Running (Ruta del Spondylus)
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Olón beach
Best flat run
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Low tide
Best surface
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Year-round
Season
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Early morning
Best time
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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