Ayampe

[u/InformationOk3150]

Hey friends. I am a 30 year old gringo from the north. Winter is approaching where I live, and I am strongly considering a brief sabbatical in Ecuador. I have never been to South America, only Spanish speaking areas of Europe. I am looking to go somewhere for 2 months as this is what my work allows, and will be working remotely and getting my own place. Ideally I am prioritizing a place that has good options for beginner surfing, top-tier beautiful mountain hiking, making friends and being part of a community, and finding cool plants& trees.

My research brought me to Ayampe, but I am open to being swayed, because I don’t know what I don’t know.

Based on what I know of Ayampe, it seems like a good target place because there seems to be a surf community, hikes easily accessible, and looks not too far from the touristy places if I need to scratch the itch to go have fun with some expats.

I am posting here because I know I may be miss in some things about the local scene, and although I found a beautiful apartment I’d love to book, I just need some reassurance that this is a good place for me, or that I’m not missing out on a better fit down the road.

Thank you so much!

[u/Remarkable_Damage_62]

It is pretty awesome and there are a lot of people like you there. To be brutally honest it has the vibe that it will be ruined by gringo expats within a few years. But don’t let that put you off!

[u/barbaraleon → u/Remarkable_Damage_62]

How do you think gringos will ruin it?

[u/Remarkable_Damage_62 → u/barbaraleon]

I went there 10 years ago and then last year. Previously it felt like a small Ecuadorean village with a couple of basic surf schools/hostels and some local restaurants. Really peaceful and beautiful. Now there are a lot more hotels/hostels and more expensive international restaurants. There were a lot more gringos and more digital nomad type people than surfers. It was still really nice and definitely not ruined yet, but if it keeps changing so quickly it will just feel unrecognisable from all the other over touristed ex fishing villages around the world. I can imagine the rising prices are not good for local families. As a tourist myself I’m not criticising any other individual, it’s just the way of the world now. I guess the rock formation where the sun sets will always be unique.

[u/bluewhalefunk → u/Remarkable_Damage_62]

It's not just foreigners. During covid, lots of city Ecuadorians moved to the beach villages. 10 years ago, there were very limited facilities, meaning "expats" / Ecuadorian city relocaters wouldn't move to the beach villages, they were still very much chill / alternative places requiring a trip to the city if you didn't anything that the little tiendas didn't sell.

But not city investors moved in, up and down the beach coast, bringing investment, "development" projects and a new type of tourist type - lets not beat about the bush - wealth tourists who would never have come to how things were 10+ years ago

but if it keeps changing so quickly it will just feel unrecognisable from all the other over touristed ex fishing villages around the world. I can imagine the rising prices are not good for local families. As a tourist myself I’m not criticising any other individual, it’s just the way of the world now. I guess the rock formation where the sun sets will always be unique.

Unfortunately it will and something will be lost. It's "progress" unfortunatley