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 beginners: green on a good day. The dashed circle is 20 km from Santa Elena.

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Surf within 20 km

The next 7 days. Each day's wave height, green on a good day for beginner 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 Intermediate

Spot

Sun 18

Mon 19

Tue 20

Wed 21

Thu 22

Fri 23

Sat 24

Capaes3.5 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

3 ft236 kJ

3 ft169 kJ

3 ft170 kJ

2 ft150 kJ

3 ft220 kJ

3 ft76 kJ

3 ft62 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Capaes, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	18, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	236kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Mon 19Oct	15, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	169kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	15, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	170kJ	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	19, too small	3 ft12 ssoft	220kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	12, too small	3 ft8 ssoft	76kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	11, too small	3 ft7 smushy	62kJ	wind from the south-west, 2 knots	29°C

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

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft474 kJ

4 ft527 kJ

4 ft249 kJ

4 ft219 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Cautivo, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	31, too small	5 ft12 ssoft	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	23, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	349kJ	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	527kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	22, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	249kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	20, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	219kJ	wind from the south-west, 2 knots	29°C

Chulluipe3.8 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft474 kJ

4 ft527 kJ

4 ft249 kJ

4 ft219 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Chulluipe, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	30, too small	5 ft12 ssoft	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	23, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	349kJ	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	527kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	22, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	249kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	20, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	219kJ	wind from the south-west, 2 knots	29°C

Coito8.2 kmabout 15 min by carNeeds 5 ft+

3 ft236 kJ

3 ft169 kJ

3 ft170 kJ

2 ft149 kJ

3 ft229 kJ

3 ft76 kJ

3 ft62 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Coito, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	21, too small	3 ft11 scrumbling	236kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	28°C
Mon 19Oct	18, too small	3 ft11 shollow	169kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	28°C
Tue 20Oct	21, too small	3 ft11 shollow	170kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	16, too small	2 ft12 shollow	149kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	28°C
Thu 22Oct	25, too small	3 ft12 scrumbling	229kJ	wind from the south-west, 4 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	14, too small	3 ft8 scrumbling	76kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	12, too small	3 ft7 smushy	62kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 0 knots	28°C

Ecuasal9.2 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 6 kmIntermediate and up

6 ft751 kJ

4 ft284 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft562 kJ

5 ft772 kJ

4 ft325 kJ

4 ft358 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Ecuasal, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	38, fair	6 ft12 shollow	751kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Mon 19Oct	50, good	4 ft10 shollow	284kJ	wind from the south, 8 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	39, fair	4 ft11 shollow	390kJ	wind from the south-west, 10 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	53, good	4 ft15 shollow	562kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	43, fair	5 ft12 shollow	772kJ	wind from the south, 6 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	38, fair	4 ft10 shollow	325kJ	wind from the south, 8 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	54, good	4 ft11 shollow	358kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°C

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

3 ft236 kJ

3 ft169 kJ

3 ft170 kJ

2 ft150 kJ

3 ft229 kJ

3 ft76 kJ

3 ft62 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at El Castillo, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	18, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	236kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Mon 19Oct	16, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	169kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	15, too small	3 ft11 ssoft	170kJ	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 ft12 ssoft	229kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	12, too small	3 ft8 ssoft	76kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots, offshore	30°C
Sat 24Oct	11, too small	3 ft7 smushy	62kJ	wind from the south-west, 2 knots	29°C

FAE15.8 kmabout 30 min by carStays in La Libertad, 10 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft699 kJ

4 ft497 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft562 kJ

5 ft760 kJ

4 ft325 kJ

4 ft358 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at FAE, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	36, fair	5 ft12 smushy	699kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Mon 19Oct	48, good	4 ft12 smushy	497kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	34, poor	4 ft11 smushy	390kJ	wind from the south-west, 11 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	51, good	4 ft15 smushy	562kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	39, fair	5 ft12 smushy	760kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	32, poor	4 ft10 smushy	325kJ	wind from the south, 9 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	4 ft11 smushy	358kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	27°C

