La Ruta del Sol: Puerto Lopez, Los Frailes, Montañita

I could not have imagined a better way to spend finals week in Ecuador than by relaxing on the coastal beaches along La Ruta del Sol. Not only was it a week of relaxation, amazing sights, ceviche, and maracuyá, it was also my opportunity to return back to the states tanner than anyone reading this blog... muoohahaha.

Our first stop after our 8 hour bus ride on Tuesday night was Puerto Lopez. We got in around 5AM where we were greeted by some Ecuaman who I am pretty sure stalked us for the rest of our stay in Puerto Lopez. Everywhere we went this man would mysteriously pop-up. Anyways, he showed us to a good hostel where we stayed for the remainder of our time in PL. The first day was pretty tranquila... we all relaxed on the beach, ate some good fish ceviche, played some beach volleyball and then headed to Puerto Rico, a smaller neighbor town where Colleen lived for two months this summer. The town was incredibly impoverished and Colleen's room was similar to a tiny windowless cell without any dressers. However, if you walked down the road it led you to an incredibly secluded beach where we watched the sunset. In the pictures below you can see how complex and diverse this town was!

The next day Nate arrived!!! We all woke up early, had some waffles and eggs, and headed to Los Frailes which is considered to be the nicest beach in Ecuador. We did a 45 minute hike to get there but it was completely worth it because there was no one else on the entire beach. We passed the day relaxing, playing in the water, trying to build a huge sand hole, etc. Waking up from a nap on the beach, opening my eyes to see clear blue water and huge cliffs, feeling the sand between my toes, and thinking of all of the BC kids slaving away in Oneill and Bapst made me a very happy camper.

Los Frailes

The group!

That night, unfortunately, Colleen and Nate had to leave to head back to Quito for finals. The five of us, Tori, Kasia, Pat, Nate, and I played Eukre in the hostel and passed out. The next morning we got on a bus to Montañita, which would quickly become my favorite Ecuadorian town. I know I said this about Canoa, but, if I was to move to Ecuador I would, without a doubt, move to Montañita. Right when we walked into the town I knew I was going to stay an extra day because I simply fell in love. 

We headed straight to the beach where Pat and I got our hair braided for 8 dollars (as opposed to 45 in the states). We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, throwing around the football, and just enjoying Montañita. Nate, Tori, and Kasia headed out to be back for finals so Pat and I decided to stay. We had the best dinner at this restaurant where you ate on beds... there were no chairs... it was awesome. We met up with Crystal and Ariana to go out that night. We had the best drinks made from maracuyá, piña, y fresa but called it an early night because we were so wiped out from traveling. 

Our favorite restaurant!

The last day of our beach trip was, again, filled with relaxation, relaxation, and more relaxation. Pat and I ate pancakes and french toast at the same restaurant with the beds the next morning and then headed to the beach. The sun was so strong that after a few hours we had to flee the beach to find some shade, pack up, and head back to PL to catch our bus back to Quito. 

How to describe Montañita: pregnant ladies selling weed brownies on the streets, fathers with bong stands selling their pieces with one hand and holding their 2 year old daughters in the other, everyone has either half shaved heads or dredlocks, many American hippies move there and make a living by selling empanadas or jewelry on the streets, Bob Marley music blasting, topless skinny hippie chicks, longboards... the coolest place for people watching I have ever witnessed. Paradise. 

Montañita!