Running (Ruta del Spondylus)

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Running

Olón's long flat beach and Manglaralto's quiet beachfront are the best running routes on the route — firm, flat, and traffic-free at low tide.

Olón beach Best flat run

Low tide Best surface

Year-round Season

Early morning Best time

Overview

The Ruta del Spondylus has some of the best beach running on Ecuador's Pacific coast. At low tide, the packed wet sand at Olón, Manglaralto, and San José provides a flat, traffic-free surface that extends for several kilometres in both directions from each village. The best running is in the early morning, before the sun gets high and before beachgoers arrive.

Best Running Routes

Olón Beach

Olón has the longest, flattest, and most consistently uncrowded beach on the southern part of the route. At low tide the beach extends several kilometres in each direction. Running north from Olón takes you toward the rocky headland that separates it from Montañita — a natural turnaround point. Running south takes you along an open, undeveloped stretch of coast.

Manglaralto Beachfront

Manglaralto's beach is longer and less frequented than Olón. The absence of tourist infrastructure means fewer people on the sand, which makes for more peaceful running. The estuary mouth at the north end of the beach is an interesting landmark.

San José Beach

San José's wide, flat beach is one of the quietest on the route and excellent for distance running at low tide. The presence of horses on the sand adds to the atmosphere.

Tips

• Run in the early morning — the air temperature is lower, the sand is firm, and the beaches are empty
• Low tide provides the best running surface — the wet packed sand at the water's edge is significantly easier than loose dry sand higher up the beach
• Apply sunscreen — the equatorial UV is intense even on cloudy days and more so on the reflective sand
• The E-15 can be used for road running but is narrow in places and traffic moves quickly; beach running is preferable

See Also

• Olón — best flat beach
• Cycling — road-based alternative
• Portal:Ruta del Spondylus — route overview