Montanita Spanish School (Montanita, Ecuador)

ABOUT THE SURF CAMP

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LOCATION AND SURF CONDITIONS

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Olón
It is perfect for beginners and right next to Montañita. Olón is quieter and less crowded than Montañita which is why it is ideal in the beginning.

Las tunas
It is the beautiful beach where we go to on our surf trip every two weeks. Las tunas is ideal for intermediate surfers.

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CAMP CHARACTER

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As our students say, Montañita Spanish School is the perfect place to learn Spanish and enjoy the culture and lifestyle of Ecuador. Located on Ecuador’s famous beach of Montañita, you can study Spanish with a beautiful view of the beach right from your classroom. Being a stone’s throw away from the waves that make Montañita famous, 

The family like atmosphere here will make you feel at home as soon as you walk through the door. You will meet awesome fellow students, greatly improve your Spanish skills and take home plenty of incredible memories.

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About

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Montanita Spanish School was founded by Warwick “waz” white. His strong vision states that “Learning a different language is one of the best ways to learn about the world”.  Currently, the school is owned by Jacqui and Manuel, they combine visions from both Ecuadorian and Kiwi ground.

“I was having a great morning surf session on Christmas day. Conditions were already a Christmas gift, glassy and sunny, but the best Christmas gift was yet to come. A complete school of Dolphins past by just a few meters away from me!”

- Gjis, Finance Director

Are you prepared to become a surf-fanatic or either super flexible by following yoga classes? Our two instructors are always happy to take you to their classes. Our surf instructor Diego, and our Yoga instructor Casey.

ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING

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The Cabañas

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An oasis of tranquillity located just 5 minutes walk from the school, 3 minutes from the center of town, and 2 minutes from the beach. Nestled into the relaxed atmosphere of Barrio Tigrillo, our Cabañas provide the best of both worlds, being moments away from the center of the action and providing the peace and tranquility needed to make the most of your time in Montañita.

In the Cabañas you can find a swimming pool and hammocks where you can relax, but also a communal area where our guests can socialize with others. Besides, the centre of Montañita offers already a lot of great places where you can enjoy great Ecuadorian or International dishes, but if you still would like to cook for yourself, the Cabañas offers a large kitchen, which can be used by 6 persons at the same time.

We have made a big effort to be environmentally aware including much of our building materials. We recycle plastic and glass as well us using a compost system and recycled water in order to feed and fertilise our large and growing garden with an abundance of flora including herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Every private room has a safe with a code the student can make himself. In addition, all the dorm rooms have a personal wooden store box. The prices include bed linen and blankets, towels are also available to rent in exchange for a $10 deposit.

At our Cabañas we have an amazing staff consisting of 6 persons working and at every moment of the day somebody will be present. The staff cleans every day all the rooms and are always willing to help when somebody is in need.

SURF COURSE AND ACTIVITIES

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SURF COURSE DETAILS

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Lessons

We have a private surf school built into the Montañita Spanish School complex. With an extensive range of surf boards and equipment we can accommodate anybody with the desire to surf. We’ll take you directly from school to the beach in Olón and have you back in time for your next Spanish lesson or lunch break!

Lessons are provided by our local surf Instructor and surf intern. With 2-4 students per instructor we can give you lots of feedback and attention to get your surfing progressing quickly. As mentioned above, our usualsurf classes take place in Olón which is perfect for beginners and right next to Montañita.  Olón is quieter and less crowded than Montañita which is why it is ideal in the beginning.

Las tunas is the beautiful beach where we go to on our surf trip every two weeks. However, we do alternate the destination of our surf trip. Las tunas is ideal for intermediate surfers.

Receive 5 days surf lessons for the price of 4 when booking a week of surf in advance!

Our 5 day programme is suited to most beginners but don’t worry if you progress faster or slower – We will tailor the lesson to give you appropriate individual attention and feedback.

Board rental + beach transfer

If you are already an established surfer or just need to practice you can rent one of our boards and join our surf class without instruction. Board rental is charged per week with discounts available for multiple weeks and beach transfer is charged per day.

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OTHER ACTIVITIES

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Outside of Spanish classes, we offer surf lessons, cooking and Latin dance classes. Also, you will have the opportunity to enjoy daily yoga classes in the morning and afternoon, which are easily booked upon arrival. Besides the options mentioned above, we like to provide a close community within our student body and so organize a variety of activities that change from week to week i.e. BBQs, weekend surf trips, jungle getaways, dinners, pool tournaments, beach soccer, dolphin tours, cocktail workshops, chocolate fondues, sushi nights, bonfires, cooking classes, karaoke nights etc.

