Puerto López
Easily the nicest place to stay in town, Mandála has a beachfront location north of the malecón – you can't miss the giant rainbow whale tail beckoning…
Must-see hotels in Ruta Spondylus
Montañita
Sitting on the beach in front of a surf break, Kundalini was once nothing more than a thatch-roofed building set out on a lawn with four rooms. Now it's a…
Puerto López
A handful of thatch-roofed cabins are tucked away in a lush courtyard at Itapoá, a friendly, family-run operation opposite the beach. Cabins have a…
Ruta Spondylus
Overlooking the forest, Samaí Lodge feels like an idyllic oasis. Twelve cabins are scattered throughout the property; many with floor-to-ceiling windows…
Montañita
Adorned with murals and color-saturated walls, this uberfriendly hostel is good value, with simple rooms surrounding a small garden courtyard. Bathrooms…
Montañita
The most charming guesthouse in town could have been plucked straight from a Greek island, with its stone brick walls and crisp white and blue accents…
Puerto López
On the beachfront, Nantu has smart recently refurbished rooms with crisp white walls, wooden features, and bright colored accents in the soft furnishings…
Ruta Spondylus
Secluded on a hill across from Las Tunas proper are these thatch-roofed bungalows made from bamboo, wood and palm leaves. Each has a mesmerizing view of…
Montañita
Just out of town on the main road you'll find this tropical hotel with two swimming pools, pretty gardens and nice views. All rooms have TVs, king-sized…
Montañita
Just past the domed Dharma Beach Hotel, slightly set back from the beach, this distinctive four-story building has cozy wood-accented rooms with fans,…
Montañita
These peaceful all-wood cabins with thatched roofs and small front decks have lovely views overlooking Montañita and the ocean beyond. Nativa Bambu is…
Ruta Spondylus
Surrounded by rainforest, this idyllic place feels like an end-of-the-road hideout. The high-ceilinged main house's bamboo bedrooms, as well as the…
Montañita
Latin America's ever-expanding boutique hostal empire has arrived in Ecuador (with Quito, Cuenca and Banos locales), and that's a good thing. Setting a…
Puerto López
Good value for money, a couple of minutes from the beach. The handful of fan-cooled rooms (some have air-con) have hot water, (some) TVs and are simple…
Montañita
The spacious, fan-cooled rooms at this bright and sunny guesthouse are beautifully designed, from the polished-wood floors and rustic wood furniture to…
Ruta Spondylus
Cabañas La Tortuga's beachside thatch-roofed cabins are well maintained with fans, mosquito nets and hot water. Guests can make use of a swimming pool,…
Montañita
Tiki Limbo outdoes its competitors in terms of in-town location and decor: the stylish pastel-colored rooms have beds made of bamboo, and zebra-print…
Ruta Spondylus
Run by an Ecuadorian-American couple, La Buena Vida has seven colorful rooms, all with fans and ocean views. Friendly hosts, good breakfasts, and an…
Ruta Spondylus
Two minutes from the beach, the Italian-run La Mariposa has pretty gardens with coconut trees and is a relaxing, welcoming place. Upper floors have ocean…
Montañita
One of the anchors of the busiest intersection in town, you can't beat this location for this price. Casa Blanca is in the center of the action, with…
Ruta Spondylus
On the beach in Las Tunas is this complex of attractive two-story cabañas, with white adobe-style walls (making it cooler at night) and blue trim. All…
Ruta Spondylus
About 1 km up the path of the Ruta Colibri, this long-time resident, Werner Tanner and his family, who also are motorbike enthusiasts, can rent you a…
Puerto López
Punta Piedrero is the last sleeping spot on the beach heading south (past the pier). It's a tranquil place with 14 clean, tile-floored rooms with TVs and…
Montañita
Pass the river and turn right to reach this brick-and-bamboo building with a handful of simple rooms: the cheapest option is an open-sided loft (with…
Montañita
The most expensive place to stay in Montañita has a Persian theme, with big colorful domes on the top of the four-story building. It has all the…
Puerto López
This good-value hotel has shabby but clean rooms with fans, and a friendly English-speaking owner. The grassy courtyard is strung with hammocks, and faces…
Montañita
Near the intersection of the two main roads in town, this clean hostel is a two-minute walk from the beach. White rooms have tiled floors, wooden…
Puerto López
These cozy, basic stand-alone thatched wooden cabañas (cabins) at the northern end of the beach are worth considering. The small size of the rooms is…
Puerto López
Facing the beach, Victor Hugo has a mix of wood, bamboo and brick details, with attractive rooms that open onto shared balconies strung with hammocks…
Montañita
This small, quiet, friendly spot is right on the beach is at the northern end of town. Simple rooms have wood details and modern bathrooms; two have…
Montañita
This hideaway of handcrafted two-story thatch-roofed bungalows is set in a lush garden across a sandy pathway to the beach. The camp was being completely…
Montañita
The two two-story thatch-roofed buildings here occupy prime real estate overlooking the ocean at the end of Calle Principal. All rooms are small, basic…
Puerto López
At the south end of the beach (past the pier, nominally the 'quiet' part of town), Monte Libano has simple, clean, but some neglected rooms and a friendly…
