Two months at Playa Dorada doesn’t seem quite long enough. With the compound having direct access to the beach we enjoyed two hour walks daily while collecting many seashells. We were fortunate to see dolphins swim by, thousands of butterflies, frigate birds, saffron finches, brown pelicans and many other birds. The ocean is relatively calm allowing for swimming or an attempt at surfing. The second floor condo is well supplied with everything we needed to make meals. The only thing we bought on day 2 was bedroom pillows as the condo’s pillows are in immediate need of replacement. We also made a makeshift curtain for the bedroom after learning the specially treated windows keep the sun and heat out during the day but allow anyone in the pool or on the beach at night to see straight into the bedroom at night if the light is on. Although Playa Dorada is 12 km from San Vincente and 4 km to Canoa there is no need for a rental car as the buses run regularly throughout the day and taxis are inexpensive. Catching a bus is as easy as raising your arm outside the condo and paying 0.50 if you are <65(.25 if you are >65). If you want to shop at a large grocery store in Bahia take the bus for $1.00 and then taxi back for $8.00. A bus trip to Manta is $3.00 or a $45.00 taxi ride. If you are traveling to Ecuador expect to communicate in Spanish as very few people speak English. There is a small expat community of Canadians and Americans living around Canoa. Drop into The Surf Shack on Tuesday nights to play trivia and meet some people. We look forward to returning to Ecuador.

Peggy was always responsive. Every thing you need for wonderful getaway at your fingertips. Spectacularly beautiful setting. Canoa is a fun town.

Loved it, such beautiful surroundings. You can take a local bus and venture out to see the local sights, meet the people. If you like you can horseback ride on the beach, there are tours available to go on. I would definitely come back to this piece of paradise

Very nice condo. Six units there. Everyone was friendly. Beautiful beach. Great swimming pool. Owners promptly to any questions, and very helpful. Busses were easy to take. Fifty cents to Canoa or San Vicentes. Had great lunches at La Esquina del Capitan at the round about in San Vincentes. Fish, rice, beans, avacado and juice $2.50. Samia the manager was great. Took care of anything that was needed. Only drawback was no place for snorkeling close. RAM 12/18

Very nice condo. Six units there. Everyone was friendly. Beautiful beach. Great swimming pool. Owners promptly to any questions, and very helpful. Busses were easy to take. Fifty cents to Canoa or San Vicentes. Had great lunches at La Esquina del Capitan at the round about in San Vincentes. Fish, rice, beans, avacado and juice $2.50. Samia the manager was great. Took care of anything that was needed. Only drawback was no place for snorkeling close. RAM 12/18

This property and beach are amazing. We were here for a three month stay and had a wonderful vacation. The condo was very well appointed, had everything we needed for our stay. We enjoyed the gardens and the pool and the beach was incredible; sandy and you can walk forever. The owner and property manager were very accommodating. We would not hesitate to recommend this property to a friend or relative.

This property and beach are amazing. We were here for a three month stay and had a wonderful vacation. The condo was very well appointed, had everything we needed for our stay. We enjoyed the gardens and the pool and the beach was incredible; sandy and you can walk forever. The owner and property manager were very accommodating. We would not hesitate to recommend this property to a friend or relative.

What an incredible view ! The condo had everything we needed to make ourselves at home. Perfect for lounging by the pool, and walking for miles down the beach! Safe and secure location, and the three nearby towns were an affordable taxi ride away! Highly recommend!

