the Real Ecuador guide to Atacames
Sun and Surf in Atacames
In the far north of Ecuador lies the beach paradise of Atacames. Sat at the northern end of a horseshoe-shaped bay, what was originally a small fishing village has grown to become THE beach spot for holidaying Quiteños and is increasingly popular with tourists as well.
At peak times (New Year, Easter and the peak summer weeks) Atacames is filled with people from Quito and the surrounding area, all partying fit to burst. The many clubs and bars along the coast road pump out an exhilarating mix of reggaeton, cumbia and merengue - with the odd Bob Marley track thrown in, of course!
Outside of these times, and particularly midweek, Atacames can get much quieter and is a perfect place to relax on the beach, or at least in a hammock near the beach, possibly with a fruit cocktail or two in hand... Alternatively, if you're wanting absolute peace and quiet, then you can head a kilometre or so down the coast to the town of Súa, which is something like how Atacames was about 20 years ago. The accommodation isn't quite as nice, and there are slightly fewer cocktails, but Súa's a lovely place to while away a day, letting all your cares just drift away...
Surfing in Atacames and Ecuador
If surfing is your thing then you're also definitely in the right place. Atacames itself offers some reasonable surf with NW swells but a few kilometres to the south in Estero del Platano you can find some really underrated waves that are well worth a look.
If you're prepared to travel a little further afield, however, then arguably Ecuador's best waves are to be found a little further still to the south in Mompiche. You can easily get there and back from Atacames in a day, and if you do, you'll be rewarded with some of the best surfing on the Pacific coast. It's a left pointbreak with rides of up to 400m and is on one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador - highly recommended for anyone who's serious about surfing in Ecuador.
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