Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers.

This page is practical background, not a live timetable. Fares and schedules change, so treat the figures below as approximate ranges and check current prices at the window, in the app, or with the driver before you ride.

If you are still planning the arrival itself — the flight into Guayaquil, immigration, and that first ride to the coast — start with Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador. A first-month checklist, including where we shop, is in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador.

You do not have to drive

Salinas sits at the tip of the Santa Elena Peninsula. La Libertad is the next town over and is where a lot of everyday shopping happens. Santa Elena, the provincial capital, is a little farther inland. You pass both of them on the drive in from Guayaquil. In Salinas itself, most visitors spend their time along the malecón, which is walkable once you are settled.

If you are staying near the malecón, taxis and local buses will take you to many of the daily stops, including the supermarket stretch on the main road toward La Libertad. A car is handy for Punta Carnero, evening trips, or a run into Santa Elena, but it is not a requirement for a first stay.

Local buses on the peninsula

Buses run along the corridor that ties Salinas, La Libertad, and Santa Elena together. For a visitor, that is the useful route: the beach, the shops in La Libertad, and the provincial bus terminal in Santa Elena.

In August 2026, after a fare adjustment by Ecuador’s Agencia Nacional de Tránsito (ANT), Primicias and Expreso reported the intracantonal bus fares as about $0.50 for a ride inside the same canton, $0.60 between neighboring cities such as Salinas and La Libertad or La Libertad and Santa Elena, and $0.70 from Salinas to Santa Elena, including from Terminal Sumpa. Those are the figures published at the time. Check the current price when you board, and carry small bills and coins. Drivers often cannot break a large note.

I am not listing route numbers or last-bus times here, because those details change and I want you to confirm them on the ground. If you will be out in the evening, ask early in the day when the buses you need typically stop running, and have a taxi plan as a backup.

Taxis

Taxis are easy to find along the malecón and in La Libertad. A typical in-town ride in Salinas usually costs about $3. Agree the fare before you get in, and confirm that the price is for the whole car, not per person. Keep small bills with you. As I noted in the money guide, a $50 or $100 bill can be hard to break at a taxi. Longer trips, late hours, and holidays can cost more, so ask first.

Be very careful with taxis. Only use a referral taxi — one called by your hotel, or by the guards (guardias) at your condo or hotel. Do not hail a random taxi on the street, and do not accept a ride from someone who approaches you unsolicited.

Ride-hailing apps

This is the part that confuses people who are used to opening one app in every city.

I do not use Uber, inDrive, or other ride-hailing apps in Salinas. I rely on referral taxis called by the hotel or by the guards at the condo. That is what I recommend you do, too.

Uber publishes a city page for Salinas, in Santa Elena province, and says you can request a ride there in the app. That tells you Salinas is a market Uber lists. It does not mean I use the app here, and it does not guarantee that a car is sitting around the corner at your hour. If you open it and nothing is available, use a referral taxi — not a random hail.

DiDi has an official driver page for Guayaquil, so it may be worth checking while you are still in the city. I did not find official DiDi coverage for Salinas, and I would not count on it once you reach the peninsula.

Cabify left Ecuador in 2023, according to El Telégrafo. Do not plan on that app here.

inDrive operates in Ecuador, but I could not confirm Salinas or La Libertad on the company’s own city lists, and I do not use it on this coast. I am not treating ride apps as a reliable option here.

Getting to and from Guayaquil

The municipality of Salinas puts the town about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil. By car, that is typically around two hours, depending on traffic, the time of day, and where on the peninsula you are headed. Rome2Rio’s planner puts the road distance from the airport at about 143.5 kilometers and a driving time around one hour and 50 minutes. I would still budget a full two hours, and more on holiday weekends.

Do not travel or drive at night if you can avoid it. That is a rule Ulvia and I try to follow, and I said the same in the arrival and seasons guides. The trip is straightforward in daylight. I would rather sleep in Guayaquil and continue in the morning than start that road after dark.

The bus

The bus is a solid low-cost option, and I would tell a first-time visitor it is fine if you can handle your bags and find the right window in Spanish. You do have to get from the airport to a bus terminal first.

The main station in the city is Terminal Terrestre Jaime Roldós Aguilera. Use an authorized airport taxi for that short connection. The airport operator, TAGSA, says official taxis run 24 hours a day outside both the domestic and international arrival doors. Pay cash in the taxi, or pay by card at the cooperative’s office in the international arrivals hall. Ask for the fare to the terminal before you get in. I would not accept a ride from someone who approaches you unsolicited in the arrivals hall.

