Overview
Estero del Plátano is a left and right reef break beside a small fishing village, and it carries a good reputation among surfers in northern Ecuador. It looks like a beachbreak, but the sand sits over a solid rock set-up, so you are really surfing reef here.
When It Works
It draws swell from southwest through northwest, with southwest (SW) the best match and the direction that lights up the lefts. Any west swell will get it going. The working range runs from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, and it is only moderately consistent, so it pays to catch it on a good swell.
Wind and Tide
Mornings are typically offshore, and that is when the waves regularly barrel, so it is worth being on it early. The offshore direction is southeast (SE). It comes in on mid and high tide, with a rising tide the better call.
Local Tips
The reef suits intermediate surfers, and you can expect a moderately busy lineup when it is working.
Access
It is a long drive out, with camping available and little else in the way of facilities.
