south for winter: surf splendor

Ok people, this is another installment of our periodic plugs for the maravilla that is Ecuador, and its developing tourism industry. Come see the magic before it gets crowded and expensive, my friends.

Previous posts have focused mainly on the Andes, but the coast of Ecuador is quite nice as well. Especially when you happen to time it on a perfect swell, idyllic weather, and a personal holiday that makes for a 3-day weekend at the beach.

It was yet another weekend that made us feel grateful to live in this amazing country, where one can drop from 10,000 feet to sea level in about 4 hours. Not bad for a country where 4-lane highways don’t really exist (yet). Ecuador is a fantastic place to travel, especially since it can be done well on a teacher's salary, supplemented by health research and freelance. It’s certainly better than we could be doing in the States right now. How’s that California State budget coming along anyhow?

Our favorite beach destination/surf spot. Want to know where it is? Come visit.

So we spent the weekend at a point break perfect enough to rival Pleasure Point, with the added bonus that this spot has warm water, minimal crowds, mellow locals, and a sandy bottom. Sssh! don’t tell. With three peaks to choose from, surfers self sort according to ability and time since last paddle-out (months, in our case). All the ripping surfer locals headed straight for the barrels at first peak, leaving Oriana happily solita on the inside with steady sets of waist-shoulder high rollers that matched her 9’2” tank quite nicely. It didn’t turn worth a damn, but with two paddle strokes she was jammin down the line. Devin called the board the Wave Hog, although technically there wasn’t anyone around to hog from.
S-t-o-k-e-d! (¡estoked! en español)

Blanquita discovers her new identity as surf wagon

Devin, meanwhile, was out at second peak, avoiding the rocks and crowds at first peak and consequently surfing a continual supply of head-high waves without sharing. All to himself! A ray even jumped out of the water right next to him to say hello. Beautiful waves, a mellow scene, and a $6 plate of 2 dozen shrimp just steps away. What more could you ask for?! All in all, fue completamente perfecto.

Ecua-skin. This is what three days of surfing in the equatorial sun will do to your epidermis. Euw.

D waits for his rum batido/surf recovery shake at Negrito's

O takes down the liquid gold. Looks like that guy in the background had a few as well.

As an aside, did you know that Ecuador is one of the world’s top shrimp producers? Unfortunately, the industry has caused the destruction of extensive mangrove ecosystems, but regulations have prohibited the construction of new shrimp farms and there are the beginnings of a trend toward organic shrimp farming within existing mangrove estuaries. Other exports include bananas, cocoa, cut flowers, fish, crude oil, and tourism. You should be especially concerned with that last one on the list. Ecuador is classified as one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, and is most certainly the smallest of the lot. With an area comparable to the state of Oregon, you can actually experience the megadiversity within a two-week vacation. I’m telling you, it is a gem of South America.