We just spent a month at Playa Dorada and loved every minute of our time there. The condo is on the 2nd floor so there is a beautiful unobstructed view view of the ocean and we spent plenty of time sitting on the balcony watching the waves, sunsets and paragliders landing on the beach. Opening the bedroom door and falling asleep and waking to the sounds of the waves was so relaxing. The condo was beautifully decorated and welk sticked with everything you need to cooj meals including spices which we added to. The buses and taxis were readily available as well as cheap and easy to figure out. The permanent residents at the condo were very nice as well as helpful and included us in activities such as triva night at the surf shack. We made some long lasting friendships. Many vendors come to the gate such as the bread guys selling fresh warm homemade bread, yogurt and pizza dough, fisherman selling fresh fish, a guy selling sausage and chutneys and of course the wine and booze truck. Shopping is just a 1.00 bus ride away, and the Monday market in San Vicente can't be missed. Peggy was awesome to work with and even contacted us while we were there to make sure all was well and solved the only issue in a couple of hours. Samia, the property manager was awesome and an angel. If there was a down side it would be that the living room furniture and bed were not extremely comfortable but we weren't indoors much. Thank you Peggy and Reg for letting us enjoy your home. We will definitely be back to Ecuador. This was by far our best experience with VRBO. It is peple like these that make vacations wonderful. Thanks again.

Loved the sound of the waves crashing on shore. Property is fully back up and running after eathquake (April 2016). Lovely pool and cabana. Condo is nicely decorated and very well equipped with kitchen and bathroom basics. Enjoyed our short stay immensely.

Both the condo itself and property are impeccable. The location is wonderful. You can walk the beautiful beach in both directions and watch gorgeous sun sets from your own balcony. The property manager Samia is a blessing and goes beyond to help you. The other unit owners make you feel welcome and offer helpful tips to make your stay enjoyable. We look forward to our return visit.

10 days of relaxing in a great location. Very clean and well maintained. The pool was great. Right on the beach meant I could swim in the ocean and then relax on the deck of the pool. Handy to good places to eat.

From helping to arrange the taxi, to looking into a fishing boat charter, the caretaker Leo made sure we had everything we needed.  The unit is a spacious 2 bed, 2 bath that is very clean and well equipped, especially the kitchen with spices and oils, some condiments and storage containers so that one need not immediately hop on the bus to Bahia to get supplies.  The other guests and residents, many of whom are permanent were friendly and accommodating and helped us get the lay of the land quickly and even offered the use of surfboards and boogie boards.  Being directly on the beach allowed for daily walks, playing frisbee and swimming in your back yard with perfect ocean temperatures or the pool if so inclined.  Our favorite part was the local merchants that brought fresh fish and warm bread for sale throughout the week along with a wine distributor that offered some nice choices at reasonable prices.  On the downside, there isn't much to do here and even the neighboring towns of Canoa, San Vicente and Bahia provide only a brief reprieve.  The buses are frequent, cheap and reliable but take some practise to master, especially where and when to get off.  Overall we enjoyed our 10 days here and the cost was good for the budget oriented, especially when you factor in how little you'll spend on anything else but food and booze.

From helping to arrange the taxi, to looking into a fishing boat charter, the caretaker Leo made sure we had everything we needed.  The unit is a spacious 2 bed, 2 bath that is very clean and well equipped, especially the kitchen with spices and oils, some condiments and storage containers so that one need not immediately hop on the bus to Bahia to get supplies.  The other guests and residents, many of whom are permanent were friendly and accommodating and helped us get the lay of the land quickly and even offered the use of surfboards and boogie boards.  Being directly on the beach allowed for daily walks, playing frisbee and swimming in your back yard with perfect ocean temperatures or the pool if so inclined.  Our favorite part was the local merchants that brought fresh fish and warm bread for sale throughout the week along with a wine distributor that offered some nice choices at reasonable prices.  On the downside, there isn't much to do here and even the neighboring towns of Canoa, San Vicente and Bahia provide only a brief reprieve.  The buses are frequent, cheap and reliable but take some practise to master, especially where and when to get off.  Overall we enjoyed our 10 days here and the cost was good for the budget oriented, especially when you factor in how little you'll spend on anything else but food and booze.

We stayed here for a month, awesome place to get away from crowds. Condo was great, the WiFi got changed over to fibre optic when we were there and worked great for Netfix. This is an undeveloped beach, you often don't see another person. The neighbours are all wonderful. Went para gliding off the cliff. Great place, it was hard to leave, we would like to come back.

We stayed here for a month, awesome place to get away from crowds. Condo was great, the WiFi got changed over to fibre optic when we were there and worked great for Netfix. This is an undeveloped beach, you often don't see another person. The neighbours are all wonderful. Went para gliding off the cliff. Great place, it was hard to leave, we would like to come back.

