Ecuador offers a wide range of beaches along its Pacific coast line, with different activities and opportunities for relaxation. You can play volleyball on the beach, go for a walk, swim in the sea or just lie on the beach, drinking natural fruit juice and eating ceviche – a typical dish of shrimps. Whatever you do – you’ll have a good rest here. We can help you with transportation to the beach, reserve your hotel, organize interesting excursions on the way and show you the “must-sees”.

Southwest of Guayaquil there are beach resorts, the most famous, clean and interesting of them are Salinas, Playas and Montañita, while the north and central west areas offer the beaches of Esmeraldas, Atacames, Súa, Same and Puerto López.

Salinas

About 170km from Guayaquil lies the beach of Salinas – Ecuador’s answer to Miami Beach-very swanky, with powdery sand, warm, calm waters and safe swimming in the bay. There are luxury restaurants and bars, up market hotels, discos and shops. It is home to the well-equipped and very exclusive Salinas Yacht Club. Whale-watching, bird-watching and fishing trips can be arranged here. You can also see the collection of naval history and regional archaeology at the Salinas Museum of XXI century life or visit La Chocolatera, a blow hole in the rocky cliffs that has a magnificent spot where wild surf stirs the turquoise waters.

Playas

The closest sandy beach to Guayaquil, heaves with city visitors during the summer time and vacations, and has become a flourishing resort over the last few decades. The beach itself, the main attraction of the area, is extensive and beautiful. You’ll still see fishermen hauling in their nets here, and maybe even spot a couple of the traditional old single-sail balsa rafts typical of the area for many centuries, though most now have been replaced with motor boats. This beach is fairly quiet and makes a good place to escape. If you feel like exploring, you can walk 5km northwest along the beach to the Punta Pelado, a usually deserted stretch of sand backed by rugged cliffs.

Montañita

Montañita is like nowhere else on the southern coast. Everywhere, straw-roofed bamboo-walled hostels and pizzerias are advertised by bright wooden signs. Tanned, chilled-out gringos lounge around in bikinis and shorts, surfers stride up the streets, board under arm. The best waves for surfers fortuitously coincide with the hottest time from January till April, and exceed three meters. Every February surfing fever reaches its peak during the international surfing competition held here over Carnival, and attracts contestants from the USA and Australia.

Esmeraldas

Esmeraldas is a capital of the province and a thriving industrial port, the largest in the north coast, from where bananas, cocoa, citrus fruits and coffee from the lowlands are shipped. The bay is good for swimming. This area is also rich in culture. La Tolita, one of the earliest cultures in Ecuador, developed in this region, so it is home to the most important archaeological site.

Atacames

Located 30km from Esmeraldas, Atacames is one of the favourite beaches of Ecuadorians as well as being the main resort on the north coast. It can become a real 24-hour party town during the high season, from July till September, as well as at weekends and national holidays. In Malecón, the main street of the town, you’ll find the night-time action with salsa, merengue, reggaeton, pop and techno music. The little beachside market offers all you can possibly need, from swimwear to black coral jewellery.

Súa

4km from Atacames a tiny fishing village nestles in a cosy bay-a mosaic of color against the uniform backdrop of the sand. This is a beautiful beach with pelicans and frigate birds overhead when the fishing boat land their catch. Súa is a very quiet and friendly place, especially during the off season.

Same

Of all the resorts of the Atacames area, Same is the most exclusive and the least prone to overcrowding. The beautiful soft beach with clean grey sand is shaded by rows of palms and lapped by a warm sea. Strip away the trappings of the burgeoning tourist industry and Same is a tiny village with little more than a couple of basic shops. This is a perfect place to forget all your everyday troubles.

Puerto López

5km north of Salango, the coast road cuts across the brow of a hill to give you a sudden, splendid view down to Puerto López, a small fishing town strung along a wide, crescent-shaped bay. Tourism is second only to fishing here, with a wide array of hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the many foreign and Ecuadorian visitors who flock here every year during “whale season” – from mid-June to September. Puerto López is known as a whale-watching capital of Ecuador. Also, many visitors are here to explore the park’s beaches, forests and offshore island.  You can also take a trip to Isla de la Plata in a small boat, and there to hike over the island and snorkel from the boat.