La Punta is the headland at the southern end of Montañita's beach and the best surf spot on this stretch of the Ecuadorian coast. The break produces consistent left-hand waves that work on a variety of swell directions — best between December and April when swells from the northwest push in and the water is warmer. The right-hand reef break further down the beach is better for beginners.
At dawn before the crowds arrive, La Punta is an exceptional place to surf: the pelicans cruise the wave faces, the town is still quiet, and the waves are cleaner than later in the day when the onshore wind picks up. Surf lesson packages from one of the several schools in town are a good investment if you're new to it — the break is learnable but has enough power to be humbling for beginners who go straight out alone.