Santa Elena, Ecuador

In Santa Elena Province · Ecuador · Santa Elena on Google Maps · Map of the spots

Colores en la Playa - panoramio — Near Coito, 2 km away. Photo: Manuel Rivas Coronel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

About Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a town in Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. From Santa Elena you can reach 14 surf spots. The nearest is Capaes, a surf spot 3.5 km from the centre. Overture lists 35 places to stay within 2 km of the centre. The nearest airport is SNC, 14 km away.

Pick your dates and start point to see a trip here scored, planned and costed: plan a surf trip to Ecuador.

Staying in Santa Elena

35 places to stay within 2 km of the centre (Overture places)
Nearest airports: SNC, 14 km, GYE, 109 km, MEC, 144 km

Stay in Santa ElenaAd

Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

See all places to stay on Booking.com →

Where it is

Each place is ringed by its best day this week, a surf spot for intermediates: green on a good day. The dashed circle is 20 km from Santa Elena.

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Surf within 20 km

The next 7 days. Each day's wave height, green on a good day for intermediate surfers. A spot that does not suit them is tagged with the level it suits and never goes green for them. The best of the spots that stay in Santa Elena each day wears a ★ Best badge, only on a Good day. 10 spots stay in another town: within your drive, they count for Santa Elena too.

Wave height in feet, the wave energy in kJ under it.GoodUnder each day, the wind in knots: the arrow points where it blows to.A tag under a spot's name is the level its colours are for: Expert

Spot

Mon 19

Tue 20

Wed 21

Thu 22

Fri 23

Sat 24

Sun 25

La Diablica11.4 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 11 km

4 ft363 kJ

5 ft540 kJ

4 ft516 kJ

5 ft669 kJ

5 ft568 kJ

4 ft289 kJ

4 ft174 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at La Diablica, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	57, good	4 ft11 smushy	363kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Tue 20Oct	49, good	5 ft12 smushy	540kJ	wind from the south-west, 6 knots	29°C
Wed 21Oct	57, good	4 ft15 ssoft	516kJ	wind from the south-west, 4 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	47, fair	5 ft12 ssoft	669kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots	28°C
Fri 23Oct	44, fair	5 ft11 ssoft	568kJ	wind from the south, 5 knots	30°C
Sat 24Oct	56, good	4 ft11 ssoft	289kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots	30°C
Sun 25Oct	47, fair	4 ft8 smushy	174kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 3 knots	29°C

Ecuasal9.2 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 6 km

4 ft438 kJ

4 ft426 kJ

4 ft621 kJ

5 ft735 kJ

5 ft520 kJ

4 ft350 kJ

4 ft206 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Ecuasal, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	49, good	4 ft11 shollow	438kJ	wind from the south, 8 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	38, fair	4 ft11 shollow	426kJ	wind from the south-west, 10 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	54, good	4 ft14 shollow	621kJ	wind from the south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	43, fair	5 ft12 shollow	735kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	36, fair	5 ft11 shollow	520kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	54, good	4 ft11 shollow	350kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°C
Sun 25Oct	47, fair	4 ft8 shollow	206kJ	wind from the south, 3 knots	27°C

Punta Carnero9.4 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 8 km

4 ft471 kJ

4 ft405 kJ

4 ft612 kJ

5 ft685 kJ

5 ft482 kJ

4 ft270 kJ

4 ft186 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Punta Carnero, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	51, good	4 ft11 smushy	471kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	40, fair	4 ft11 smushy	405kJ	wind from the south-west, 10 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	54, good	4 ft14 smushy	612kJ	wind from the south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	43, fair	5 ft12 smushy	685kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	37, fair	5 ft11 smushy	482kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	54, good	4 ft10 ssoft	270kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°C
Sun 25Oct	47, fair	4 ft8 smushy	186kJ	wind from the south, 3 knots	27°C

FAE15.8 kmabout 30 min by carStays in La Libertad, 10 km

5 ft503 kJ

4 ft443 kJ

4 ft621 kJ

5 ft747 kJ

5 ft636 kJ

4 ft350 kJ

4 ft194 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at FAE, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	47, fair	5 ft12 smushy	503kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	33, poor	4 ft11 smushy	443kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 11 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	52, good	4 ft14 smushy	621kJ	wind from the south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	39, fair	5 ft12 smushy	747kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	30, poor	5 ft11 smushy	636kJ	wind from the south, 9 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	4 ft11 smushy	350kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Sun 25Oct	46, fair	4 ft8 smushy	194kJ	wind from the south-west, 5 knots	27°C

FAE - 3 cruzes17 kmabout 30 min by carStays in La Libertad, 11 km

5 ft503 kJ

4 ft443 kJ

4 ft621 kJ

5 ft747 kJ

5 ft636 kJ

4 ft350 kJ

4 ft194 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at FAE - 3 cruzes, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	47, fair	5 ft12 shollow	503kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	33, poor	4 ft11 shollow	443kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 11 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	52, good	4 ft14 shollow	621kJ	wind from the south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	39, fair	5 ft12 shollow	747kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	30, poor	5 ft11 shollow	636kJ	wind from the south, 9 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	4 ft11 shollow	350kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Sun 25Oct	46, fair	4 ft8 smushy	194kJ	wind from the south-west, 5 knots	27°C

