Balao, Ecuador
Also within 20 km of Esmeraldas
Watch this spot We email you when Balao is worth the trip.
About Balao
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (338°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (158°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 1–5 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 400 m out (1 in 42). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 26°C in December, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 28°C in May, its warmest (no wetsuit). For beginners the best month is usually March, with about 7 good days in 7; in August and September, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Esmeraldas, 3.3 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 27°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 16 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to TCO, changing at El Dorado International Airport (BOG).
See flights ORD → TCO · Skyscanner from about £305 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 40 from the airport to Balao.
Accommodation.
Stay in EsmeraldasAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Esmeraldas (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Esmeraldas 6 min by car · rooms from £45 a night · 35 places to stay · where Balao stays
Places to stay in Esmeraldas · Booking.com AdTonsupa 32 min by car · rooms from £45 a night · 93 places to stay
Places to stay in Tonsupa · Booking.com AdAtacames 41 min by car · rooms from £45 a night · 109 places to stay
Places to stay in Atacames · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Esmeraldas · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Esmeraldas · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Balao on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft12 shollow | 29kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft11 shollow | 23kJ | offshorewind from the south, 3 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 12, too small | 1 ft10 shollow | 22kJ | wind from the west, 3 knots | 29°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft9 scrumbling | 36kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 3 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 16, too small | 1 ft8 scrumbling | 25kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 14kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 4 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft11 shollow | 10kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 5 knots | 28°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft11 shollow | 12kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 4 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft10 shollow | 11kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 7 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft10 shollow | 9kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 5 knots, offshore | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to TCO, changing at BOG, then 2h 40 by road. About 16h 35 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to TCO, changing at BOG, then 2h 40 by road. About 16h 35 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Esmeraldas each day: Balao, El Bajo.
Rough cost
About £675–£1,270 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to TCO, estimated from distance and season, changing at BOG, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £305–£630 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £50–£85 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £120–£200 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £115–£210 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £50–£80 |
| Total | £675–£1,270 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Esmeraldas
- Picanteria "El Camarón Azul"Seafood · 0.4 km from the centre
- Santas Alitas QuinindeAmerican · 1.0 km from the centre
- Restaurante el chacalBar and grill · 1.1 km from the centre
- Duly Sabor - Restaurant0.2 km from the centre
- Pollo Forastero0.2 km from the centre
- Carbon & Leños BurgerBurger · 0.3 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
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.