163km (101 miles) W of Guayaquil, 570km (354 miles) SW of Quito
Salinas and the Santa Elena Peninsula anchor the southern end of La Ruta del Sol (The Sun Route), a string of fishing and beach towns stretching up the southern Pacific coast. Salinas is the most developed resort destination on this stretch, with high-rise luxury hotels, casinos, vacation condos, and a prominent yacht club. Sailboats, yachts, and fishing vessels fill the protected bay here. Many of these boats can be chartered out for fishing excursions, whale-watching tours, or simple cruises.
During high season, which runs from December to April, this area gets very crowded. Hotel reservations are necessary on weekends throughout this period. In contrast, the beaches and hotels here are often deserted during the off season, especially September through November.
