La Casa

In 2002, a broken hose on a Land Rover cut short the weekend trip of a group of surfers. Bound for Montañita, they found themselves in the sleepy coastal village of Ayampe. They said they'd stay for one night and try the waves. They stayed for three days.
One of the surfers, José, kept coming back on weekends and vacations, not just for the surf but also for the jungle, the mountains, the lagoon, and especially the people. It felt more like home than his hometown of Porto Viejo.

In 2011, he opened La Casa as a place for long-term stays. The three-story house has a shared kitchen, six private rooms with bathrooms en-suite, and two private suites with private kitchens and a terrace.

La Casa is located on the beach with spectacular views of the ocean and the lagoon. With lots of comfortable, shared spaces, La Casa is a home-away-from-home for the traveler looking to know the coast of Ecuador. Residents of the house stay from one month to one year. Some group activities include snorkeling, hiking, & whale-watching (June-November). Guests share their cultures over grilled fish in the fire pit or in the line up and become friends among the waves. You'll feel as if you are family here.

This quiet village not only hosts a beach break that works year-round, but also a beautiful lagoon for bird-watching and a long, uncrowded beach. There is horseback riding, Spanish lessons and yoga available in Ayampe.

In Ayampe, time is measured not by the hours but by the tides and the town gathers daily to watch the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. You'll feel at home walking through the unpaved streets as your neighbors greet you with a smile and ask you how you're doing today.

Come be enchanted by this place. If you don't find yourself extending your stay, you'll discover yourself planning to come back.