#travel

In addition to low fares (around €600), KLM offers excellent terms for sports luggage (€50 each way—even if you don't actually need to bring a surfboard). The route takes you via Amsterdam to the world's highest metropolis: Quito. Dress warmly; at an altitude of 2,400 meters, temperatures hover around 15°C rather than the expected 25°C. You can either spend about €150 a week on a small rental car (be sure to add full insurance coverage!) or take a bus from Quito—an option that costs around $50 but takes about 10 hours. There are two routes to the coast; allow a full day of travel to reach Mompiche via Esmeraldas. Keep a sharp eye out for potholes and road subsidence caused by earthquakes. Once you arrive, you won't need a car. The advantage over Manta is that Mompiche retains the feel of an authentic, organically grown village, free from party tourism. A "quick trip" to Manta is actually an all-day affair... Don't expect road signs—though on the way back, all roads lead to Quito.

#Beach
In Mompiche, you can see everything in one morning. Everything? Well, not quite. Life happens between 6 and 11 a.m. – and then again from 4 p.m. onwards, since it's simply difficult to run around in the sun with European skin at the equator… Then it's time for Playa Negre, the cemetery above "La Punta," the reef.

#die Welle / Surfing

A truly perfect wave for goofy-footers (finally!), delivering intense tube action at the point before running sideways into the bay for over 500 meters—making it suitable for all skill levels. Balanced against the tropical appeal of the water—usually a warm 26°C—there are relatively few downsides to a surfer's life here: stinging jellyfish, manta rays you might step on (hence the "stingray shuffle" across the sand), monkeys in the forest best given a wide berth, and annoying flying fish you’d rather dodge. Compared to other spots with such a perfect setup, however, these are minor issues.

You can rent everything you need from Jefferson—from shortboards to longboards. Ecuador isn't Santa Cruz—which is exactly why we went there—but everything required for surfing is available on-site! He also offers surf lessons and is happy to help with advice or repairs whenever needed.

#Excursion Isla Potete / #fishing/ #doing stupid things

If there’s no wave, grab a tuk-tuk and head to Isla Potete—where *camarones* (shrimp) are farmed. You’ll also find a luxury hotel there, "El Cameron," for around $80 a night, complete with a pool, a lifeguard, and air conditioning. We recommend staying at the Mud House; Mandy (an American) and her husband Andres have established an eco-friendly hostel there that is well-maintained and well worth the $10/night rate. You can also stay right on the beach for $5, though the living conditions are a bit more "rustic."

Spearfishing and angling off "La Punta" was a real adventure. The Pacific offers an incredible variety of fish—the kind that definitely deserve to end up on the barbecue. After a week, I couldn't stand the sight of *platanos verdes* (green plantains—a local staple replacing rice, potatoes, and pasta all at once) anymore, but at least you can get fresh pineapple and papaya straight from the tree or field for just a dollar.

Okay, $30 is a lot of money in South America—but we filled the day without swell by attempting to build a wakesurfer. The professional boat crew did their best to get our creation planing, though we might need to send it back to our R&D department...

#in a nutshell
"Estupenda" (in terms of the country and its people) and "semifunctionado" (compared to the supposed Western standard regarding technology)—a real asset and something I’d recommend to almost anyone!