messy vibes in playas, ecuador: a digital nomad's unfiltered take

look, i’m not going to pretend playas, ecuador is some hidden gem because honestly, it’s kind of a dump. but that’s why i’m here. after months of hopping between 'chill' balinese towns that are overrun with influencers, i needed something real. or at least something that doesn’t have a instagrammable sunset every five minutes.

so, playas. it’s on the coast of ecuador, near the cove of -1.0561, -80.4553 - yes, i looked it up because i’m a nerd. the weather? constant 25.82°c with 85% humidity. feels like 26.68, which means you sweat just thinking about moving. i just checked and it’s... exactly that, hope you like that kind of thing. the air is thick like coconut milk, and your hair does this afro thing that no product can fix.

if you get bored, guayaquil’s a short drive away - well, a short bus ride on roads that might kill you. and salinas is south, where the rich ecuadorians go to escape their own pollution. but why leave? the surf is mediocre, the food is cheap, and the people are either super friendly or ignoring you completely. no in-between.

i heard from a drunk australian at the bar that the best ceviche is at a place called 'el submarino' but it’s only open when the owner’s cat is happy. i went and the cat was asleep, so no ceviche. classic.

reviews on TripAdvisor are hilarious: one person said 'the beach is dirty' and another said 'best time ever' - clearly from different planets. i read something on this local board that warned about riptides, so i’m sticking to the pool. which, by the way, my hostel has a pool that’s always empty because no one else cares.

see that? that’s my 'commute' to my 'office' which is a hammock under a palapa. the wifi is from a neighbor’s unlocked network, so it cuts in and out. perfect for forcing me to stare at the ocean and question my life choices.

and this is the town center. that church? they ring bells every hour, even at 2am. i’m not religious but i’m considering conversion to stop the noise.

as a digital nomad, i need coffee. here, coffee is basically hot water with a hint of bean. i found one place that uses actual espresso beans, but it’s $3, which is a fortune in local terms. Yelp says it’s 'authentic' - yeah, authentic disappointment.

the pressure is 1012 hpa, which i’m told means stable weather. great. humidity 85% means my clothes never dry. i hang them outside and they come back wetter. it’s like the ocean is sweating on them.

i’ve met other nomads here: one guy runs a dropshipping store from his laptop and never leaves his room. another is a yoga instructor who meditates on the beach at dawn and then complains about the crowd. we’re a messed up family.

someone on a forum said playas is 'the next taganga' - you know, that place in colombia that got ruined? let’s hope not. but for now, it’s affordable, chaotic, and real. i’m staying till my visa runs out or until i run out of instant noodles.

if you’re coming, bring bug spray, a portable charger, and zero expectations. and maybe learn some spanish - i’ve been pointing at menus for a week.

this nomad guide has playas listed as 'cheap but slow wifi' - accurate. and the local expat group is full of drama but useful for finding rentals.

so yeah, playas, ecuador. it’s messy, it’s humid, and it’s exactly what i needed. don’t @ me with your 'but have you been to bali?' - i have, and it’s over. this is the real deal. or at least, it feels real when you’re sweating through your shirt at 10am.