Ecuador is better recognized to host the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and the Galapagos Islands. Its extensive Pacific coastline has the best beaches in South America that will make you mesmerized. In other words, Ecuador is really a small town most abundant in fantastic offerings for most people.
The country also offers impressive beach towns which range from the quiet beach towns like Muisine to the busy coastal resort regions of Salinas. This small yet vibrant country provides you with unlimited options to suit your needs. Besides, you'll enjoy its beautiful climate, sand dunes, surf, and remarkable ocean-side amenities. So, here are the 8 best beaches in Ecuador.
Playa de Olon
Undoubtedly among the best beaches in Ecuador, huge, clean, quiet. You can view a variety of birds or just relax watching the horizon.
From Monday to Friday it is quiet, on weekends it gets crowded, but there's always a location to rest. The very best comes at the end of your day, once the sun sets over the sea, it's beautiful and indescribable.
With a Gulf of mexico with warm waters as well as an attractive range of bars and restaurants around the beach offering cocktails and good music, this beach has everything to have a wonderful time.
In addition, Playa de Olon is an extremely quiet place where one can stay and eat at reasonable prices, so if you're lucky you can watch whales in the beach!… it’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Salinas Beach
Salinas starts our list as one of Ecuador’s best and many extensive beaches. You will find this resort area with many beaches like Chipipe Beach, San Lorenzo Beach, General Villamil Beach, and more.
Being a number to the ISA World Junior Surfing competitions, Salinas beach stands as one of the most popular beaches in the country. Additionally, it’s the place to find several upmarket yacht clubs and attracts many visitors worldwide.
The beach is in Santa Elena province, the westernmost part of the city, which boasts plenty of hotels, shops, and well-equipped rentals, which makes it a suitable option for beachgoers. With a proximal location to the city of Guayaquil and also the Jose Joaquin de Olmeda Airport terminal, getting to this fantastic beach is quite simple.
Los Frailes Beach
The stunning Los Frailes Beach sits in Machalilla National Park and lies north of Puerto Lopez. This protected and perfect beach is an of Ecuador’s best and many beautiful beaches. It provides a curving bay, blue waters, yellow sand, and the lavish greenery from the forested park behind it.
You’ll find this secluded beach thrilling and very peaceful to walk along its golden sands. Because of the rocky cliffs and hills engrossed in trees, the scenery is also incredible.
Although it is often deserted, Los Frailes Beach can occasionally get busy on weekends. That’s because most people love spending their free weekends there. Besides, the beach offers incredible roads allowing easy access by bus and even water taxi.
If you like watching wildlife, this beach can be a suitable choice. It neighbors the Machalilla National Park, which offers a home to lovely natural insights. You’ll enjoy walking on some excellent paths and trails which will make you more quiet beaches and incredible lookouts within the long Pacific Ocean.
The beach neighbors Isla de Plata boasts a colony of sea lions and frigate birds to savor watching. It’s a great beach to visit due to its accessibility and affordability.
Montanita Beach
Beach parties are always exciting so if you feel planning to get one, try Montanita beach for any memorable experience. It's been a favorite option for backpackers and surfers for a long time, and you can rest assured you’ll possess the best moment of your life.
Moreover, the beach sits within the southwestern part of the Santa Elena province, and it’s only around 175km from Guayaquil. Interestingly, its shoreline pulses with the songs overflowing in the beach’s restaurants and bars.
The beach is another wonderful spot for yoga and is best known as an excellent surfing spot in Latin America. You’ll love swimming within the crystal clear blue waters and traveling in the huge waves of this incredible beach. The beach also has a large number of hotels and restaurants, meaning you’ll possess the option to explore and dine delicious foods.
If you are searching for a quieter or less busy destination to enjoy watching the sun rising or setting down, Montanita Beach ought to be an ideal choice. You may also learn Spanish in the Montanita Spanish School and immerse yourself from our culture of the Ecuador people.
Canoa Beach
Canoa Beach is likely to be Ecuador’s prime spot to spend time, surf, as well as for yoga. It provides a hippy set, and you’ll see dream catchers hanging on vans filled with surfboards and wooden street stalls, ready to ride elsewhere if the waves aren’t good.
Situated in the Manabi area, southwest from the Pacific Coast, this beach extends to over 17km from San Vicente. That makes it a long sandy beach in Ecuador, and you’ll think it is very gentle-sloping and expansive sandy. Consequently, it is a perfect location for relaxing or paragliding in the thermal winds.