Three cooperatives you will hear named for this corridor are:

• Liberpesa (Compañía de Transporte Liberpesa). Its own site lists frequent service between Guayaquil and Santa Elena from 3:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. A schedule published for the Guayaquil terminal lists Salinas as a Liberpesa destination, with departures from 3:20 a.m. to 10:20 p.m. Liberpesa’s contact page lists a ticket office at Terminal Jaime Roldós Aguilera, (04) 213-3030, and another at Terminal Terrestre Sumpa in Santa Elena.

• CLP (Libertad Peninsular). The company’s site lists a Guayaquil–Santa Elena route, plus service to Montañita and Olón, and a ticket office at the Santa Elena terminal.

• CICA (Cooperativa Intercantonal Costa Azul). Its site describes direct service among Terminal Terrestre Santa Elena, Terminal Terrestre Guayaquil, and Terminal Vía a la Costa, daily from 3:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with departures every five minutes.

Some tickets and listings are sold as Salinas, others as Santa Elena. In my experience, the buses from Guayaquil drop you at the Santa Elena bus terminal (Terminal Terrestre de Santa Elena), also called Terminal Sumpa — not in central Salinas, and not on the malecón. From there, take a referral taxi for the last stretch. Do not hail a random taxi at the terminal.

For fares, check the current price at the window. After the ANT adjustment that took effect on August 1, 2026, El Universo reported the Guayaquil–Santa Elena fare on CICA at $6.25, and Primicias reported the Guayaquil–Santa Elena fare at $6.15. I have not found a separately published current figure labeled only “Guayaquil–Salinas,” so ask for that ticket by name. Treat those August 2026 figures as a mid-single-digit starting point, not a promise. Holiday weekends are busier; buy ahead if you can.

There is also a newer station, Terminal Terrestre Municipal Costa, which the Municipality of Guayaquil opened on January 7, 2026, at kilometer 33 of the Vía Perimetral, before the Panteón Metropolitano. Official hours are 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. The municipality said it opened with cooperatives including Libertad Peninsular (CLP), Costa Azul, and Liberpesa, and that it connects travelers with destinations including Salinas, Montañita, and Olón. If you are already on that side of the city, it can be a convenient place to board. From the airport, the usual first step is still an official taxi to the main Terminal Terrestre. If you land late, remember that Terminal Costa’s published hours end at 9:00 p.m., while some departures from the main terminal are listed later than that.

From Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Salinas

Official airport taxis can also make the whole trip to Salinas. Ask for the fare to your exact address before you get in, and confirm that the price is for the whole car. Published third-party estimates vary widely, so I will not invent a “standard” price.

I drive myself from the airport. If you do not have a car, use the Ruta del Sol service, a reserved shuttle between Guayaquil and Salinas. Confirm the current pickup arrangements and price directly when you book, including whether they can meet you at Guayaquil Airport (GYE). I am not quoting a fare or a schedule here, because those details change.

If you are not driving, there are three ways to do it. Have your hotel call a taxi to take you to the Ruta del Sol departure point in Guayaquil. Take a taxi to the bus station near the airport and ride an intercity bus to the Santa Elena bus terminal (Terminal Sumpa), then a referral taxi into Salinas. Or pay a taxi to take you all the way to Salinas. For a first-time visitor, or anyone who does not speak Spanish, that last option is probably the best.

If you land late

If your flight arrives after dark, I would not start the trip to Salinas, Ecuador, that night. Sleep in Guayaquil and continue in the morning. That advice, including a hotel we sometimes use near the airport, is in Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador.

FAQ

Do I need a car in Salinas, Ecuador?
Not necessarily, especially if you are staying near the malecón. Ulvia and I usually drive, but taxis and local buses cover many daily needs.

How much is the local bus?
As of August 2026 news reports after the ANT adjustment, about $0.50 inside the same canton, $0.60 between neighboring cities such as Salinas and La Libertad, and $0.70 from Salinas to Santa Elena. Check the current price when you board.

How do I get from Guayaquil Airport to Salinas by bus?
Take an official airport taxi to Terminal Terrestre Jaime Roldós Aguilera, then buy a ticket from a cooperative such as Liberpesa, CLP, or CICA. In my experience, those buses drop you at the Santa Elena bus terminal (Terminal Terrestre de Santa Elena), also called Terminal Sumpa, not in central Salinas. From there, take a referral taxi. Check the current fare at the window.

