Salinas, a hidden gem along the Spondylus Route

I'm a proud resident of Salinas, a hidden gem along the Spondylus Route, where the Santa Elena Peninsula meets the sea. A beautiful beach resort,it started as a small fishing village and salt mines, and has grown into the most popular resort on the Ecuadorian mainland.

Back in the 1940s, it started changing a lot, with new investments, better infrastructure, and more military presence. Today, it's a place with beaches, sports, museums, nightlife, and a strong local spirit.
That's why Salinas is so special.

it's not just about nature and sunshine, but also about the rich history, vibrant culture, and ongoing progress that make it a truly unique place.

The beautiful Santa Elena Peninsula has been home to people since at least 9.600 BC. The area has been inhabited by cultures such as the Valdivia, Machalilla, and Huancavilca, who left their mark on the land through artifacts and archaeological sites.

During the Colonial period, the area was known as "Salinas", due to the large salt mines used to extract iodized salt that supplied Guayaquil and other cities.

On June 30, 1929, Salinas was officially established as a rural parish of the Santa Elena Canton.
On December 22, 1937, General Alberto Enríquez Gallo created the Salinas Canton and its capital.

With a boom in tourism and military activity, US military cooperation arrived in the 1940s: soldiers were stationed in Chipipe, and construction of the Salinas Yacht Club inaugurated in 1942 began.

This effort attracted investment and boosted urban and tourist growth, turning Salinas into the Capital of the Spondylus Route. Its beach stretches approximately 15 km, with warm waters about 24°C on average and an ideal setting for sports and recreational activities.

Modernization and consolidation with the arrival of the Guayaquil railroad in the 1920s and the construction of the seawall boosted its development.

Towards the second half of the 20th century, it became the most important beach resort on continental Ecuador, with prominent sports competitions: sailing, surfing, tennis, swimming, hotel infrastructure, shopping areas, social clubs, and museums.

In 2007, the province of Santa Elena was created, and Salinas dedicated its resources to supporting its own administration and important projects like health care, transportation, and local development.

Its economy is based on tourism, artisanal fishing, salt production, construction, and a growing supply of luxury real estate.

It's a place with a rich cultural and natural side, with treasures like the Chocolate Factory, archaeological museums like Los Amantes de Sumpa, the Great Peninsula Museum, and the Whale Museum, and the marine reserve, where you can swim with humpback whales, dolphins, and sea lions.

Since 2021, I've been living in Salinas with my son and his family, and I'm happy because life is very peaceful and there's no rush like in big cities.

I wanted to tell you about this special place, new residence from a lot of American expats who have found a new place to call home here in this charming coastal town.

The images are taking from Google