From Guayaquil to my Beloved Montanita

(Beginning MARCH2009) Driving along the coast of the Ecuadorian ocean, beach town after beach town passes by the taxicab window, all of them seeming to meld into the next in one continuous pattern. But there is one beach town that surpasses the rest; it stands out in its livelihood, its beauty, its tiny small-town charm. The town is Montanita, or little mountain in Spanish, its beach in a cove that produces waves so perfect for surfing that Reef holds its surfing competitions there. 

The town consists of one main road, with different themed hostels embracing the outside world as their restaurants have no doors or windows, but rather blend into the sand streets. There are maybe a few hundred locals that inhabit the town, most are surfers or own small shops around the town. Every few feet a surf shop can be seen amidst the hostels, along with tables set up in the streets as the locals sell beautifully crafted jewelry, pipes, and other trinkets when the do not catch the surf. 

Arriving at night, the town was alive and thriving, each of the hostel’s restaurants/bars in full swing into the night. All of the buildings opened out onto the streets, embracing in full acceptance the sand that was bound to blow from the streets onto the floors there. Finding our hostel, Tiki Limbo, we walked to the front desk where we were warmly accepted by Ketty, who would soon become one of our friends along with the other members of the staff. Tiki Limbo was made from bamboo, with palm-tree thatched roofing, and a comfortable common room complete with hammocks located on the second floor that opened offered a view of the ocean, and the rooms were clean and cozy. 

Its friendly inhabitants, perfect sunsets and lazy-beach town charm captured my heart in a way that no other place in the world has yet to accomplish. Someday I hope to live there while working on my surfing skills.