MORE INFO, HOW TO GET THERE & FAQ

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 SURF CONDITIONS

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Breaks directly at the main spot and at nearby spots

Montañita is well known for its perfect surf conditions. With a right-hand point break at one end and uncrowded beginner waves along the whole coast we have surf opportunities to suit all abilities. You could even show off your skills in front of an audience as they watch the sunset from Montañita beach or you can choose to surf at a quite spot and enjoy the waves with friends or for yourself.

Seasonal conditions
High Season is from January till March, where we have the north swell - bigger waves
And from April till December we get the south swell - smaller waves wich are good for beginners.
Both conditions whatsoever are good surfeable.

Water Tempreatures
Montanita sea water temperatures peak in the range 24 to 29°C (75 to 84°F) on around the 4th of March and are at their lowest on about the 4th of September, in the range 19 to 24°C (66 to 75°F). Year round warm sea water temperatures at Montanita climb to their warmest in early March. Even then a rash vest and board shorts should be fine for surfing at any time of year. Montanita sea water temperatures are lowest in early September.
Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at Montanita can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds.

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 JOURNEY

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Ways to get to the camp
1. Arranged private transportation by us.
2. From Guayaquil, there you can get a (luxury) bus trip to reach Montanita in 2,5 hours. There are also local busses available.
3. From Quito, with another flight (40 min and about $70) or with a bus (12 hours)
4. From Manta, take a local bus to Montanita (3-4 hours)

1. Private transfer: 24 hours a day, we can offer a meet and greet, and transfer from airport direct to Montañita. Price is $90 from Guayaquil. If you would like this option, please email us with your flight details. We will make the initial booking for you. If you have any changes to your flight details or any other changes for your transport please contact Manuel directly,

2. From Guayaquil: There are twobus options from Guayaquil to Montañita:
Direct luxury bus: We highly recommend this. Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador. Many planes and buses arrive here. Go to the bus ‘terminal’ (Pronounced as ter-me-NAL) close to the airport. There you will find buses direct to Montañita with the company "CLP" (Cooperativa de Transporte Libertad Peninsular)which have daily departures at (approximately!) 05:00, 06:00, 7:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 16:30. It takes about 2.5 hours. The price is about $5.50. At the terminal, CLP is located at office number 83 (easy to find – they are in numerical order). Here you buy a ticket for Montañita. CLP will tell you where the bus is departing – but normally it’s on the second floor.

OR local bus: You can catch a bus to Santa Elena (several bus companies go to here, so departures are about hourly.) The cost is about $3. Then once in Santa Elena, you transfer to the local buses to Montañita (about $1.50). It’s a very small bus station so this is very easy to do. The total time is normally about 4 hours depending on transfer time.

3. From Quito: There are direct buses to Guayaquil, Jipijapa, Portoviejo or Puerto Lopez. From each of these locations you need to change bus and get a different bus to Montañita. Puerto Lopez (only 1.5 hours from Montañita) is normally the easiest to do this catch the overnight bus. Total time will be about 12 hours depending on transfer times.

OR take a flight to Guayaquil (about $70 USD) then catch a bus from there (see above). The main domestic airlines are: Aerogal, Aerolitoral, Taca, Avianca.

4. From Manta: Go to the bus terminal. From there catch the bus to Montañita. Some will go direct (about 3 hours) and some will have a stop over (about 4 hours). Unfortunately, just because a bus that says "directo," does not mean that it will not make stops.

We offer a transfer service from the airport in Guayaquil for $100 (approx. 2 1/2 hours), or $190 for both ways.

We personally would recommend you to take a flight to Guayaquil. From there we offer you this transfer or there are also buses to Montañita.

VISA
Ecuador welcomes people from all over the world who wish to visit for a short period of time or to establish a temporary residency, or a permanent residency. Most people do not require a visa prior to visit Ecuador for a stay of up to 90 days. Nonetheless, citizens (passport holders) from the following countries must obtain a visa at the Ecuadorian consulate of their jurisdiction:Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Senegal, Cuba, Democratic, People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

All travelers must have the following:

A passport with a remaining validity of at least 6 months beyond their travel dates. A round/onward trip ticket. Health insurance that will cover any health issues during their visit to Ecuador.

Having a visa or not needing one does not guarantee entry into Ecuador. At the port of entry, an Ecuadorian Customs Official will determine if the person is eligible to enter.

