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Montanita
From Mancora we got a local collectivo to cross the border into Ecuador and got a bus to Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador and the country's main port of imports and exports. The temperature in Guayaquil is always hot and humid and rarely below 30 degrees. There isn't a great deal of sightseeing as it's more of an economic hub so we decided to just spend the night there before heading to the surf town of Montañita the next day.
3 hours along the scenic coast we arrived in the budget bohemian beach town named Montañita. It has a very chilled out vibe full of hippies selling their hand made artisan bracelets and surfers riding the big waves. The stretch of white sand is about a mile along with fierce waves crashing into the shore, the most popular place in Ecuador for surfing. Graffiti art covers the cement walls and the town is full of cheap eateries and cocktail shacks lining the beach front. Our accommodation was one of the cheapest rooms we've had. It was a 3 storey wooden building with hammocks on the balconies. Our room was very basic with a mosquito net and en suite all for £4 each a night.
I decided it was time to give surfing a go for the first time so we booked in for a 2 hour lesson. It's safe to say the 2 hours were extremely fun and hilarious. I spent most of the lesson being bashed around by the massive waves with my legs in the air and swallowing lots of salt water after giggling so much. Nick made it look so easy and didn't need to have any lessons, he got up straight away! Me and Sam managed to get up once or twice and ride the wave which I was satisfied with. I'm not sure I would ever make it as a surfer but I am happy I can tick it off my bucket list.
Montañita is also renowned for the hippies smoking lots of marijuana. They stroll up and down the beach selling "happy brownies". We thought it would be rude not to try one so we shared 2 between the 3 of us. I was certain it had not affected me until 3 hours later we were both in fits of giggles. Nick and I decided to get a late night snack, we walked around aimlessly in the rain looking for food and ended up going to the pizza place next door to our hostel. We both claimed at the time it was the best pizza we have ever had.. Now we are not too sure if it was the effect of the happy brownie or if it really was the best pizza!
On our last day we went for a large breakfast to the local street stalls where they sell enormous fruits salads, fresh fruit smoothies, crepes and toasted sandwiches all for $1 or $2 each. After breakfast we got on a 13 hour bus and headed to Baños, the adventure capital of Ecuador.
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