Coito8.2 kmabout 15 min by car

3 ft177 kJ

3 ft201 kJ

2 ft148 kJ

3 ft218 kJ

3 ft168 kJ

2 ft51 kJ

3 ft59 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Coito, each day
Day	Score for intermediates	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	18, too small	3 ft11 scrumbling	177kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	28°C
Tue 20Oct	22, too small	3 ft12 shollow	201kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	16, too small	2 ft12 shollow	148kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	28°C
Thu 22Oct	24, too small	3 ft11 scrumbling	218kJ	wind from the south-west, 4 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	15, too small	3 ft12 shollow	168kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	11, too small	2 ft8 smushy	51kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 0 knots	28°C
Sun 25Oct	12, too small	3 ft7 smushy	59kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	27°C

Capaes3.5 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

3 ft177 kJ

3 ft201 kJ

2 ft150 kJ

3 ft210 kJ

3 ft168 kJ

2 ft44 kJ

3 ft59 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Capaes, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	15, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	177kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	15, too small	3 ft12 ssoft	201kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	14, too small	2 ft12 scrumbling	150kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	18, too small	3 ft12 ssoft	210kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	13, too small	3 ft12 scrumbling	168kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	10, too small	2 ft6 smushy	44kJ	wind from the west, 4 knots	29°C
Sun 25Oct	9, too small	3 ft7 smushy	59kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	28°C

Cautivo3.9 kmabout 10 min by carStays in La Libertad, 2 kmNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft474 kJ

4 ft511 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

4 ft211 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Cautivo, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	24, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	416kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 ssoft	474kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	32, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	511kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	24, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	403kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	18, too small	4 ft9 ssoft	211kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	29°C
Sun 25Oct	15, too small	4 ft7 smushy	121kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots	28°C

Chulluipe3.8 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft474 kJ

4 ft511 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

4 ft211 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Chulluipe, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	24, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	416kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 ssoft	474kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	32, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	511kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	24, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	403kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	18, too small	4 ft9 ssoft	211kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	29°C
Sun 25Oct	15, too small	4 ft7 smushy	121kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	28°C

El Castillo3.9 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

3 ft177 kJ

3 ft201 kJ

2 ft150 kJ

3 ft218 kJ

3 ft168 kJ

2 ft44 kJ

3 ft59 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at El Castillo, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	16, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	177kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	15, too small	3 ft12 ssoft	201kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	14, too small	2 ft12 ssoft	150kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	19, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	218kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	13, too small	3 ft12 ssoft	168kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	10, too small	2 ft6 smushy	44kJ	wind from the west, 4 knots	29°C
Sun 25Oct	9, too small	3 ft7 smushy	59kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	28°C

La Chocolatera15.1 kmabout 30 min by carStays in La Libertad, 10 kmNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

4 ft514 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

3 ft158 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at La Chocolatera, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 shollow	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 9 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	29, too small	4 ft12 shollow	416kJ	wind from the south-west, 14 knots, offshore	27°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 shollow	427kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	35, too small	4 ft12 shollow	514kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	28, too small	4 ft12 shollow	403kJ	wind from the south, 9 knots, offshore	27°C
Sat 24Oct	20, too small	3 ft9 shollow	158kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Sun 25Oct	17, too small	4 ft7 shollow	121kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	27°C

Paco illescas11.4 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 6 kmNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

4 ft514 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

4 ft211 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Paco illescas, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	29, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	416kJ	wind from the south-west, 11 knots, offshore	27°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 ssoft	427kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	35, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	514kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	28, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	403kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	18, too small	4 ft9 ssoft	211kJ	wind from the south-west, 9 knots	28°C
Sun 25Oct	16, too small	4 ft7 smushy	121kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C

Pico nerd11.2 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 6 kmNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

4 ft514 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

4 ft211 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Pico nerd, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	29, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	416kJ	wind from the south-west, 11 knots, offshore	27°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 ssoft	427kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	35, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	514kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	28, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	403kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	18, too small	4 ft9 ssoft	211kJ	wind from the south-west, 9 knots	28°C
Sun 25Oct	16, too small	4 ft7 smushy	121kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C

Playero de miramar12 kmabout 25 min by carStays in La Libertad, 6 kmNeeds 5 ft+

4 ft351 kJ

4 ft416 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

4 ft514 kJ

4 ft403 kJ

3 ft158 kJ

4 ft121 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Playero de miramar, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	351kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	29, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	416kJ	wind from the south-west, 11 knots, offshore	27°C
Wed 21Oct	24, too small	4 ft13 scrumbling	427kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	35, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	514kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	28, too small	4 ft12 ssoft	403kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	19, too small	3 ft9 ssoft	158kJ	wind from the south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Sun 25Oct	16, too small	4 ft7 smushy	121kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C

Distances are in a straight line from the middle of Santa Elena, to spots that land joins: none across a bay or on another island. A drive marked "about" is our estimate: the straight line times 1.8 minutes a km, measured on the drives we have routed (half of those come within 21% of the routed time).

Places to eat near Santa Elena

Luis Daniel PizzaPizza · 0.3 km from the centre
Food TruckBurger · 0.1 km from the centre
Picantería y cevichería MargaritaSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
The Pepper's RestaurantBarbecue · 0.2 km from the centre
Las Delicias De FlorBreakfast and brunch · 0.4 km from the centre
Zaruco RestaurantLatin american · 0.4 km from the centre

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits