Women's Surf & Fitness Week in Coastal Ecuador

Days here follow the water. Mornings usually start with a workout before or around breakfast, then you're in the surf with your coach, then back for a meal, then more time in the water or a theory session in the afternoon. Four practical surf lessons with local instructors are included, plus three theory classes and photo analysis, where you go through shots of your own surfing and pick apart your pop-up, your stance and your positioning. Boards are provided, so you don't have to bring one or work out how to rent.

The surf coaching is pitched at beginners through intermediates. Montañita has a beach break running for kilometres, which gives plenty of room for learners, and there's also La Punta, a righthand point break that has a reputation well beyond Ecuador. Your coach will place you where you belong on any given day.

The fitness half is run by Rowdy Fitness and draws on the studio's class formats — strength, sculpt, cardio, mobility and restorative sessions. Some days are hard and sweaty, others are deliberately slow. The work is programmed to complement surfing: hip and shoulder mobility, core strength, balance and the endurance you need for repeated paddle-outs and duck dives. Every session can be scaled to your level.

What separates this from a generic surf camp is the group size and the setup. Ten women maximum, one coach per surfer in the water, a private chef, and a brand-new beachfront house that belongs to the operator rather than a hotel you're slotted into. The extras also go beyond the usual — a visit and snorkel at a coral nursery, an ice bath, a sound bath, an empowerment workshop, and a photographer shooting daily so you leave with actual photos of yourself surfing rather than a GoPro still.

The setting is Playa Montañita, on the Pacific coast about two and a half hours north of Guayaquil. It started out as a hippie beach town and grew into one of Ecuador's better-known surf destinations, with warm water, a colourful village, a steady run of sunsets and an easygoing local scene.

What's included

- 8 days / 7 nights in a beachfront villa at Playa Montañita - All meals eaten at the retreat house, cooked by a private chef - 4 private surf lessons with local coaches (approx. 1:1 ratio) - 3 surf theory classes - Surf photo analysis sessions - Surfboard rental for the week - Daily workout with Rowdy Fitness - Immersive sound bath experience - Empowerment workshop - Coral nursery visit and snorkel experience - Ice bath recovery session - Professional photos taken each day - Airport transfers from/to Guayaquil (GYE) - 1-month free access to the Salty Club - 1-month free access to Rowdy Mermaid studio

What's not included

- Flight ticket to and from Guayaquil (GYE) - 3-4 meals eaten at restaurants during the week - Alcoholic beverages - Travel insurance - Optional spa treatments or extra activities