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5-Day Invigorating Surf and Yoga Retreat in Ayampe, Ecuador
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Basubu says
If you’re seeking the ultimate rush, nothing can revive the soul like 5 days of surfing and yoga on the Ecuadorian coast. Located in the scenic beach town of Ayampe, this is the perfect getaway for surfers, yogis and sun-worshippers alike. Soar through some of the best local breaks with private surf lessons and dive into personalised yoga sessions that deepen your discipline. You'll stay in a breathtaking lodge with ocean views and dig into three organic meals made from scratch each day by the in-house chef. If you're hungry for more, there are also fiery cooking classes as well as a journey to the highest peak in the area on horseback.
Daily surf classes
Daily wave searching in the pick-up truck
3 extremely delicious, made from scratch, exquisite meals
Cooking classes
Jungle hikes
Agua Blanca Archeology tour
Snorkeling
Daily yoga session
Horseback excursion to the highest peak in the area
Use of surfboard, leash, and wax
Excursion to Los Friales National park
Excursions to locally made cholate shop
Boat trips
Diving
Instruction in English
Max. 8 participants
Organiser also speaks Spanish
Vistamar offers a vacation experience that is tailored exactly to your desires from private surf lessons and surf trips to local breaks to small personalized yoga classes at the hour of your choosing, to personalized exquisite dining options, to a dozen tour options including cultural immersions and adventures. We offer these unique experiences coupled with comfortable and beautiful lodging. Expect hot water, fast wifi, daily cleaning service, extra comfy bedding and mattresses, epic views from the bed, desks and lounge areas, ocean breeze and A/C options, and attention to detail from guest relations to impeccable maintenance of the facilities.
Why choose Vistamar Guest House for your vacation?
- Personalized itineraries with attention to detail
- Private, small groups
- Super flexibility; you choose the date to start and end your experience!
- Superb care and guest relations
- Lots of activities, adventures and cultural immersions to choose from
- A truly awesome dining experience
Prices are based on a 5-day, 4-night stay, vary by season and are indicative only. Different lengths of stay are also available. Please enquire for more details
People
Program
We like to tailor each experience to the speed and desires of each of our guests. If you want to focus your trip on surfing, yoga or adventures or a balance of both will be up to you. The balanced approach looks something like this:
Start the day with a light hike through one of our several wilderness areas that surround Ayampe followed by a delicious breakfast. Then an up-tempo yoga practice followed by leisure time/time to explore the pueblo of Ayampe till lunch. For the afternoon; a siesta followed by a yin yoga practice or a surf class, free surf, bike ride, hike, scramble, swim, cooking class or simply relaxing in the hammock. Then top off the evening (with a cocktail) by relaxing on the third-floor deck watching the sun set over the islands. On any given day, we are also happy to make a full day, or half-day excursion happens for you such as a boat trip to the Isla de la Plata, a horseback adventure through the peaks of the mountains in Rio Blanca, fishing, snorkelling, exploring hidden coves, check out an archaeological site and springs, take bike rides, and much more.
We want this to be your trip, so in the end, this itinerary is just a suggestion. You could have double surf lessons every day, or no surfing at all, or anything in between!
As mentioned above, we like to be flexible and let the weather and natural conditions ultimately predict what activities are best suited day today.
Excursions
Excursions
- Horseback excursion to the highest peak in the area
- Boat trip and snorkeling to Isla de la Plata
- Excursions to hidden beaches and coves
- Excursions to Los Friales National Park
- Excursion to Agua Blanca archaeological site
- Jungle Hikes
Optional activities
- Biking (bikes are included in the price)
- Colibri jungle trail walk
- Cooking classes
- Snorkelling
- Hidden Tortuga bay visit
- Horseback trip through the jungle
- National Park Los Frailes visit
- Yoga and meditation retreat
Accommodation
Air-conditioned rooms
Dining area
Garden
Lobby
Luggage room / storage
Multilingual staff
Special menu request
Yoga deck
Yoga studio
Free bicycle
Free Wi-Fi
Library
Outdoor shower
Barbeque facilities
Environmentally friendly
Kitchen
Lounge
Meditation garden
Picnic area
Terrace
Yoga shala
Board rental
Free parking
Laundry
Tour assistance
Check-in
13:00
Check-out
11:00
Vistamar boasts ocean views from all the beds, a fully stocked covered outdoor kitchen, an open loft with ocean and jungle views that are outfitted with hammocks and a desk, and lots of furnished balcony space.
All the rooms boast comfortable, new furnishings, hot water, fast wifi (~50mbps+), daily cleaning service and fine attention to detail. The rooms on the first floor have A/C and the rooms on the second floor are ocean breeze fresh.