FAE - 3 cruzes17 kmabout 30 min by carStays in La Libertad, 11 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft699 kJ

4 ft497 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft562 kJ

5 ft760 kJ

4 ft325 kJ

4 ft358 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at FAE - 3 cruzes, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	36, fair	5 ft12 shollow	699kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Mon 19Oct	48, good	4 ft12 shollow	497kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	34, poor	4 ft11 smushy	390kJ	wind from the south-west, 11 knots	27°C
Wed 21Oct	51, good	4 ft15 shollow	562kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Thu 22Oct	39, fair	5 ft12 shollow	760kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	32, poor	4 ft10 shollow	325kJ	wind from the south, 9 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	4 ft11 shollow	358kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	27°C

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

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

5 ft524 kJ

4 ft323 kJ

4 ft219 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at La Chocolatera, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	31, too small	5 ft12 shollow	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 10 knots, offshore	27°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 shollow	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 9 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	28, too small	4 ft11 shollow	349kJ	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	36, fair	5 ft12 shollow	524kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 shollow	323kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 14 knots, offshore	27°C
Sat 24Oct	22, too small	4 ft10 shollow	219kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots, offshore	27°C

La Diablica11.4 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 11 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft699 kJ

4 ft450 kJ

4 ft484 kJ

4 ft516 kJ

5 ft687 kJ

4 ft288 kJ

4 ft314 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at La Diablica, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	42, fair	5 ft12 smushy	699kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots	30°C
Mon 19Oct	58, good	4 ft11 ssoft	450kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	28°C
Tue 20Oct	50, good	4 ft12 smushy	484kJ	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	48, good	5 ft12 ssoft	687kJ	wind from the south-south-east, 4 knots	28°C
Fri 23Oct	47, fair	4 ft10 ssoft	288kJ	wind from the south, 5 knots	30°C
Sat 24Oct	57, good	4 ft11 ssoft	314kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 1 knot	30°C

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

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

5 ft524 kJ

4 ft323 kJ

4 ft219 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Paco illescas, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	31, too small	5 ft12 ssoft	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots, offshore	27°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	28, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	349kJ	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	36, fair	5 ft12 ssoft	524kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	323kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 11 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	20, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	219kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots, offshore	28°C

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

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

5 ft524 kJ

4 ft323 kJ

4 ft219 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Pico nerd, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	31, too small	5 ft12 ssoft	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots, offshore	27°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	28, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	349kJ	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	36, fair	5 ft12 ssoft	524kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	323kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 11 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	20, too small	4 ft10 ssoft	219kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots, offshore	28°C

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

5 ft537 kJ

4 ft339 kJ

4 ft349 kJ

4 ft427 kJ

5 ft524 kJ

4 ft323 kJ

3 ft199 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Playero de miramar, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	31, too small	5 ft12 ssoft	537kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots, offshore	27°C
Mon 19Oct	25, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	339kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Tue 20Oct	28, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	349kJ	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	36, fair	5 ft12 ssoft	524kJ	wind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore	27°C
Fri 23Oct	26, too small	4 ft11 ssoft	323kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 11 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	21, too small	3 ft10 ssoft	199kJ	wind from the south-west, 5 knots, offshore	28°C

Punta Carnero9.4 kmabout 20 min by carStays in La Libertad, 8 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft711 kJ

4 ft337 kJ

4 ft355 kJ

4 ft612 kJ

5 ft648 kJ

4 ft288 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Punta Carnero, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Sun 18Oct	38, fair	5 ft12 smushy	711kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots	27°C
Mon 19Oct	53, good	4 ft11 smushy	337kJ	wind from the south, 8 knots	27°C
Tue 20Oct	41, fair	4 ft11 smushy	355kJ	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	44, fair	5 ft12 smushy	648kJ	wind from the south, 7 knots	27°C
Fri 23Oct	40, fair	4 ft10 smushy	288kJ	wind from the south, 8 knots	27°C
Sat 24Oct	54, good	4 ft11 ssoft	317kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°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