10 days of relaxing in a great location. Very clean and well maintained. The pool was great. Right on the beach meant I could swim in the ocean and then relax on the deck of the pool. Handy to good places to eat.

I spent 3 days here in October and I was extremely pleased with this rental and the location. Roomy and well kept, well furnished and a wonderful location right on the beach! Leo the caretaker met us and helped us get settled in. His English was excellent and he even sent a few emails before we arrived giving us directions and his phone number. The neighbors were all very friendly, the pool was great, everything immaculately clean. I have now rented this condo for the month of March 2016 and am looking forward to returning to enjoy it and attending the Spanish school down the road in the charming little town of Canoa.

I spent 3 days here in October and I was extremely pleased with this rental and the location. Roomy and well kept, well furnished and a wonderful location right on the beach! Leo the caretaker met us and helped us get settled in. His English was excellent and he even sent a few emails before we arrived giving us directions and his phone number. The neighbors were all very friendly, the pool was great, everything immaculately clean. I have now rented this condo for the month of March 2016 and am looking forward to returning to enjoy it and attending the Spanish school down the road in the charming little town of Canoa.

We were two couples who stayed for a week in mid April. We enjoyed the location, the pool, the wonderfully manicured grounds and the beautiful beach - miles of endless white sand and waves. Sitting on the balcony watching the sun set or rise with your coffee was lovely. The property manager, Monica, was excellent helping us with answering questions, arranging transfers and even lending us some of her cookware so we could roast chicken for dinner one evening. The condo is bare and needs some art work or colour, a decent set of dresser drawers in the bedrooms, a night stand and some extra pillows would also go a long way. The owner's were lovely to deal with and very prompt in answering questions and replying to emails. A few suggestions would be to supply the basics within the condo. We had to purchase paper towel, toilet paper, dish soap and even water for the condo. The condo is isolated so it's not just a matter of "popping next door" to grab the essentials. While these items were not expensive it was an inconvenience and unexpected. As was having to complete a three page inventory of the items in the condo upon arrival and prior to departure again. There is a TV and DVD's but no TV service and no DVD player to watch the movies or music player, stereo or radio. An HDMI cable would solve the issue and let you watch movies or stream from your laptop provided you brought one. These inconveniences left us with a bit of a negative vibe. We would have rather paid another $5 or $10 a night and not had to deal with these items while on vacation. Ecuador is a beautiful country. The people are friendly, we felt safe and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We would come back but would choose a different location for our stay.

We were two couples who stayed for a week in mid April. We enjoyed the location, the pool, the wonderfully manicured grounds and the beautiful beach - miles of endless white sand and waves. Sitting on the balcony watching the sun set or rise with your coffee was lovely. The property manager, Monica, was excellent helping us with answering questions, arranging transfers and even lending us some of her cookware so we could roast chicken for dinner one evening. The condo is bare and needs some art work or colour, a decent set of dresser drawers in the bedrooms, a night stand and some extra pillows would also go a long way. The owner's were lovely to deal with and very prompt in answering questions and replying to emails. A few suggestions would be to supply the basics within the condo. We had to purchase paper towel, toilet paper, dish soap and even water for the condo. The condo is isolated so it's not just a matter of "popping next door" to grab the essentials. While these items were not expensive it was an inconvenience and unexpected. As was having to complete a three page inventory of the items in the condo upon arrival and prior to departure again. There is a TV and DVD's but no TV service and no DVD player to watch the movies or music player, stereo or radio. An HDMI cable would solve the issue and let you watch movies or stream from your laptop provided you brought one. These inconveniences left us with a bit of a negative vibe. We would have rather paid another $5 or $10 a night and not had to deal with these items while on vacation. Ecuador is a beautiful country. The people are friendly, we felt safe and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We would come back but would choose a different location for our stay.

