The hotel shows pictures like a beach front hotel but you have to walk on a narrow street to the end of the road to go to the beach. The breakfast have three choices of breakfast but the “American coffee” doesn’t come with milk it’s an extra charge if you wanted light. The bed was a full size with only two small pillows, no tv in the room, no comforter just a flat sheet covered the bed, I stayed there for two uncomfortable nights. Also they have a sign in the bedroom to “not” to throw the bathroom tissue in the toilet but they don’t clean the room on a daily basis so it was a little funky smell in the room. I didn’t realized that I needed to pay at check in and they charged me an extra 4% charge for using my credit card. The weather was not the best it was raining so I feel like I wasted my vacation time there.

Balsa Surf Camp is like staying with family! It has a wonderful atmosphere, and the location is nice and quiet within a very easy walk to town. For a surfing adventure, everything is at your fingertips and the team are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed the daily yoga, thank you to the wonderful instructor Darcy Lynch. I will visit Montanita again, and I wouldn't think of staying anywhere other than Balsa.

It was a little tropical oasis! The ambiance of the place is laid back and comfortable. Everyone is friendly. The food is good. The yoga class is good. The location is fantastic. If I ever return to montanita (and I probably will), I would not stay anywhere else!

Amazing place to relax and unwind. Very friendly staff, great breakfast, yoga and beach, only problem was we didn’t stay longer!!

Great vibes. Amazing food. Really kind and attentive staff. Very relaxing atmosphere.

The property was beautiful. The staff was wonderful and so warm and helpful.

Very good location as it is close to the beach and far enough away from the sounds from the bars downtown. The staff are very friendly... this was the third time we stayed here

They have an amazing sense of community at the hotel and it’s so relaxing I can’t wait to come back. People say montanita is too loud and to stay in olon but balsa is far enough away from downtown that it’s very tranquil. Also their surf lessons were awesome that’s a must do while you’re here.

Amazing experience. Total unexpected. This is a retreat for anyone looking to be away from civilization, and city noise. Very peaceful experience, amazing staff, and the food totally down to earth. The place breaths stillness and calm with the sound of the crashing waves.

I really enjoyed my time here. Location is perfect - away from the main town center of Montañita but close enough to walk to it. Great breakfast served every morning. Very relaxing to lounge in the hammocks. Great yoga classes taught by Duff. Great staff. Location is perfect if you're looking to relax, surf, yoga, etc. I will definitely return.

What a great place balsa is. Set 10minites up the beach from montañita, it's the perfect place to stay away from the mayhem. Daily yoga, breakfast included is delicious. The staff are really friendly and helpful and they provide all the services of a hotel, in a laid back setting. The rooms are clean and comfortable, it's is quiet and has a great laid back vibe. There is other yoga studios and restaurants near by id you want to mix it up. Surf lessons and board hire at the surf shop on site too. The massage and healing at the spa was amazing. All in all a great weeks stay in Ecuador! As a solo female traveller I felt safe and comfortable here. Definitely recommend for those not wanting to live in amongst the party of the town.

Great beach access is just a few steps away. Quiet yet close.

Hotel did not have hot water or a TV. Place was clean and staff very friendly. Far from the noisy montanita, yet close enough so you can enjoy the nightlife of the town.

This hotel was nothing short of Amazing! The hotel had all of the amenities that you would want in a very nice hotel, the bathroom was SO clean and nice. The bed was of ok comfort, but nothing bad about it. The mosquito netting was wonderful! There was a table and 2 chairs to sit in, a wardrobe for clothes with drawers and hangers, a lockable drawer and a safety box with 2 locks in the room. They also had a fan! There was a balcony, with a hammock, a chair hammock, a couch AND a table. It was so Amazing, besides the pampering amenities, it was also very ecological! The materials we all very ecological, the design as well. They reuse the waste water to help water the garden which is simply amazing! The staff are SO helpful, there is always someone at the desk ready to speak English of Spanish (and French too I believe!). They will help you with anything from, towels in your room, restaurant suggestions, where to get sun screen in town, how to get to other cities, etc. They whole trip was AMAZING, a breeze, nothing was overlooked and I felt completely at home with them.

Great staff, very helpful and accommodating. Not right on the beach but a very very short walk to the beach and is located far enough from the weekend high volume night noise in town (but close enough to walk the beach to the middle of town to partake in the atmosphere). Bottom line is if you plan to turn in before 2 am on the weekend consider the short walk to the middle of town as a good thing

Wonderful place with great staff! Breakfast served until 11am.

Lovely spot, not far from town centre but far enough to be able to sleep at night. Rooms lovely, most staff great one or two needed a bit more sleep (were fairly grumpy). But would defo stay again

This places is close enough to be able to walk to town, but far enough that you dont hear all the noise. It's clean and the staff is very helpful.

Stayed for 5 nights with my girlfriend. The owners of the hotel are lovely people, they were both very helpful and attentive and even gave us a free breakfast when we showed up way before our check-in time. The property is beautiful and relaxing. If you want to surf this is the place to stay. The owner shapes his own balsa boards which he rents and sells. they are beautiful boards, he has every shape and length you could want, and a short alley leads you directly to the best surf spot in montanita, a 30 second walk from your door. It was also nice not to sleep in the middle of the rave that is downtown montanita. It's only a 10 minute walk along the beach away from the center of town, but its totally tranquil. Breakfast was free and delicious everyday and the fries I ordered as a snack were great. The only downsides were the Internet was weak sometimes, but that's been the case pretty much everywhere I've traveled in S.A., and the hot water ran out a couple of times, but it would come back if you let it rest for a bit.

Balsa was great. Clean, quiet, friendly, and worth the extra money compared to other places.