For more information on visas to Ecuador please visit:

http://www.consuladovirtual.gob.ec/en/web/guest/visas

PACKAGES & PRICES

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SPANISH GROUP, DORM & SURF  - from 370 $ per Week / Person

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 Two 2-hour lessons per day, 5 days per week. Divided over 6 different ability groups. The levels follow the standard European Educational system of A1 to C2 and we have recently added a “very basic Spanish level”. Morning classes will be dedicated to grammar. The afternoon classes practice those points you learned in the morning through conversation, games, and role play. Starts any Monday (Occasionally we will not meet our minimum number per class in your ability group, in this case your lessons will be replaced with 15 hours of private one-on-one lessons.)

Shared Mini-Dorm This is the perfect option for those looking for high quality accommodation on a budget. Our dorm rooms are all large and spacious. Having the option of either a 6 bed or a 4 bed dorms you will not have a problem maintaining some personal privacy.

This package includes:
20 hours of group spanish per week
accomdation in a dorm room
5 days of surfclasses per week

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PRIVATE SPANISH, PRIVATE ROOM & SURF - from 440 $ per Week / Person

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Two 2-hour lessons per day, 5 days per week. The levels follow the standard European Educational system of A1 to C2 and we have recently added a “very basic Spanish level”. Morning classes will be dedicated to grammar. The afternoon classes practice those points you learned in the morning through conversation, games, and role play. Private lessons are important if you want to learn specific Spanish, like medical Spanish. If you are travelling with somebody with the same ability, you can take private lessons together.

Private Cabañas: Staying true to the rustic look of Montañita, these Cabañas were constructed with the environment in mind. With bamboo materials and thatched roofs, you will really feel like you are on a tropical holiday. Each Cabaña is furnished with a full en-suite private bathroom, and is the perfect option for a couple or friends traveling together (Matrimonial and separate beds available)

This package includes:
20 hours of private spanish
accomodation in a private room
5 days of surfclasses per week

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Spanish Surfboard Shape & Stay  - Price on request

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Looking for something different for your holidays? Excited by the idea of travelling to South America to learn a new skill, hone your Spanish skills and immerse yourself in the community of our little surf town?

Every surfer is different, with different abilities, fitness levels, physique and conditions where they feel comfortable surfing. For years people have been caught up on following fashion and surfing the boards that they see in magazines whether or not they are right for YOU. Shaping your own customized board under the expert guidance of our shaper Victor is guaranteed to help you progress as a surfer and increase your enjoyment levels. Victor is well known here on the coast as a shaper of good quality surf boards, having learnt his craft nearly 40 years ago from the legendary shaper “El Gringo Andres” of Playas.

Our Spanish, Shape & Stay package offers the complete Ecuadorian surf experience. Chill out time absorbing the rhythm of shaping and working with your hands, learning and speaking Spanish daily and making friends both in and out of the water.

This package includes:
Your own customized, signed Balsa Board
Minimum 50 hours of shaping workshops
60 hours of group Spanish
4 weeks of dorm accommodation
2 surf trips

Balsa Surf Board Shaping Workshop You will learn:
Basic Carpentry & Safety Skills
Basic Notions of Surfboard Design
Techniques for Shaping with Balsa
How to Customise Your Board
Traditions of Balsa Wood Shaping in Ecuador
Eco & Other Benefits of Balsa Wood Shaping

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GROUP SPANISH, HOMESTAY & SURF  - from 455 $ per Week / Person

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Two 2-hour lessons per day, 5 days per week. The levels follow the standard European Educational system of A1 to C2 and we have recently added a “very basic Spanish level”. Morning classes will be dedicated to grammar. The afternoon classes practice those points you learned in the morning through conversation, games, and role play. Private lessons are important if you want to learn specific Spanish, like medical Spanish. If you are travelling with somebody with the same ability, you can take private lessons together.

Homestay Living with an Ecuadorian family is a must-do for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Latin and Ecuadorian culture. We carefully pick our host families and they are all extremely friendly and open. All the homes are right in town near the shops, stores, and restaurants, and also only a quick walk away from the school as well as the social atmosphere of the Cabañas. Homestays are a great way to surround yourself with the language and culture of coastal Ecuador, giving yourself the most opportunities to practice your Spanish. You will be given a typical home cooked breakfast and dinner, and your room will be cleaned for you every day.

This package includes:
20 hours of private spanish
Home stay Accommodation (Includes 2 meals per day)
5 days of surfclasses per week