Manglaralto
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Manglaralto
The last major town of Santa Elena Province on the Ruta del Spondylus before entering Manabí — a surf and artisan community with a long beach and an estuary that attracts birds and kayakers.
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~80 km
From La Libertad
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Surf + estuary
Main draws
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UPSE campus
University branch
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Dec–Apr
Surf season
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Overview
Manglaralto is a small coastal town in Santa Elena canton, located on the Ruta del Spondylus (E-15) approximately 80 km north of La Libertad. It is the last significant town in Santa Elena Province before the Ruta enters Manabí Province and passes through Olón, Montañita, and the rest of the northern surf corridor.
Manglaralto is known for:
- A long, uncrowded beach with consistent surf
- The Río Manglaralto estuary — a birding and kayaking site at the river mouth
- A tradition of artisan crafts (tagua nut carving, weaving) supported by community cooperatives
- A UPSE university branch campus, giving the town a young resident population
Getting There
Buses from La Libertad toward Montañita and Olón pass through Manglaralto (approximately 1.5–2 hours). Taxis from La Libertad are available but negotiation is required for this distance.
Activities
- Surfing — beach break; less crowded than Montañita; consistent December–April
- Estuary kayaking — the river mouth mangroves attract herons, kingfishers, and wading birds
- Artisan workshops — tagua (vegetable ivory) carving cooperatives sell locally and export internationally
- Beach walk to Olón — possible at low tide