Santa Marianita

The water is choppy, with real, peeling waves close to the point upwind. The shore break can be surfable sometimes and from 1 meter to 1.5-2 meters depending on the season (in the dry season, June to December, the waves are smaller; in the wet season, January to May, larger). The water is nice and clean. In general in the Ecuadorean coast the waves are best in the wet season with anything between 1 and 3 meters being normal. Ecuadorian waves, during the wet season, are as consistent as any other surf destination in the world”. In the dry season waves are smaller, although with 'Aguajes' or seasonal periods of higher tides and stronger seas, you can get good waves. During June and July there are spectacular views of whales passing and playing in the water, local riders tell amazing tales of riding with humpback whales. For the beginners that are more occupied with the turtles hatching on the sand. It is a 300m wide, long beach (4 km) so space is no problem for riding as well as for landing and launching. With no major development, the beach is a great natural place for kitesurfing. The sand is soft, with no rocks or pebbles or too many shells so rigging is possible on the sand. There are one or two small huts right on the beach where one can have great, cheap seafood and a drink. One of them even has an air compressor for kiters. The wind in Manta is created by a strong thermal effect. The area around Manta is very dry; it has one of the lowest rainfall averages on the coast. This, combined with the strong equatorial sun, makes the air over the interior heat up a lot. Meanwhile the water is relatively cool, so there is a high pressure difference between the hot air over land and the cooler air over sea which creates the strong thermal winds. The wind usually starts picking up around 11:00, and from 10 or so it's already good for taking lessons. It reaches its peak at around 1:00 to 2:00pm and lasts until approximately 4:00-4:30pm. In the dry season the winds are stronger; expect anything from 15-25 knots. December is a transition month where the air and water start warming up, so the wind depends on how fast the water warms in relation to the air (10-20 knots are possible). In the wet season the water temperature is warmer, so the wind is not that strong. However, as the air temperature is higher as well, there are windy days during these months too (winds generally between 8-18 knots). Wind direction is mostly W and NW, which means it blows sideonshore to sideshore from the left most of the time. In general the weather in this area is warm, with temperatures averaging 25-30°C (77-86°F). You don't need a wetsuit or shorty, maybe a thermal rash guard for colder days. In the dry season the water temperature is cooler, 21-24°C (70-75°F) and in the wet season, warmer, 25-28°C (77-82°F). Water: Chop, Smallwave. Features: Rooms, Camping, School, Shop, Repair, Rental, Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking. Rider ability: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert.

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