Montañita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montañita
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Town
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Montañita Beach
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| Motto(s):
Lo que pasa en Montanita, se queda en Montanita
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 Montañita
Location in Ecuador
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| Country |  Ecuador |
| Province | Santa Elena |
| Canton | Santa Elena |
| Parishes | List of urban parishes |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,000 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) |
| Climate | BWh |
Montañita is a small town on the coast of Ecuador. It's in the Santa Elena province, about 180 kilometers (112 miles) northwest of Guayaquil. The name "Montañita" means "small mountain" in Spanish.
In the mid-1900s, Montañita was mostly a surfing beach. It had only a few huts for fishermen. Sometimes, surfers would set up tents there in the summer. Around 1960, some people from other countries decided to live there for good. Now, Montañita is a very popular place for surfers. Many people think it's one of the best surfing beaches on Ecuador's south coast.
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What Makes Montañita Special?
The town of Montañita has many small streets. These streets are full of shops and places to eat. Most of the roads that go from east to west lead right to the beach.
Montañita has four main areas:
- The beach itself
- The Point
- The Trigrillo neighborhood
- The Center
The Point is a small mountain. It separates Montañita's beach from the beach of a nearby town called Olon. One of the first cement beach houses in town was built here. Two foreigners, Jack and James, built it after they had been camping on the beach.
Montañita's Weather
Montañita has a warm, tropical climate. The average temperature is about 28°C (82°F). The rainy season runs from December to May. However, it doesn't rain much, and rain usually happens at night. The ocean water temperature is usually between 13-20°C (56-68°F).
How Montañita Makes Money
Montañita's economy depends on tourism. This includes restaurants, surfing, and selling handmade crafts. Besides surfing, visitors and locals enjoy other water sports. These include bodyboarding, scuba diving, and windsurfing.
The busiest time for tourists is in January. The quietest time is in June. Every February, Montañita celebrates Carnival with a big festival.
Ancient History in the Area
About 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Montañita is the Valdivia archaeological site. In the 1950s, scientists dug here. They found proof of the famous Valdivia culture. This was one of the oldest ancient cultures in South America.
There are other old sites on the Santa Elena Peninsula too. One is near Santa Elena, Ecuador. Digs there showed that this site belonged to the Las Vegas culture (archaeology). This was the first known culture in Ecuador. It thrived from about 8800 to 4600 BC along the coast.
Surfing in Montañita
Surfing in Montañita is known for its strong, steady waves. It's a great place for experienced surfers. Newer surfers might find it challenging. Montañita is becoming more and more popular for international surfing events.
In the summer months, waves are usually 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3 feet) high. In late fall and winter, waves can be as big as 1.5 meters (5 feet). Between January and March, waves might even reach 2 meters (6.5 feet). Montañita hosts an international surfing competition every February during Carnival.
Fun Facts About Montañita
People in Montañita mostly get around by bicycle or pedicab. Sometimes you see a truck, but the streets are mostly for walking. You often hear reggae music playing on the street corners. You might also see banners with peace symbols. Pictures of famous people like Che Guevara, John Lennon, or Bob Marley are common.
Montañita has many bars, restaurants, and cafés. They offer food and drinks that appeal to people from all over the world. During busy tourist times, there are often electronic music festivals on the beach. There are also three schools that teach Spanish. Montañita Spanish School was the first professional Spanish language school in town.
See also
In Spanish: Montañita para niños
