www.ecuadors.org

[Jafari]

hey everyone:

I am headed to the coast, probably startting at Guayaquil and headed north on January 23 and I am looking for beaches. I want a small, quiet town, the fewer gringos the better, the less industry the better.... clean sand, clear water .... a nice beach break if possible, cheap plentiful fresh fruit at the local market, good seafood, great ceviche, plenty of beer etc etc.

Am I asking too much? I was on the northern coast of Peru a couple of years ago (Huanchaco etc) and found all of this.

thanks in advance

[Tabitha]

Depends how few gringos you want to see. Canoa fits most of the bill. Rated as Ecuador's most consistant if not best beach break with 4-6 ft swells. Average gringo count this time of year 5 to 8 permenant, 15 to 30 passing through. Montanita and Mompiche are highly recommended, but both are point breaks. Montanita more consistant than Mompiche, but highest gringo count in Ecuador. Lesser known towns worth checking, Ballenita, Ayampe, San Jacinto, Crucita.

If you loved the Peruvian cebiche, the Ecuadorian may dissapoint, depends on your taste. Most Ecuadorian cebiches are quick-steamed to cook out any potential bacteria, then prepared in lime and pickled sauce. Hot sauce only optional, no chiles in the preparation. Guayas uses more tomato base sauces, in Manabi more orange and mustard. Check out the Encebollados. Great spicey pickled fish soup for hangovers.

Most beaches have clean sand, though some to the south of Guayas are conchilla, or loose ground up shell fragments. Clear water and beach breaks don't mix, at least in Ecuador. Maybe in the Galapagos.

Have fun.