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.

~80 km From La Libertad

Surf + estuary Main draws

UPSE campus University branch

Dec–Apr Surf season

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 the Sumpa Bus Terminal (Santa Elena) 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

See Also

• Montañita — surf town 10 km north
• Olón — quieter village between Manglaralto and Montañita