Calmachicha, Best Beach Rental on the Coast

Author: Patsy Smith
Date of Trip: June 2013

I had the pleasure of being the first guest in the Beach Home, Calmachicha. This lovely home, located on the beach in the province of Santa Elena is a perfect vacation getaway. Located within a private, guarded community with all the amenities any traveler could want. This is no ordinary beach rental. Here you can have your own private chef, chauffeur and maid. Yes, I was in heaven!

The house has been designed to be enjoyed as a vacation home and it was perfect. Within the community, there is a small church and tennis court available for the guests to enjoy, while at the house there is a soccer field, volleyball area and, inside the house, a pool table, so there is no lack of things to do without ever leaving the home.

A fireplace was just perfect while having dinner. I could curl up and watch TV while sipping on a glass of imported red wine or play pool while listening to the festive salsa tunes on the radio.

The outside patio made the best place for reading a book and the pool, right on the ocean front, couldn’t be beat for morning swims.

The chef prepared delicious Ecuadorian food for each meal and in the afternoons I was served assorted cheeses, crackers and wine while the maid waited on me hand and foot, not only in cleaning my room but bringing me coffee and tea, serving the food, keeping the tables cleaned, and of course, keeping the house spotless.

The highlight of my trip was the barbecue. The chef, chauffeur and maintenance man all helped in preparing a feast while I sat leisurely around the pool enjoying the cool night air and listening to the waves….and the best part…I didn’t have to lift a finger. Just eat and enjoy!

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During the day the chauffeur drove me around to see the sights in the nearby villages of Punta Blanca, Libertad and Santa Elena, with a night trip to the surfing town of Montañita, where vendors lined the sidewalks selling specialty items such as jewelry, panama hats, surf boards and all kinds of trinkets . Everything was open and delicious aromas of empanadas, sausages, fried bananas and many other foods filled the air. Even though the sun had set the streets were filled with a wide variety of people from the younger “hippies” to the older tourists, all blending together to enjoy the town’s nightlife.

Punta Blanca had also been a treat. Most of the life in this small town is centered on the beach. Fishermen go out early so they can be back by 10 a.m. Their boats are pulled right up onto a section of the beach where a small open market is set up to clean and sell the fish. I spent some time watching the fishermen cleaning and preparing their boats for the next day while the vendors set about cleaning the day’s catch and getting the fish ready to sell. There was a nice selection of blue crab, shrimp and various types of fish. With the help of my chauffeur, I was able to choose a nice (really fresh) fish for the chef to prepare that night for our dinner.

There’s also a nice little boardwalk that adjoins the fish market where people were walking, children were playing and small groups were just relaxing, visiting and enjoying the sun.

The house is also located near the popular beach town of Salinas, just 30 minutes to the south. Although I didn’t visit on this trip, I’ve been a number of times on other trips. Salinas has a nice boardwalk where people can take a walk along the ocean front, stopping at any of a number of restaurants or specialty shops along the way. During the day vendors set up along the beach selling snow cones, jewelry, gifts and a variety of other items.

On weekends the atmosphere changes. Restaurants become bars, music fills the air and dancing can be found at several places along the strip. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Everyone had made my trip very special! The chef had prepared scrumptious meals and desserts, the maid had taken care of everything I had asked for and the chauffeur had made my sightseeing days filled with memorable experiences. They made me feel like a queen! Now I know what it’s like to be truly spoiled on a vacation!

This home, designed to accommodate one family or a group is sure to be a big hit for all future travelers. For information Contact Silvia: sgarciamarin@hotmail.com