Specific beach to chill out but also be social...

Enjoy! If you remember to, keep us posted! :)

here's a link to my blog from 2013, posts for beaches in Colombia & Equador etc, along with our wheelchair distribution project with Rotary, will chip away at Peru/Bolivia
cheers

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sa2013/1/1359059746/tpod.html

Thanks! So it turns out it is cheaper for me to fly back from Lima, so now looking at outlying areas of Mancora! There will need to be a future trip to Ecuador as Galapagos won't be on the itinerary this time...

Hi,
I came upon this as I'm heading to ECU in 24 hrs. Landing in Quito and so far Otavallo & maybe Banos. Was hoping to do a beach town for a few days and after researching Montanita doesn't seem quite my thing (seems too much of a scene). I'd planned on Canoa but am seeing mixed opinions on that. Does anybody have any good beach towns in the North so not as crazy long bus ride from Quito? I'm a female traveling solo and any accommodation recommends welcome too. THANKS!

I'm interested in hearing about nice beaches in the north too as I hope to go there during my next visit to Ecuador. I have done some research and by now Same seems to be the nicest option.

It all depends on what you want from the beach.. local culture or resort style lifestyle... Same is resort style.. Me I liked Sua as it is not too touristy at all and you can enjoy a bit of life with the locals as well.. We stayed at the Bouganvillia on the beach and fell asleep each night to the sound of the waves on the beach across the road... There are other places to stay as well. We got up rather early and watched the fishing boats come in and ate some fresh cooked seafood from little places selling some of the catch on the beach. Most of the seafood seemed destined for Quito though... Me I prefer that kind of beach to the resort style which is more expensive anyway...

I don't like resort style places, but prefer places like the Sua you describe.
However, I have read that Sua can be very noisy at weekends and in July (and July is when I will be there). It can be crowded with jet skiis and inflated bananas pulled behind power boats. I don't want that! That's why I was thinking of Same, or actually I was hoping there would be a cheap, lovely place south of Same, towards the fishing village Tonchigüe.

Hey,
Thanks for the tips. Yeah- I should've been more specific- I grew up partially on a touristy Carib Island & def don't want more of that. And I live on the Nor Cal coast- I'm thinking more of a sleepy town with out a crazy party scene- like Santa Cruz, CA circa 1976 or something. DEF not resort. Totally not my scene & I'm currently not working so not in my budget. At any rate I think I'm going to mostly stay in the Andes but was hoping to catch more of the country by heading to the coast for a few days. If I was driving I'd just wing it but seems tricky to just pick a destination on a bus so want to get it right. I'll look up all the towns above- any other ideas- Bring 'em on!! THANKS!!!

Oh dear it sounds like Sua is going the same way as Atacames and Montinita. When we were at Sua a few years ago it was lovey and quiet and the people who run the Bouganvillia said it was quiet because most people now went to Montanita so it must have changed again since then. Back in 1996/97 we spent a few relaxing days at Muisne so I wonder if that has become more touristy also?

Olon is a beautiful beach with lots of good placed to eat. It's a $1.50 taxi ride and a world away from Montanita. We stayed at the Sea Garden, overlooking the beach. No scene there.Just gorgeous beach.