| Montañita | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Montanita Beach | |
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Montañita
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Ecuador |
| Province | Santa Elena |
| Canton | Santa Elena |
| Parishes | List of urban parishes |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,000 |
| Time zone | ECT (UTC-5) |
Montañita is a small coastal town located in the province of Santa Elena about 180 kilometers northwest of Guayaquil.[1] Translated as “little hill”, it became famous very slowly, decades ago, as a place only for surfing, with only a few rustic fishermen houses and one or two surfers tent on summer time.[2] Today Montañita is a multicultural beach, with tourists from all over the world.[2]
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Montanita's climate is consistent with that of a tropical, coastal city. Its average temperature is 28°C (82°F), and it undergoes a rainy season from December to May. However, rainfall is low and typically in the evening and overnight.[3] Water temperatures range from 13-20°C (56-68°F).[4]
Montañita's economy is based in tourism, mainly with respect to food service, surfing, and craft sales.[5] High season for tourism peaks in January and hits its low in June. Each February Carnival is held in Montañita. Water sports that draw tourists and locals to Montañita include bodyboarding, scuba diving, water skiing and windsurfing.
Many people from all over the world travel to Montañita and enjoy Surfing. Surfing in Ecuador in Montañita offers strong, consistent waves and good tubes make it a great place for accomplished surfers and challenging for newer surfers. Montañita is an increasingly popular destination on the international surfing circuit.[4] In the summer months wave heights range from 0.3 to 1 meter. In the late fall and winter waves can be as large as 1.5 meters. On occasion, from January to March, waves as large as 2 meters can be seen. Each February during Carnival, Montañita hosts an international surfing competition. [4]
The commune is one of the few beaches in Ecuador in which women frequently go topless, especially European tourists. The main means of transportation are bicycles, pedicabs and the occasional truck, although the streets are mostly pedestrian. In some cases, barter or exchange accepted as a means of payment. Montanita is the only place where marijuana is smoked freely in Ecuador. It is common to hear reggae music on street corners, tropical and hippie, with banners of peace symbols, or the portrait of Che Guevara, John Lennon or Bob Marley.