Solo months
Solo months are periods where Punta la Barca is entirely focused towards solo travelers
The vibe of discovering, living outdoors, focusing on what matters and getting things done. The spirit of seeking new connections, living other cultures from the inside out, feeling the world outside what we’ve always known. The mood to experience life and discover what we can mean in it.
It’s hard to find the right person to join in on this kind of journey.
That is exactly what solo months are for.
Great news, solo months are back!
10 days to 3 weeks
Ideal if you want to start with a try-out. Possible to prolong on the spot as long as availability allows.
Monthly Stay
10 days to 3 weeks
Ideal if you want to start with a try-out. Possible to prolong on the spot as long as availability allows.
Long term Stay
10 days to 3 weeks
Ideal if you want to start with a try-out. Possible to prolong on the spot as long as availability allows.
Great news, solo months are back!
September 2023, November 2023, and January 2024, Punta la Barca will be the place to connect for solo travelers. What it is and why it is important, who can join, what can I expect, what not to expect, how can I book, how long to stay and which month to come, what is my contribution and what does it serve, and other burning questions? Find it all out here 🤙
Who can join?
“Am I traveling solo”, “am I a digital nomad”, “am I traveling long term”, “am I a surfer”..
They are all vague terms and boxes where nobody actually fits in, so understand their use as sketching out a frame. Reality is easier: if it resonates, you join 💪.
We do put out three important limits to set the right atmosphere during solo months.
*We limit the amount of kids at Punta la Barca. There is this invisible number that when more kids are present, conversations change. Solo months are the moments where we send conversations to a deeper level, so we limit nomadic families with kids to a maximum of 1.
*We set a stop based on nationality to ensure the cultural diversity we treasure so much. Maximum 4 early reservations can be of the same nationality.
*Minimum stay at Punta la Barca is 10 days, which filters out most typical weekend and short holiday tourism who would bring in a different mindset.
So whether you’re venturing out on a world trip without a return date, you’re discovering for a couple of months, you’ve been a digital nomad for the past years, you’re on a gap year, or you’re moving to Ecuador. Whether you’re traveling solo, a friend joins for a while, you just met a new girlfriend, or your youth love is by your side. You’re welcome. It’s the mindset that counts 🤙🔥❤.
What can I expect?
Expect a small like-minded community of 5-15 travelers and locals. We live quite closely together, with a shared kitchen and a common fridge which gets filled with free ingredients every week. We use these during weekday dinners to cook for each other -the magic glue that creates the caring family atmosphere. We take care of the place together, organizing a quick communal cleaning weekly. There are surf boards, a beach field, yoga mats, juggling materials, and a bonfire freely available for all of us. A local coordinator helps out with practical stuff.
To know more about how we organize things practically, read the welcome folder. Each has a basic private room. There are two cowork areas with the best wifi you can get in Ecuador. As to the surroundings, expect deserted beaches at your doorstep, and the magnificent pacific with wind for kitesurfing and waves for surfing. The small fishing village of Santa Marianita where Punta la Barca is located is safe, tranquilo, not very touristy (yet), practical, and at 20 minutes in ‘las camionettas’ (local public transport) to the city of Manta. Temperature all year round is between 20 and 30 °C.
“It’s the mindset that counts. Venturing out, discovering other cultures, gaining a deeper understanding of the world and what life is about.”
What not to expect?
Punta la Barca is not a place for everyone. Living in the middle of nature, community and local immersion is amazing for those who look for it. But nature also means gekko’s in your room, community als means cooking for another and keeping the place clean together, and local immersion also means not understanding the Spanish around. Local coordinators live at Punta la Barca just as you do, have their own jobs aside, and merely carry the final responsibility for the place that we all shape together. Locals can have a different standard to how to speak, act, and clean than you are used to. Smarter than expecting others to know your standard and act upon it, is to make an effort to bring what is important to you in the coliving as a contribution to all.
To set expectations right, make sure to join one of the introductory calls that we do every two months. Inscribe freely-recommended! We post often on our facebook and instagram page as well, so follow those to get a better idea of what life at Punta la Barca is like.
It can be difficult to grasp the concept of Punta la Barca. We are a coliving with a full fridge, an eco-hostel that we keep clean together, a community with mostly temporary members, a coworking but only for those who live here as well, an immersion homestay with various travelers, a modern tribe of independent travelers..
Who coordinates?
