Las Golondrinas, the hotel owned by brothers Lele and Gerónimo Usuna, recently opened its third location facing the consistent and powerful waves of Ayame, Ecuador.

This is the third establishment in what is now a chain; Las Golondrinas is based in Mar del Plata, Argentina; Encuentro, Dominican Republic and now in Ecuador.

They all have the same format with a well-known surfer as the visible face of the venture: Lele in Argentina, Manuel Selman in the Dominican Republic and now Mimi Barona in Ecuador.

The hotel repeats the format of combining a life in paradise with the possibility of settling there to be a digital novice and have the comforts to work.

“The project is taking off incredibly fast, and we are very happy,” Gerónimo Usuna told DUKE. “The Ayampe hotel is unique. It has direct access to one of the most consistent waves in Ecuador, located in the Pacific, which guarantees waves with size and strength, as well as incredible sunsets. But what really makes it special is Ayampe, a town with an unmatched vibe. It is a perfect mix of jungle, a relaxed atmosphere, and a surfer spirit that is felt in every corner,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lele Usuna said: “It is incredible to think that there are now three Olympic surfers on the Las Golondrinas team, which makes this project even more special.”

Below, in an interview, Gerónimo tells more about the third Las Golondrinas and what lies ahead.

Why is the third one in Ayampe?
The project is taking off incredibly fast, and we are very happy. Ayampe was a crazy idea because we had already been talking to our friends Agustín Antonino and Gastón Amoresdiez, who, like us, are passionate about surfing. They told us about this project in Ayampe and proposed a partnership with our brand to promote the place. We didn't hesitate for a second. We went, we saw it, and everything fit together perfectly. It's a beautiful place, and the most special thing is that this collaboration was born from a lifelong friendship and a shared passion for the waves.

What's so special about this third Golondrinas?
The Ayampe hotel is unique. It has direct access to one of the most consistent waves in Ecuador, located in the Pacific, which guarantees waves with size and force, as well as incredible sunsets. But what really makes it special is Ayampe, a town with an unmatched vibe. It is a perfect mix of jungle, a relaxed atmosphere, and a surfer spirit that is felt in every corner.

The hotel combines typical local architecture with a modern touch that ensures comfort for our guests. It also has a surfer-style restaurant-bar that is the heart of our social activities. There we organize events such as Corona Sunsets with live music, creating a unique experience for all who visit us.

They always have an ambassador, and this one is special, Mimi Barona, how did it all come about with Mimi?
It's amazing that Mimi is our ambassador in Ecuador. Mimi is like a sister to me; we have shared so many trips and adventures together. Besides being an amazing surfer, capable of facing any type of wave, she is an exceptional person. We have known each other for more than 20 years, and our relationship is like that of siblings.

She is the queen of surfing in Ecuador. Her achievements and the impact she has had on her country are immense, so it was obvious that she had to be our ambassador. When we told her about the project, she immediately accepted, both because of our friendship and because of the potential she saw in the proposal.

What can we expect from now on?
The truth is that we continue to receive interest from people all over the world. This motivates us to continue growing and taking our proposal to more places. We plan to continue taking flight and opening new hotels with this authentic format that characterizes us, always maintaining our essence and connection with surfing, the community and local culture.

Will the ads stop or are there more news coming?
We're really excited to tell you all about what's coming up. But for now, we have to take a break. We're working on a new way to stay that will offer a ton of benefits for those who join the Las Golondrinas community. It's like cryptocurrency, in the sense that those who join now will be able to enjoy more benefits as time goes on. The best is yet to come!