Chabela

Chabela receives consistent swell during autumn and winter months, with March typically offering the best conditions, though waves become wind-blown more than half the time. The break works best with southwest-moving swell and requires northeast winds to remain clean. Around eight percent of days produce waves too small for most surfers, but conditions remain manageable for beginners during these lulls. Rocks create hazards throughout the break, and the beach itself alternates between 200 meters of open sand and roughly 100 meters of rocky outcrops that shift the available paddling and landing zones with the tide.

Chabela is one of Ecuador's historic surfing beaches where the sport developed in the region. Local surfers typically start their progression here before moving to more challenging nearby breaks like Olas Verdes and Shark Bay, which lie one kilometer away and produce waves exceeding two and a half meters in good conditions. The beach takes its name from Isabela Estrada de Jurado, a Guayaquil resident involved in developing the Playas community who became known locally by the diminutive "Chabela."

General Villamil Playas sits approximately 96 kilometers south of Guayaquil, accessible by bus in one and a half to two and a half hours. Despite its location just meters from Playa Humboldt—the area's most visited beach—Chabela remains remarkably quiet on most days. Accommodation options range from budget hostels to mid-range beachfront hotels, with daily rates typically between $20 and $60.