Northern Ecuador

15 Surf spots

Mompiche Paul Kennedy

Mompiche Tom Koiber

Northern Ecuador Secret, undefined by Tom Koiber

Northern Ecuador SecretTom Koiber

Atacames

01/4

families beginners

Positives

North and South swell exposure
Exploration potential
Less crowds than southern Ecuador
Beautiful natural area
Cheap lodging and transport

Negatives

Short North swell season
Flat spells
Hard to reach Mompiche
Rainy surf season
Security issues

Northern Ecuador surf travel guide

Northern Ecuador starts off with unpromising, NW-facing, hard-packed beaches and silted bocanas (rivermouths), but quickly improves south of the city of Esmereldas. where the perfect left point set-up in Mompiche has attracted the more adventurous to the lush tropical rainforests, aided and abetted by a pick'n'mix of reefs, rivermouths and beachbreaks in a variety of swells, although the wait for a decent swell can be long.

Surf spots in Northern Ecuador

Research the 15 surf breaks in Northern Ecuador and discover what spots suit the current conditions.

Break lowdown

We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 15 breaks in Northern Ecuador.

ability
ability data
Beginner	1
Intermediate	1
Advanced	1

bottom
bottom data
Sand	1
Uneven Reef	1
Uneven Reef & Sand	1
Boulders	1
Boulders & Sand	1

consistency
consistency data
High	1
Medium	1
Low	1

crowds
crowds data
Solo Surfing	1
Rarely	1
Sometimes	1
Often	1
Always	1

direction
direction data
Beachbreaks	1
Peak	1
Left	1
Right	1

length
length data
0-50m	1
50-100m	1
100-200m	1
200-500m	1
500m+	1

type
type data
Beachbreak	1
Submerged Reef	1
Point Break	1
Pier/Groyne/Jetty	1
Rivermouth	1

scroll / drag

When to go

Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Northern Ecuador

Travel Information

General

Current Time
Tourists: 2,535,000
Population: 17,643,054
Tourist Info: Tourist Info

Money

Currency: USD
Exchange rate: $1 = $1 USD USD

Communication

Dialing in: +593
Dialing out: 00
Language: Spanish, Quechua

Electricity

Plug Type: a
b

Visas

Visa-free travel for nearly all nationalities for stays of up to 90 days.

Getting There

Fly from Quito Airport (UIO) to Esmereldas (ESM) in 1h or Manta (MEC) in 50mins. Coaches are an efficient way to travel from Quito to Pedernales takes 5.5h, Esmereldas 6.5h, Manta 7.5h. Some bus companies have separate terminals and offer an air-conditioned long-distance service.

Getting Around

Renting a car is quite expensive ($60/day). Plenty of cheap, crowded, uncomfortable, and slow buses. Mompiche is a short boat ride from Muisne ($10, 1h). If you come from the south ride a boat from Cojimies.

Accommodation

Budget hotels from $9 a night. Same, Atacames and Esmeraldas have high-end resorts. The Royal Decamaron dominates the point at Suspiro but Mompiche has simple hostels and hotels in front of the point. Try 'sancocho esmeraldero' (fish soup) and 'mariscos encocada', seafood in a coconut sauce.

Activities

cultureoutdoorurbanwatersports

Check out the Manglares Mataje/Cayapas Ecological Reserve. Wild partying in Atacames' beach bars and discos. Sua and Muisne island have a quieter, relaxed atmosphere.

Hazards & hassles

Dysentery, hepatitis A and cholera are the main concerns: drink purified water and avoid ceviches (raw fish dishes). Mosquitoes love the rainy season - mild risk of malaria in Esmeraldas. Esmeraldas city and Atacames beach are unsafe after dark. Drugs are cheap, jail terms are long.

Handy Hints

The surf shops are further south. Bring regular boards and lycra sun protection. Crowds are rarely a problem. Like everywhere, Ecuador has seen prices rising since Covid.

Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.