Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Santa Marianita lies about 13 km south-west of Manta. Ocean Freaks describes a 3 km beach with south-westerly wind of 16–22 knots hitting side-onshore, best from May or June to December or January, and humpback whales passing close between July and October.
Ecuador Kitesurf's guide explains the wind as a thermal driven by the cold Humboldt current against Manta's dry land: it fills in around 10:00 and fades before 17:00. May to mid-September brings 14–22 knots cross-onshore almost daily over flat and choppy water; mid-September to October is a little lighter and more cross-shore. Online forecasts often misread it — ask the schools.
Tides are small most of the year and apart from an occasional shore break the riding area is wide and open, which is why several schools (Ocean Freaks, Kite Ecuador, Humboldt Kites, Ecuador Kitesurf) teach beginners here. The school guide puts the water at about 24 °C in the main season, dropping to around 20 °C in September–October.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 14–22 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- choppy, flat, waves
- Depth
- Open beach; standing depth not verified
- Seabed
- sand
- Skill
- beginner, intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Beginner friendly
- Wind range
- 14 kn – 22 kn
Access & parking
Coastal road south-west from Manta to Santa Marianita village; the main kite area is beside the road on the beach.
Parking: Parking at the schools and beach; arrangements unverified.
Amenities
- Several kite schools with lessons, rental and repairs
- Beachfront lodging and restaurants
- 14 km downwinder to Manta with the schools
Needs local verification: Sources: https://www.oceanfreaks.com/kiteboarding (school: 3 km beach 13 km SW of Manta, 16–22 kt from the southwest hitting side-onshore, best May/June to December/January, humpbacks Jul–Oct), https://joseluengokb.wixsite.com/ecuadorkitesurf/en-blanco (school spot guide: thermal wind from the Humboldt current, kicks in ~10:00 and dies before 17:00, mid-May to mid-January season, May–mid-September 14–22 kt cross-onshore over flat and choppy water ~24 °C, mid-September–October 12–20 kt cross-shore and ~20 °C water, occasional shore break, minimal tides, all levels, online forecasts inaccurate), https://www.kiteecuador.com/ and https://www.humboldtkites.com/ (further schools on the beach teaching beginners). Monthly water temperatures outside the school's two figures are estimates. Coordinates approximate the beach, not a surveyed launch. Windy links are searches/maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- Occasional shore break
- Fishing boats and lines from the village
- Thermal fades before sunset
- Forecasts often inaccurate here