Montañita Surf Season

Santa Elena, Ecuador · part of the Montañita spot guide

At 1.8° south, essentially on the equator, Montañita is exposed to both hemispheres’ swell engines at once. Southern Ocean south-to-southwest groundswell is the year-round baseline, so it very rarely goes flat, and from December to April North and Northwest Pacific storms pile on the swell that produces the strongest, most consistent rights at the point. That overlap — plus the warmest, cleanest conditions of the year — makes December to April the prime season and the contest window; June to August runs smaller and more onshore.

Where the swell comes from

A dual engine: ever-present Southern Ocean south-to-southwest groundswell year-round, plus North/Northwest Pacific swell from roughly December to April that lights the point best.

Historic swells at Montañita