Just a word of warning about Canoa, Ecuador although in general a really lovely place, there was an attack on the beach here three weeks ago and a girl got raped. Particularly solo girls should not walk on the beach at night. Canoa is the kind of sleepy town that lulls you into a false sense of security but at all times you must remember you are a target for these kind of attacks. If you can pass this message on to antone you know in or on their way to Canoa so that we can make steps to ensure it doesn`t happen again.
2
joeecuador
Can this post be added to warning section? It would be good to warn other travelers about this.
3
hostalcocoloco
It still amazes me after all these years that people just dont listen. I tell every person who stays at our hostal, please dont wander the beach alone at night especially if you have been drinking. yet still there are he ones with the"it wont happen to me" attitude that walk along the beach at night. I get what my friends call paranoid about this and some other hostal owners and I have organised a beach walk ritual to try and keep our beaches safe. Canoa is growing and recently mantanita style bars have opened, making our little fishing village even more vulnerable. Canoa is a very small town that is being discovered. I urge every person coming here to treat this place as fragile, do not buy things from or give money to kids who should be in school. As soon as they figure out that they can make more money not attending...guess what? They dont go, then when they arent kids anymore they have nothing to fall back on. Please, support legitimate business' with storefronts. The shacks on the beach wont stay there if they dont make any money. SHOP LOCAL! dont just go to the gringo places in your book. There are so many great places to eat and drink owned by Ecuadorians that you just have to try in order to know, take a peak in the kitchen and judge for yourself if you think it is safe or not. People here are poor. Have the courtesy not to flash money or belongings that they could never in a million years afford, it isnt nice. Try helping a fisherman push his boat up the beach out of the reach of the tide, wave hola to the local people, teach the children a funny saying in your language, sit on the curb and eat a colqueiro. Think about how you want people to treat your neighbours while visiting your town. I can say from experience, you get what you give, but you have to be careful...no matter where you are.
4
jgcp
Very good post #4 but also feel sad that Canoa has attracted such and unsavory element (in all likelihood people from outside the area). However that should not keep travelers from visiting the area and giving business to the honest locals. Let's hope that the criminals are caught very soon and punished so the locals who are trying to eke out a living in this area don't suffer too much/.
5
chriso7
Canoa is one of the best places i ahve ever been in the world.....I lvoed it so much i bought land there with plans to build in the next few years. It is probably my favourite spot in south america,. Do not let the warning scare you off canoa....When we were there we stayed at the Sundown Inn and its a wicked place...good surf off the beach its awesome thats all i can say. And there is a little cafe about 200 metres down the road towards canoa and they are the friendliest people round with the coolest dog, JULES......wicked dog. But all in all canoa is an awesome place and you can miss it. Its like a 7hr trip from guayaquil or quito and its well worth the trip......i cant wait to get back there...
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner