quito is a very cool city with a lot to offer the traveler. We recommend taking it easy the first day you arrive since it is at 9000 feet. A hangover after the first night out can really be devastating. Regarding the weather in Quito you can expect cool days and nights and very sunny days with cool nights. The weather is extremely unpredictable make sure you bring warm clothes even though it looks sunny. Quito and in general all throughout Ecuador it can be dangerous walking at night through the cities so I recommend taking taxis at night even if you a short distance from your hotel.

The Coastal plain of Ecuador has dry areas and jungle areas. It has great surfing throughout the year but the best months for wind and general weather conditions are from December through May. The main tourist route starts in Guayaquil and travels through the towns of Playas, Salinas, Montanita, Manta, Bahia de Caraquez and finally Esmeraldas. Each beach town in Ecuador has its own flavor. Playas is a truly Ecuadorian beach town with balsa fishing boats, seafood markets, kiosks on the beach and lots of Ecuadorian Tourists. Salinas with its high rise hotels and boardwalk offers a feel of a more developed tourism zone that caters the tourists seeking five star hotels.

Montanita is a surf town located at the beginning of the coastal jungle. Just a few years ago Montanita was a small village. Over the last few years however Montanita has been developing hotel and restaurant infrastructure and now offers a fun, party, surf vibe that brings a whole mix of international tourists. Montanita is truly the Ecuadorian surf capital offering one of the best surf spots in South America and probably the most consistant. Montanita breaks on all swell directions, gets tons of swell, and in general is good almost everyday. There is a point area and a beachbreak area directly south of the point.

Manta is small port city located halfway up the coast highway on the Ecuadorian coast. It’s a cool city with nice beaches but it’s more of a city vibe. High rise apartments, fishing boats, and lots of services such as banks, supermarkets, restaurants, etc…. It has all the comforts of a city.

Bahia de Caraquez is a smaller version of Manta but much more quaint. It has a free anchorage for traveling sailers and therefore is home to many sailboats. Its has the high rise apartments also but feels more like a small town where everybody knows each other. There is a fairy which crosses the bay to take you into the northern Manabi Province which will then lead you into Esmeraldas.

Esmeraldas is some of the most beautiful scenery in Ecuador offering very tropical beaches. However, it has the danger vibe to it that never really lets you relax. I recommend visiting but I prefer the vibe of the fisherman in the provinces of Manabi and Guayas to the vibe in Esmerladas.