Wyra
Private room | Private bathroom | $999
Private Lodge
Triple Room - Killa Suite
Private room | Private bathroom | $1,194
Shared house
Double Room - Sacha Room
Private room | Private bathroom | $999
Shared house
Triple Room
Private room | Private bathroom | $995
Inti Suite
Food
It is our intention that when you leave at the very very least you can say that the food was awesome! We strive to use the finest local ingredients, make everything from scratch, choose organic whenever possible, source delicious local coffee, use Ecuadorian cacao use fresh coconut cream and milk instead of dairy products, all combined with fine culinary skill and presentation.
You can expect three meals a day, fresh fruit and snacks on tap, and a chef who is ready to whip you up something to eat in between meals.
Please take notice the meals are oriented to the seasonal produce and a pescatarian diet. Here you will enjoy great seafood (tuna, Mahi Mahi, swordfish, wahoo, wild-caught shrimp, calamari, etc.) and fresh produce.
However, the Vistamar team is flexible and will be happy to alter the menu to your wishes. On a normal basis, you may expect a vegetarian breakfast, and either a pescatarian lunch and veggie dinner, or a veggie dinner and a pescatarian lunch, or pescatarian lunch and dinner. There will always be plenty of veggie sides (also, a vegan option will be served, depending on guests' desires).
Unlimited beer and rum for 20 USD extra a day are also available.
Also, Expect:
- All of our smoothie bowls, sauce bases and other lactose based dishes are made with freshly made coconut milk, coconut cream or coconut oil
- We only use butter, not margarine
- We use organic produce whenever possible
- We source as local as possible
- Seafood products are bought fresh and local
- We use excellent Arabic coffee from Ecuador
- Expect variety at every meal.
- Expect generous portions
- Expect everything to be made from scratch, including:
- Hot sauces, salad dressings, coconut cream & Milk, juices, Smoothie bowl bases…
- Expect special requests to be met
- Expect attention to detail
- Expect excellence
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate them to the organizer when making a reservation
Location
Ayampe, Ecuador is a very safe, small clean village with an international community, restaurants, year-round surf, and lots of wave variety within a 15 minutes drive.
Nearby Towns
Jipijapa
45 km
Santa Elena
61 km
Salinas
61 km
How to get there
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive either at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) or Eloy Alfaro International Airport (MEC). Transfer from and to this airport can be purchased for an additional cost. You may send Vistamar Guest House an inquiry to know more about this. They will be more than happy to provide you with personalized information on how to get here, including help coordinating the easiest international flight path!
Nearest airports
GYE José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Transfer available for additional € 105 per person
116 km
MEC Eloy Alfaro International Airport
Transfer available for additional € 57 per person
82 km
Instructors
Matteo
Matteo is your friendly host and surf guru. He has two decades of surf experience, lifeguard training and years of experience teaching surfing from surf camps in San Diego to private and group lessons here in Ecuador and Peru. He's here to make sure you have a good time and ensure your safety, provide tips, water safety and local condition information, and pinpoint the best conditions and take you to the best breaks the Ecuatorial Pacific has to offer.
Juan
Juan is our friendly, bilingual surf instructor with two decades of surfing and a decade of instructing experience. With several years here in Ayampe, he has an intimate knowledge of the nuances of this beach, which translates into you having a productive surf experience!
Lucial
Lucile is a certified yoga and sup yoga teacher with experience in Yin & restorative, Vinyasa, Hatha and power yoga. She has led yoga and surf retreats and has worked in many studios around the world including London, Tanzania, Colombia, Ecuador and Morocco. Lucile creates an environment that is both relaxed and relaxing to help condition the body for surfing and stretch post surf. Her classes incorporate breath work, meditation, and asanas with maximum hands on assists and modifications to accommodate different levels. Lucile’s classes are both fun and relaxing with an emphasis on the breath
What's included?
- Daily surf classes
- Daily yoga session
- Daily wave searching in the pick-up truck
- Use of surfboard, leash, and wax
- Horseback excursion to the highest peak in the area
- Boat trip and snorkeling to Isla de la Plata
- Excursions to hidden beaches and coves
- Excursions to Los Friales National Park
- Excursion to Agua Blanca archeological site
- Jungle Hikes
- Cooking classes
- Use of bikes and snorkel gear
What's not included?
- Alcohol
- Massages (we're happy to coordinate this for you though)
- Transportation
- Unlimited beer and rum for 20 USD extra a day
Cancellation policy
Cancellation
Cancel up to 60 days in advance for a 50% refund
Cancel up to 30 days in advance for a 25% refund
Changes
You may not change your dates after booking
Covid
Contact host for terms if you test positive for Covid
Full refund if you cannot travel due to Covid restrictions
Full refund if the retreat does not take place due to Covid restrictions
Prices are based on a 5-day, 4-night stay, vary by season and are indicative only. Different lengths of stay are also available. Please enquire for more details
People
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