We had the pleasure of staying here for a week in mid March and left reluctantly. The condo is a little on the Spartan side, no art on the walls, the TV Isn't hooked to anything yet, and there seems to be a BBQ issue. The kitchen utensils could also use a little upgrading, but I found what I needed, so I was happy. The owner plans to work on a few minor customer suggestions as they really want people to have a nice time. All the little issues aside, the view and the deck are fantastic. Right on the water looking out over a beautiful pool and manicured grounds. Nearby towns have everything you could need, a huge Hiper Market that is half Ace Hardware, a shopping center, American food if you can't wait to get back to clogging your arteries, as well as the local markets in San Vicente, Canoa and Bahia. Try the fish and meat section of the market in San Vicente, there you can buy a fresh whole fish and have it filleted. And don't forget to stock up on Aji hot sauce. Made locally it is authentic Ecuador. There is an excellent bird sanctuary trip nearby at Isla Corazon. Get there at high tide as part of the canoe ride that cuts through the island past fox tracks, crabs, Ibis and assorted Herons and Constrictors, is tide sensitive. After you glide down the river past thousands of Herons, Cormorants, White Ibis, Tri-colored and Great Blue Herons, Black capped and yellow capped Night Herons, Snowy and Cattle Egrets and the largest Magnificent Frigate bird colony in the Americas at over 20,000 we were told. Eat lunch at the pavilion ai IslaCorazon, after and you won't be sorry. The cultural Museum in town has a great guide in English, plus a little Spanish will tide you over too. If mass transit is your thing, buses and taxis come by regularly. The oondo is a great place to base yourself, or just hang and read by the pool and meet the nice neighbors. There are good washer and dryers avail and a fresh drinking water system. We had a great time.

We had the pleasure of staying here for a week in mid March and left reluctantly. The condo is a little on the Spartan side, no art on the walls, the TV Isn't hooked to anything yet, and there seems to be a BBQ issue. The kitchen utensils could also use a little upgrading, but I found what I needed, so I was happy. The owner plans to work on a few minor customer suggestions as they really want people to have a nice time. All the little issues aside, the view and the deck are fantastic. Right on the water looking out over a beautiful pool and manicured grounds. Nearby towns have everything you could need, a huge Hiper Market that is half Ace Hardware, a shopping center, American food if you can't wait to get back to clogging your arteries, as well as the local markets in San Vicente, Canoa and Bahia. Try the fish and meat section of the market in San Vicente, there you can buy a fresh whole fish and have it filleted. And don't forget to stock up on Aji hot sauce. Made locally it is authentic Ecuador. There is an excellent bird sanctuary trip nearby at Isla Corazon. Get there at high tide as part of the canoe ride that cuts through the island past fox tracks, crabs, Ibis and assorted Herons and Constrictors, is tide sensitive. After you glide down the river past thousands of Herons, Cormorants, White Ibis, Tri-colored and Great Blue Herons, Black capped and yellow capped Night Herons, Snowy and Cattle Egrets and the largest Magnificent Frigate bird colony in the Americas at over 20,000 we were told. Eat lunch at the pavilion ai IslaCorazon, after and you won't be sorry. The cultural Museum in town has a great guide in English, plus a little Spanish will tide you over too. If mass transit is your thing, buses and taxis come by regularly. The oondo is a great place to base yourself, or just hang and read by the pool and meet the nice neighbors. There are good washer and dryers avail and a fresh drinking water system. We had a great time.

We arrived at the condo which was beautiful. The beach was very nice. We found that it was a good place to rest and relax. You could travel by bus or taxi to the little towns. It was an eye opener for us, as we didn't really know what to expect. We thought there would be more places to go see as we are not surfers or ones to play in the ocean. For rest and relaxation I would definately recommend this area.

We arrived at the condo which was beautiful. The beach was very nice. We found that it was a good place to rest and relax. You could travel by bus or taxi to the little towns. It was an eye opener for us, as we didn't really know what to expect. We thought there would be more places to go see as we are not surfers or ones to play in the ocean. For rest and relaxation I would definately recommend this area.

