After reading so many great stories about how amazing our tiny village is and hearing the Mompiche? Yes, Mompiche! podcast about how much people love it here, have you started thinking about visiting Mompiche? We’d love to see you in 2022! At least think about it…
Here’s a guide of some of the best things to do while you’re in Mompiche.
Playa Negra
Playa Negra (Black Beach) is a 30-40-minute walk from Mompiche. Head down the dirt track road that begins at the south end of the main beach and keep walking until you reach a swinging gate. There’s a sign indicating the path down to the beach. Follow the path and you'll reach this gorgeous secluded strip of soft dark titanium that shines like silver. You’ll need to check the tide tables before you go because Black Beach is only accessible during low tides. There is not a lot of shelter on this beach so make sure you have hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water before you go.
Secret Waterfall
About 20 minutes into your hike along the river, take a turn into the jungle and climb through tangled tree roots and branches to find Secret Waterfall. Bring drinks and snacks and your swimsuit and towel. Also, bring mosquito repellent for the hike. There is a wonderful pool right under the waterfall where you can take a refreshing dip after conquering the strenuous trail. It’s a challenging walk so wear good shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.
Mompiche River
Hiking along Mompiche’s fascinating river, along the way you’ll see all the exotic water plants, tropical fruit trees you didn’t even know existed. This is where you’ll find the magical medicinal herbs the ancient Chachi tribes used and the modern locals currently use to cure their ills, but you have to know what you’re looking for. Bring drinks and snacks and your swimsuit and towel so you can take dips in the many waterholes as you go. Also, bring mosquito repellent for the hike. You’ll also need good shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
Surfing Mompiche
In the season—November to April—this tiny remote fishing village that barely earns its spot on the Ecuadorian map becomes a haven for surfers from all over the world. Mompiche has great waves, especially when the north swell comes in. There are three main surf spots:
La Punta: A point break with lots of nice slow left waves for all levels, Walk around the beach and over the rocks. On a good day, you can follow the trail of local surfers eagerly carrying their boards up the beach. Low tide is best.
El Rio: At the mouth of the river outlet where it empties onto the beach there is a beach break where the waves are best at mid-high tide.
Playa Negra: Walk to Playa Negra for more beach break waves. Better for more experienced surfers. Mid-high tide.
If you need to hire a surfboard or take a surf lesson there are a few options:
Figu’s Surf School just off the main street has a good reputation.
La Peña Surf School is also one of the best places in Mompiche.
Jungle Tours
Ramon, who has lived in the mountains his whole life, takes half-day hiking tours through the jungle. With intimate knowledge of every tree, plant, and flower, and all the species of wildlife in the area, hiking with him is truly an eye-opener. He’ll cut coconuts out of the palm trees to drink and feed you with seeds and weeds, roots and shoots you did not even imagine were edible. Most of the trails are moderate to difficult. But even if you’re a novice hiker, and enjoy the solitude of the jungle, a trip into the wilds with Ramon is definitely a must!
For more info:
Ramon’s Jungle Tours
Mangrove Tours
The mangroves around Mompiche are home to the tallest mangroves on our planet, some measuring over fifty meters high. There are four main types of mangroves: red, black, white, and buttonwood. It’s also where the Black Conch, an endemic clam-like shellfish used in the traditional dish Conch Ceviche is grown and harvested. One of the best ways to see the mangroves is by kayak, silently paddling through the waterways to see and hear birds and wildlife that might be disturbed by the sound of a motor.
Portete and Isla Jupiter
If deserted palm-tree-lined beaches are your thing, Portete has you covered. It’s a 45-60 minute walk from Mompiche, or take a moto-taxi to the shore where you’ll hop on a skip to cross the river and reach the island. Some motorboat tours through the mangroves also stop at Isla Jupiter. Most “guides” just drop you off on the uninhabited island to walk around a little. A few will give you a brief history of the island. Heads up: the boat ride to Isla Jupiter can be a little rough at times.
Whale Watching
From June to September each year, pods of humpback whales migrate 4,000 miles (6437km) from Antarctica to South America to find their ideal climate for mating and giving birth to live young. This incredibly long voyage is the longest migration made by any mammal. If you’re lucky, you’ll see whales breaching along the horizon from the beach, but the best way to see whales is to jump in a boat and get out there.
Turtle Spotting
If you’re in the right place at the right time, usually around September-November, you may see turtles if you walk right along Mompiche Beach, Black Beach, or Isla Portete.
What Else?
Many people come to Mompiche believing there is little to do besides surf and sunbathe. Au contraire! There is so much to do you will need weeks to do it all! If you’re not already enthralled by our shimmering beaches, enchanting rivers, tropical jungles, silent mangroves, breaching whales, and baby turtles, we have even more fun stuff you can do here:
Mama Cocha’s Tree-To-Bar Chocolate Tours takes you on a journey into the jungle where cacao trees are grown in their natural environment where the pods are harvested, fermented, dried, roasted, and turned into chocolate.
If you’re interested in classes, Secret Garden runs custom-designed classes for chocolate-making, traditional cuisine and vegan cooking, paper-making, and coconut oil workshops for individuals and small groups.
Michela is an incredible massage therapist who will take care of stiff and sore muscles, help heal injured limbs, or treat you to a full relaxation massage therapy in her comfortable studio with a jungle view.
Take the Mural Walk around the backstreets of the village and spot the murals and artwork created by world-class artists who have left their mark on Mompiche.
Last, but not least, you can also just relax and enjoy the slow pace of life in the village. Whatever you decide to do during your visit to Mompiche, there is no doubt you’ll love it. We hope to see you sometime in 2022!
Happy New Year!
Apart from the fabulous weekly podcast, Mompiche? Yes, Mompiche! all paid subscribers have access to exciting chapters from my current non-fiction work in progress, Ya Mismo: Thirty Minutes North of Zero every month with the good, the bad, and the ugly stories that are part of life in a remote corner of northwest Ecuador. There’s also my upcoming cookbook Going Freaking Bananas and we’ll discover some of the delightful treasures hidden in those pages…