Coastal Ecuador

For our first big trip with not one, but two little ones, we choose to head to coastal Ecuador. At the time, our older son was 2.5 years old and our younger son was 7 months old. We took extra care to set ourselves up for success in travel arrangements, accommodations, and especially, expectations.

Getting There & Around

Flying into Guayaquil is extremely easy and reasonably priced. It’s an international airport with direct flights from most US cities because it is also the connection city for those traveling on to the Galapagos Islands. We chose to have a layover in Fort Lauderdale in order to break up the flight for our little ones. Upon arrival, authorities in Ecuador were incredibly helpful, and, like most Latin American countries, they ushered us into dedicated lines for travelers with small children.

Montanita is approximately 3 hours from Guayaquil by car. There are buses, but we knew that we’d want to explore the area, so we rented a car. We always bring our own car seats as well to ensure that we can travel safely with our boys. It’s free on every airline to bring car seats and strollers, and you can either check them or bring them on board with you. Taxis are available once you get to the coast, but there was also parking everywhere so we were happy to have our own transportation!

Accomodations

Montanita is a bustling surf town with lots of options for accommodations. There is everything from hostels to oceanfront hotels. It’s important to us to have more space and a quiet environment, so we actually stayed just outside of town in an AirBnB. We were beachfront, with a pool and playground on site. It was a gated community with 24/7 guards. Being our first visit to the area, and knowing that Ryan would be heading out to surf, we ensured that the boys and I would be comfortable and secure. Here’s a link to the apartment.

Things to Do

Beaches: there is no shortage of beautiful beaches on the coast of Ecuador. A few of our favorites are Olon, Montanita, and Salinas.
Salinas is a town about an hour from Montanita. There is a nature preserve called La Loberia, a hotspot for sea lions. There’s also breathtaking outlook spots called El Morro and La Chocolatera.
Montanita Brewing Company: admittedly, we always seek a brewery when traveling. It’s a great way to meet locals, and try some good local beer!
Museo las Calavera: A museum full of archeological artifacts that made for a fun afternoon stop.
Malecon in Montanita: The downtown Montanita area is great. There is a walkway along the water, which is a great spot for sunsets. There’s also no shortage of restaurants, bars, and ceviche carts!