🇪🇨 Santa Marianita
Ecuador · South America · All Ecuador spots →
Best directionS
Wind speed12–18kt
SeasonMay – Dec
Skill levelAll levels
WaterChop + rollers
A small fishing village near Manta on Ecuador's central coast, and the country's best-known kite destination — a steady afternoon thermal sea breeze and a real, if compact, local kite scene.
View live 5-day wind forecast →Good to know
Getting thereLocated just a 20-minute drive south of Manta Airport (MEC) along the coastal highway. A car or local taxi transfer is necessary, with free public parking available directly along the unpaved streets and sand flats behind the beach bars and kite schools. The expansive sandy shoreline provides a massive, unobstructed rigging and launching zone.
HazardsThe spot features an open Pacific Ocean environment with a heavy shorebreak at high tide and strong lateral undercurrents. While highly forgiving due to the lack of rocks or reefs, true beginners must be prepared to handle large rolling waves and look out for local artisanal fishing boats launching from the sand.
Best time of dayAfternoon, from May to December, when the Humboldt current aligns with daily inland thermal heating to produce a highly predictable cross-onshore sea breeze. The wind peaks between 13:00 and 16:00, offering excellent bump-and-jump or wave-riding conditions.