This beach condo was an awesome place for us to stay for our vacation in Canoa! We had 4 adults, and the condo was a perfect size to accommodate all of us, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The condo manager was friendly and helpful. The condo we rented was on the second floor. This gave beautiful views off the balcony. There was a great view of the pool and beach. The actual condo was great. There was a kitchen with all necessary tools and gadgets: blender, toaster, coffee maker, microwave, utensils, etc. There was also a very nice washer and dryer for laundry. The bathrooms were beautiful and clean, with a lovely, spacious shower. There was usually hot water. The living space was comfortable for 4 adults. There was a tv and DVD player, which I'm not sure how well it worked, as we didn't spend much time inside. The condo has 6 units with some permenant residents. Everyone we encountered at the condo was very friendly. The pool area was well taken care of, clean, surrounded by beautiful landscaping, and very enjoyable! The pool area had lounge chairs, tables, and hammocks. The beach was a feature of the house. The back gate of the house opened right to the beach. The beach was usually empty, except for lots of harmless crabs. The ocean would wash up some trash onto the beach, but it wasn't a huge problem. There were no lounge chairs on the beach, so we had to sit and lounge in the sand. The house is close to Canoa, about an hours walk on the beach. We didn't have any trouble getting a taxi or bus into town. Canoa does not have an ATM, so we had to visit Bahia for shopping for groceries,etc. We too. Our trip in mid-January 2015. The weather was beautiful! This condo was the perfect accommodations for us. It was private, clean, beautiful! For those travelers used to an all-inclusive resort, this is NOT like that. It's private and you're responsible for your own entertainment and food, etc. For us, it was a nearly perfect experience. I would highly recommend staying at Playa Dorado!

This beach condo was an awesome place for us to stay for our vacation in Canoa! We had 4 adults, and the condo was a perfect size to accommodate all of us, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The condo manager was friendly and helpful. The condo we rented was on the second floor. This gave beautiful views off the balcony. There was a great view of the pool and beach. The actual condo was great. There was a kitchen with all necessary tools and gadgets: blender, toaster, coffee maker, microwave, utensils, etc. There was also a very nice washer and dryer for laundry. The bathrooms were beautiful and clean, with a lovely, spacious shower. There was usually hot water. The living space was comfortable for 4 adults. There was a tv and DVD player, which I'm not sure how well it worked, as we didn't spend much time inside. The condo has 6 units with some permenant residents. Everyone we encountered at the condo was very friendly. The pool area was well taken care of, clean, surrounded by beautiful landscaping, and very enjoyable! The pool area had lounge chairs, tables, and hammocks. The beach was a feature of the house. The back gate of the house opened right to the beach. The beach was usually empty, except for lots of harmless crabs. The ocean would wash up some trash onto the beach, but it wasn't a huge problem. There were no lounge chairs on the beach, so we had to sit and lounge in the sand. The house is close to Canoa, about an hours walk on the beach. We didn't have any trouble getting a taxi or bus into town. Canoa does not have an ATM, so we had to visit Bahia for shopping for groceries,etc. We too. Our trip in mid-January 2015. The weather was beautiful! This condo was the perfect accommodations for us. It was private, clean, beautiful! For those travelers used to an all-inclusive resort, this is NOT like that. It's private and you're responsible for your own entertainment and food, etc. For us, it was a nearly perfect experience. I would highly recommend staying at Playa Dorado!

My husband and I stayed almost two weeks at this condo in February. We were immediately struck by the beauty of the place. Miles and miles of white sand beach, with hardly any other tourists, merchants, etc that you usually find on beaches of this caliber. The property manager greeted us upon our arrival and made sure that we had all of the information that we would need. She was always available during our stay to answer any questions that we had, or translate Spanish for us. We rented surfboards in town and surfed every day right out front of the property. We did have a car, which made local travel easier, but the bus and taxi system would have been adequate as well. There were plenty of delicious places to eat in the nearby towns, at very reasonable prices. We only wish that we had more time to stay, and explore more of the beautiful country. We will definitely be back!

Spent 2 months here in this lovely place . The area is breathtaking , the beach is excellent , everything as advertised . People were friendly and helpful making you feel at home, the grounds are beautiful well kept, the pool was great for cooling off on hot days when you did not feel like an ocean dip.