Canoa Suites

The view of the ocean at sunset is phenomenal, and the Huevos Rancheros were so good I ordered them twice. Mia and Peter are wonderful hosts, too. The staff paid close attention and helped us with the menu whenever we needed it.

We slept comfortably with the front window cracked open. There was no a/c in our room, but it stayed cool enough, and though there were two fans, including a ceiling fan, we didn’t use either. The room had no bedside tables, which would have been handy for my reading glasses, but there were outlets on both sides of the bed. Outlets can be hard to find in some parts of Ecuador. My main complaint is breakfast: $15 each for trigillio, coffee, and orange juice felt excessive. I’d expect to get the same for half that in town, as I can in Quito. I’ll probably come back, but I’ll walk into town for breakfast. The room was spacious, clean, and had its own walls, with no room sharing a wall with ours. We also appreciated the big jug of water and glasses. The place is quiet at night, with the waves on the beach the only sound I heard. You’re close to the beach and can walk to Canoa. There’s cold beer, friendly staff, a lovely deck for sitting with a beer and watching the tide, good WiFi, plenty of hot water with good pressure, and a warm welcome.

We came here to unwind by the beach, and it was ideal. Canoa Suits is right on a mellow, beautiful stretch of beach, with a peaceful feel and a safe, secure atmosphere. It’s far enough from town to be quiet, but you can walk along the beach to the sleepy surf town. The property is stunning, and the small, intimate boutique setup means you get to meet the other guests. Peter and Maija are wonderful, and their staff were fantastic. The restaurant had plenty of variety, and the food was delicious and healthy. This is by far the best place to stay in Canoa, and we’ll definitely be back.

The owners and staff were so kind and helpful, and it’s clear Maija and Pete put a lot of care into making sure guests have a good time. We were there over Thanksgiving and found ourselves surrounded by the best people. A few friends and I had the most wonderful three days, though we wished we could have stayed a week or longer. The bus from Quito took eight hours, but it was worth it even for a short visit. The beach is right there and was basically empty. We could grab surfboards easily, order food at the restaurant, head off for a swim, and come back to a great meal waiting for us. As soon as any of us is back in Ecuador, we’ll return to Canoa Suites!