4 reviewed party hostels · from €4.21/night · Hostelworld rated
Montañita hits you the moment you step off the bus. The sand between your toes, the bass from Club Casa del Sol thumping down Calle Principal, and the smell of saltwater mixing with barbecue smoke. This is Ecuador’s surf-and-party hub, a place where backpackers, surfers, and Ecuadorian holidaymakers collide. The hostel scene here is small but loud: most places sit within a five-minute walk of the beach, and nearly all of them turn into pre-drinks venues by 10 PM. My Little House Backpackers, 50 metres from the shore, is the kind of spot where you’ll end up sharing a bottle of rum with strangers by midnight, then waking up the next afternoon in a hammock with a fresh coconut in hand.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Chill social hostel with a great atmosphere and nice vibes. Free buffet breakfast served every morning. The hostel features a huge rooftop terrace with a sea view where you can hang out with your favourite drink and other travellers. There is also a green backyard with cosy seating, perfect for having some jam sessions.
Saturday BBQ nights, Sunday movie nights, quiz nights, and beer pong championship tournament are just some of the crazy social activities this hostel has to offer. A nice garden with a barbecue, table tennis, and hammocks is a favourite social spot of all the guests. The hostel features a vibrant on-site bar is always crowded with people looking for an adventure.
World-renowned party hostel ranked 13th of the top 20 surf hostels globally, featuring the cheapest beers in Montañita and legendary Happy Nights from 6pm-1am every night. With massive communal spaces, BBQ garden, on-site bar, and epic open bar events, this is where backpackers from around the world come to party hard in Ecuador's ultimate surf town.
Munay Backpacker Hostel, located in the heart of Montañita, offers an eclectic mix of party vibes, from its in-house music studio to its lively bar. With myriad activities and proximity to the beach and nightlife, it's the ultimate party haven.
How Montanita's nightlife zones break down
The heart of Montañita, where the beach meets the main drag. Calle Principal is lined with bars, hostels, and souvenir stalls, and it’s where the party starts every night. During the day, it’s all about surf shops and ceviche stands. By 10 PM, the street fills with music, street performers, and vendors selling glow sticks.
A quieter stretch of beach with a handful of hostels and beachfront bars. The walk from the centre takes about 20 minutes along the sand, but it’s worth it for the sunset views. The crowd here is more relaxed: think bonfires, acoustic guitars, and fewer foam parties. Selina Montañita is the main hub.
A mix of local homes and backpacker hostels, with a few hidden beach bars. The surf breaks here are better for intermediates, and the vibe is more local. Mango’s is the only real nightlife spot, but it’s a great place to start the night with a $2 beer and a sunset view.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
The biggest club in town, right on Calle Principal. Reggaeton, salsa, and EDM blast from two floors until 4 AM. The crowd is a mix of backpackers and Ecuadorian holidaymakers, and the dance floor gets packed by midnight. Entry is free before 11 PM, but drinks jump to $5 after that. If you’re here on a Friday, expect foam parties and glow sticks.
A two-storey beachfront bar with sand underfoot and hammocks strung between palm trees. Happy hour runs from 6–8 PM, with $2 cocktails and $1 beers. By 10 PM, the place turns into a reggae lounge, then a full-on dance floor. The crowd is mostly travellers, and the vibe is loose: expect fire dancers after midnight.
Not a club, but the best spot for late-night eats after the bars close. This Peruvian-Chinese joint serves heaping plates of fried rice and chow mein for $4. It’s open until 3 AM, and the benches outside are always full of backpackers nursing hangovers with greasy food and Coke.
A tiny, unmarked bar tucked behind a surf shop on Calle del Tigrillo. The bartender, Carlos, mixes the strongest mojitos in town for $3. There’s no sign: look for the blue fairy lights and the queue of locals. Open from 8 PM until the last customer leaves, usually around sunrise.
A Cuban-themed bar with live salsa bands most nights. The mojitos are $4, and the dance floor is tiny but always packed. It’s a great spot to start the night: arrive by 9 PM to grab a table. The crowd is a mix of travellers and Ecuadorian couples, and the music switches from salsa to reggaeton after midnight.
A hostel-bar hybrid with a rooftop terrace and daily events. The bar serves $2 beers during happy hour (5–7 PM) and hosts pub quizzes, live DJs, and sunset yoga. The crowd is slightly older than at My Little House, but the parties still spill into the street by 11 PM.