Locals coordinate the basics of the place. Ana, who makes breakfast, is at the outset a sombrero weaver. Juana, who helps us with communal cleaning, is before anything else the head of a large extended fisher family reaching easily 40 people. Micho is Juana’s son, breaking with the fisher tradition starting out as a graphic designer, lives at Punta la Barca and coordinates practical stuff like guiding you around the first day, filling the fridge every week, answering messages (in spanish), and looking after the finances of the place. Others pass by: Maria Jose is Micho’s girlfriend, Gabriel aka loco is a simple guy with a golden heart, a love for driving and a loud voice, Nexar is Micho’s younger brother and half time fisherman, and Abraham, Karelys and Vander are some of the kids who are comfortable coming over. A bilingual traveler with a soul for connection and a deeper understanding of how the dynamics of community work across inequality and cultures, stands by the locals to coordinate Punta la Barca. This makes sure a traveler who doesn’t speak any Spanish can also be heard enough to feel at home. Small misunderstandings across cultures can easily clear out. Important values of connection, focus, outdoors, slow living and regeneration are looked after. We haven’t decided yet on the traveler-coordinator for this period, more information to follow 🤙. Inge & Juan, the Belgian-Ecuadorian family who founded Punta la Barca, are in Belgium for this entire period. They continue to help behind the scenes for continuity of finances and communication, and as emergency contact for any major problems at Punta la Barca.
How long do I stay?
If you’ve never been to Punta la Barca before, we recommend staying for 1 to 3 months. You get a monthly discount, a kite/surf try-out, and pick-up upon arrival free. We strongly encourage monthly stays, because it takes time to immerse in a culture, hear yourself again, feel another flow of life, and really get to know each other. The minimum stay is 10 days, which is ideal if you prefer to start with a try-out or want to get a quick taste of what another life can be like. For those who are seeking to really try out a different life, it is possible to reserve longer than 3 months (with a maximum of 7 months). Imagine half a year of community, ocean, Ecuadorian breakfast, most wonderful work area, a normal of slow living, beach, locals, pitahayas, inspiring travelers, kite, surf.. It is those long stretches of communal slow living that our bodies, minds, and in extension our whole planet truly craves for. We’ve got a great long stay discount ready for you. And this one comes with a return favor: we need you to contribute deeper into the purpose of this modern tribe, by helping to move Punta la Barca (and in extension Santa Marianita and the travelers) in the direction of regeneration. Practically this means you’re open to share your skills for a few hours a week in a project of your choice. You can know more about the intention. A personal video call is part of this reservation process to make sure you feel well aligned with Punta la Barca’s vision. Onward, fellow humans 🔥
Which month do I come?
We have alternatively solo months (September 2023, November 2023, January 2024) and traditional months (August 2023, October 2023, December 2023, February 2024) at Punta la Barca. We mix these up for a reason. Solo months are focused towards a full house with solo travelers, a minimum of kids around. You can get an early bird discount for solo months. In traditional months, both traveling families as well as solo travelers are welcome, creating a beautiful mix of ages. As there is no early bird discount for traditional months, they are usually somewhat more tranquilo than solo months. We love this left-over availability in rooms every second month, as it allows travelers from the previous solo month to still extend their stay last-minute. It also gives the opportunity for travelers who don’t like to plan up front, to still join in. Furthermore, your choice of when to join can depend on the season you like. Take the seasons with a grain of salt, they are only averages to give an idea of what to expect.
-> For kitesurfers, there is wind from may until december
-> Whales are swimming in front of us (and easy to spot!) june until october
-> For surfers, there are waves all year round, though from january they get a lot bigger
-> Sunsets get incredibly beautiful especially from january to april
-> May until december it rarely rains, the environment is dry, mornings are cloudy with the sun coming out in the afternoons, temperature around 27°C, towards 20°C at night
-> From January until april, about one in three nights would get some rain, days are very sunny, you lose your slippers in the mud, everywhere turns beautifully green, and temperature goes around 30°C, also at night.
Supporting the local community goes also further in more subtle ways: being a valued part of the local community, we’re able to look together for ways towards regeneration. Kids understand us when we explain what will happen with that plastic paper thrown on the soil. We can guide towards building sustainable-friendly, talk into letting go of deserting the area and planting trees, and raise consciousness about damaging promo-talks. We can echo the valuable qualities of the local culture, ranging from communal living, a precious ability for acceptance, to lots of knowledge about the natural resources around. Count with this all the small initiatives from the skills and motivation of travelers at Punta la Barca..
What is the cost and what does it include?
To get a quick idea for a solo traveler:
-The monthly cost is 694 usd.
-The early bird discount of 25% (which is a discount of 173 usd 🤙!) applies to monthly reservations reserved before 1th of July, and between the following dates:
September 2023 (1/9/2023 – 1/10/2023)
November 2023 (1/11/2023 – 1/12/2023)
January 2024 (2/1/2024 – 1/2/2024)
-For couples, the second person pays only half the cost extra.
-Short term stays go at 28 usd/day (minimum of 10 days) -Long term stays (4 – 7 months) are 521 usd/month.
This includes prívate room, daily breakfast, cooking together dinner in weekdays, common kitchen, cowork (with great wifi and solar backup), play (surf, beachfield, guitar, bonfire, yoga mats, juggling materials..), help with communal cleaning, kite/surf tryout and pick-up upon arrival in manta.
How long do I stay?