The local hotels offer professional gear for experienced fliers or tandem instructor flights. In addition, you’ll find small guesthouses lining the beach. If you’re planning to visit Canoa Beach during the holidays, be sure you book ahead of time because it often gets busy during such times.
With the beach’s blue waters and impressive cliffs that border the beach, you’ll enjoy some beautiful scenery while you relax. Besides, the massive waves that pound the coastline provide a brilliant spot for surfing.
Its area has a lot to offer compared to beach. For instance, you can study about sustainable agriculture in the Rio Muchacho sustainable farm or have a horse ride. If you are interested in surfing, head to the Canoa Surf Academy and take surfing lessons.
Ayangue
Featuring a picturesque bay that encloses it, Ayangue Beach is one of the most engaging places to visit. You'll often find dozens of colorful small fishing boats for sale upgrading and down in the bay, contributing to its lovely appearance.
The beach is within Ayangue, in Santa Elena province, next to Salinas for around an hour if you are using the famous La Ruta del Sol tourist route. Yet it might seem like a global far from peak resort town. The Ayangue beaches are perfect for sunbathers looking to relax and enjoy spectacular views in the cliff.
Because of their protected nature, Ayangue’s appealing waters are ideal for swimming in. If you’re looking to have a great time within the waters with your kids, this beach would work for you. The surrounding village is quiet, which makes it an excellent place to spend your holiday and revel in sun basking and watching the astounding sunset views.
With its strategic location, this beach is a key place to go for seafood. So, be ready to suit your cravings for many delicious dishes.
Although Ayangue has somewhat beaten paths, its isolated position makes it simple to prevent clashing with everyone else.
Muisne
Muisne Beach is a famous tourist destination in Ecuador. It's in Muisne Province and it is best known because of its beautiful soft-sand beaches. The beach sits within the Mompiche Bay and on the northern end of the Isla de Muisne. It’s one of the regions greatly impacted by the 2022 earthquake.
This is really a quiet and unspoiled beach well suited for sunbathing, fishing, experiencing the almighty sunsets. Despite being an island, the remote sensing results show that this beach receives lesser tourists compared to mainland. That makes it suitable for those who wish to take a rest from busier beaches in the united states.
The area has incredible restaurants and hotels where you can dine and revel in a restful vacation. You can also visit the surrounding environment from the palm-lined beach in the island's backside and revel in watching the protected mangroves.
This lovely beach is just 193km from Quito and about 136km to Santa Domingo. So that you can plan for a day trip to any of those amazing neighborhoods.
Mompiche
Featuring an exotic rainforest and a vicinity of plush, Mompiche is an ideal antidote to any busy route however with good local amenities for the tourist searching for nature comforts. Although it is within a small town, there are plenty of services to savor.
Head on vacation for jungle treks, bird watching, nature reserves, and windsurfing around the beach. You may also lose their freshness of the Esmeraldas place to enjoy idle amount of time in this small fishing region where this beach attracts backpackers and surfers.
You may take a dolphin tour or visit Portete Island on a boat to find out quieter beaches, homestay-like accommodations, and palm trees. Dine on meals like breaded shrimp (Camarones empanadas) or fish soup (biche de pescado).
The Mompiche village boasts mainly smaller accommodations and rental cabanas. Additionally, the thatched beach huts add to the laid-back and calm vibe where the only hums you might hear are this from the surf getting in. However, you can find larger resorts in the neighborhood to enjoy your trip. In short, the region around Mompiche Beach has everything for a lot of tourists.
Puerto Lopez
Puerto Lopez completes our listing of the best beaches in Ecuador. An outstanding and wild Machalilla National Park surrounds the beach, giving it impressive natural sights. Consequently, it’s one of the popular holiday destinations in the country.
A quiet fishing spot lives alongside a lovely beach. Besides, the scenic backdrop increases the beach’s beauty together with rugged hills rolling away. The small fishing boats move along the shore, and you can book a visit to the neighboring Isla La Plata.
Alternatively, you can opt for snorkeling, diving, or watching whales across the coastline. This beach provides you with plenty of choices to enjoy your trip.
This fantastic beach boasts many bars, restaurants, and hotels to dine delicious local foods. More to the point, the region includes a relaxed pace of life, making it an ideal destination to visit before exploring the national park's wonders.
Conclusion
Ecuador is a small country by having an amazing Pacific coastline that hosts many beautiful beaches. This information has revealed our top chioces from the 8 best beaches in Ecuador. Make sure to learn more about each beach and book your spot ahead of time so you can benefit from the limitless options each beach offers.
