Bodyboarding (Ruta del Spondylus)

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Bodyboarding

The same breaks that make Montañita famous for surfing also work on a bodyboard — at a lower commitment level, with the same waves and the same crowd.

Montañita

Best break

Dec–Apr

Peak season

All levels

Experience

Board hire

Available in Montañita

Overview

Bodyboarding on the Ruta del Spondylus uses the same breaks as surfing but is accessible to anyone who can swim in the ocean. The Montañita beach break is the main location — a consistent, energetic wave that works well for bodyboards from beginners to experienced riders.

Olón's beach is a quieter alternative, with calmer waves and almost no crowd. Ayampe also has a small bodyboarding community.

Where to Bodyboard

Montañita beach break — the main and busiest option; consistent year-round with peak swell December–April; boards available to hire from surf shops on the beach
Olón beach — calmer, fewer people, smaller waves; good for beginners who don't want the Montañita crowd
Ayampe — small break with cloud forest backdrop; uncrowded; bring your own board

Did you know…?

⚓ …Santa Rosa, in Salinas, is Ecuador's second-biggest artisanal fishing port?

See the boats come in →

Equipment

Bodyboards are available to hire in Montañita from the same operators that rent surfboards. Expect to pay approximately $5–10 per hour or $15–20 per day. Fins are not usually included — if you want fins, ask specifically.

A rash guard is recommended for extended sessions; the sun is intense on the equatorial Pacific.

Season

The same swell season as surfing applies: December–April for the largest and most consistent waves. June–November is smaller but workable, particularly at the beach break.

Overview

Where to Bodyboard

Equipment

Season

See Also