If you’ve never been to Punta la Barca before, we recommend staying for 1 to 3 months. You get a monthly discount, a kite/surf try-out, and pick-up upon arrival free. We strongly encourage monthly stays, because it takes time to immerse in a culture, hear yourself again, feel another flow of life, and really get to know each other. The minimum stay is 10 days, which is ideal if you prefer to start with a try-out or want to get a quick taste of what another life can be like. For those who are seeking to really try out a different life, it is possible to reserve longer than 3 months (with a maximum of 7 months). Imagine half a year of community, ocean, Ecuadorian breakfast, most wonderful work area, a normal of slow living, beach, locals, pitahayas, inspiring travelers, kite, surf.. It is those long stretches of communal slow living that our bodies, minds, and in extension our whole planet truly craves for. We’ve got a great long stay discount ready for you. And this one comes with a return favor: we need you to contribute deeper into the purpose of this modern tribe, by helping to move Punta la Barca (and in extension Santa Marianita and the travelers) in the direction of regeneration. Practically this means you’re open to share your skills for a few hours a week in a project of your choice. You can know more about the intention. A personal video call is part of this reservation process to make sure you feel well aligned with Punta la Barca’s vision. Onward, fellow humans 🔥
What does my contribution serve?
Punta la Barca is more a community than a business. Your contribution goes entirely to ❤🔥:
1/ Sustainable organization of the Punta la Barca coliving community. This includes running costs like maintenance of the place, help & coordination, basic services, food..
2/ Supporting our local community. We do that in an organic way, with requests originating from the locals, and support based on equity, trust, love, and connection (basically as an extension of the existing informal community support). Doing that since 2015, it feels good, right, natural. We’ve had the honor to help babies get born, build houses, get college kids digital learning materials, support health care in all kinds of degrees, basic commodities like a water pump, get out of debts, manage unfair flaws of the justice system.. I’m not kidding when I say that Punta la Barca’s support has saved lives.
How can I book?
It will get directly to us and we’ll get back to you within two days. Decide quickly and catch the early bird: when you book monthly stays for a solo month before the 1st of July, you’ll get an extra 25% discount 💪.
Deserted beaches, surf, kitesurf, hills, forests and whales at your doorstep
Two cowork areas in front of the sea, with fiber optics wifi 50-100 mbps and solar backup
Good conversations, cultural diversity and slowing down to find back the essence.
Connection flows through cooking together.
An imagination station to inspire taking steps together in the right direction
Digital Nomads
Punta la Barca has been the home of digital nomads since 2015. Researchers, IT’s, marketeers, managers, teachers, journalists, filmmakers, artists and writers have enjoyed the amazing combination of stable wifi and rural Ecuadorean immersion.
Expect a small community of 5-15 easy-going nomads (including nomads with kids), low-cost private rooms, pick-up from the airport or bus terminal, tropical fruits and veggies at the door and local daily breakfast.
Stunning work areas, fiberglass 12 mbps wifi, and get your story featured. Safe surroundings to explore (though you should not fear dogs), and a 30min public transport connection to Manta city.
Long term Travelers, Campers & Backpackers
You’re a traveler looking for the real thing. You want to discover authentic culture, not take tours. We get it.
Punta la Barca is ruled by nature and freedom. Here you have the chance to get to know a fishing village from the inside out. Where you don’t pay more then what is needed for putting up a tent, a bed in a dorm, or a basic private room. A well-equipped kitchen. Good wifi. Juggling at the bonfire. Cooking together, spanish immersion, football with the locals.
Humpback whales swim so close to shore that you can spot them from the hammock and get close with the SUP. Kitesurfing conditions are amazing. Four different surf spots neighbor us. Wonderful authentic beaches around, and locals to show you the way. Most importantly, the outdoor adventure is still authentic. No tourists.
We have a saying here. A traveler who comes for a day will stay a month 🙂
Surfers and Kitesurfers
Chasing the wind?
Santa Marianita is an outstandingplace to kite, with stable wind, sandy beaches,
warm water, whales, and few people.
We recommend to stay minimum
two weeks for learning.
Advanced kiters: bring size 9-12.
Windy season is may-october.
Chasing the waves?
A set of nice undiscovered waves are
breaking just in front,
and two beginner surf boards
are free for you to try out.
For advanced surfers, bring your own board.
Waves work all year round,
though are biggest in december-april.
We TRAVEL, not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Fellow solo travelers, nomads, with big hearts for the outdoors, cultures and life in general. You are what makes Punta la Barca thrive.
Punta la barca is between 10 days to 3 months purely community with an open mind 🔥❤I Travelling is this mindset that wants to follow curiosity, wants to grow, wants to pull and get pulled out of its comfort zone.
Seeking new connections, living other cultures from the inside out, getting to live with different cultures, ages, walks of life, feeling the world outside what we’ve always known. Experience life and discover what we can mean in it 🌎🤙. It’s hard to find the right person to join in on this kind of journey.
And that is exactly why we sense so much value in seeking each other 🤸♂️.