How long is the trip from Guayaquil?
About 140 kilometers. By car it is typically around two hours, depending on traffic and your exact destination. The bus is in the same ballpark, plus time to reach the terminal and, if needed, to continue from Santa Elena or La Libertad.

Does Uber work in Salinas?
Uber lists Salinas as a city where you can request a ride, but I do not use Uber, inDrive, or other ride apps here. I use referral taxis called by the hotel or by the condo guards (guardias), and that is what I recommend.

Should I travel at night?
I would not, if I could wait until morning. Plan the Guayaquil-to-Salinas trip in daylight.

Sources

• Municipality of Salinas, “Qué hacer y visitar” (about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil): https://www.salinas.gob.ec/index.php/turismo/que-hacer-y-visitar

• TAGSA, José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, authorized taxi service (24/7 official taxis at domestic and international arrivals; cash or card at the cooperative office; phones +593 4 216-9141 / 216-9142 and mobile +593 9 6015-5142; fare sheet may change): https://www.tagsa.aero/en_taxis.html

• Rome2Rio, Guayaquil Airport to Salinas (road distance about 143.5 kilometers; driving time around 1 hour 50 minutes; Liberpesa, CLP, and CICA listed among bus operators to Santa Elena): https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Guayaquil-Airport-Ecuador/Salinas-Provincia-de-Santa-Elena-Ecuador

• Liberpesa, routes and frequencies (Guayaquil and Santa Elena service from 3:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.): https://www.liberpesa.com.ec/index.php/servicios/rutas-y-frecuencias

• Liberpesa, contact page (Compañía de Transporte Liberpesa; ticket office at Terminal Terrestre Jaime Roldós Aguilera, (04) 213-3030; Terminal Terrestre Sumpa, Santa Elena): https://www.liberpesa.com.ec/index.php/contactenos

• Terminal Terrestre de Guayaquil, Liberpesa schedules (Salinas listed as a destination; departures from 3:20 a.m. to 10:20 p.m.; phone (04) 213-3030): https://terminalterrestredeguayaquil.com/cooperativas/liberpesa/

• CLP, official site (routes Guayaquil–Santa Elena and Guayaquil–Montañita–Olón; ticket offices in Guayaquil and Santa Elena): https://clp.com.ec/

• CICA, direct passenger service (Terminal Terrestre Santa Elena, Terminal Terrestre Guayaquil, and Terminal Vía a la Costa; daily 3:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; every five minutes): https://www.cica-ec.com/index.php?Itemid=175&id=10&option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page

• CICA, “Quiénes somos” (full name Cooperativa Intercantonal Costa Azul): https://cica-ec.com/index.php?Itemid=173&id=5&option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page

• Municipality of Guayaquil, January 7, 2026, opening of Terminal Terrestre Municipal Costa (km 33 Vía Perimetral, before the Panteón Metropolitano; hours 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; cooperatives including Libertad Peninsular CLP, Costa Azul, and Liberpesa; connections including Salinas, Montañita, and Olón): https://guayaquil.gob.ec/terminal-terrestre-municipal-costa-inicia-operaciones-conectara-miles-pasajeros-diarios/

• El Universo, August 1, 2026, new ANT interprovincial fares (Guayaquil–Santa Elena on CICA, $5.00 previous / $6.25 current): https://www.eluniverso.com/guayaquil/comunidad/va-a-viajar-revise-las-nuevas-tarifas-de-las-principales-rutas-interprovinciales-del-ecuador-nota/

• Primicias, August 6, 2026 (Guayaquil–Santa Elena fare reported at $6.15; intracantonal fares $0.50 same canton, $0.60 Santa Elena–La Libertad or La Libertad–Salinas, $0.70 Salinas–Santa Elena): https://www.primicias.ec/sociedad/santa-elena-gremio-turistico-preocupacion-alza-pasajes-feriado-ecuador-129739/

• Expreso, August 6, 2026 (Terminal Sumpa to Salinas $0.70; between cities $0.60; inside the same city $0.50, following the August 1 ANT adjustment): https://www.expreso.ec/ecuador/santa-elena-libertad-queda-transporte-urbano-291736.html

• El Universo, February 13, 2026, Carnaval bus-fare report (Liberpesa described as covering Montañita, Olón, and Santa Elena; CICA service toward Santa Elena): https://www.eluniverso.com/guayaquil/comunidad/feriado-de-carnaval-estos-son-los-costos-de-pasajes-desde-guayaquil-a-balnearios-de-playas-salinas-y-manta-nota/

• Uber, official Salinas, Santa Elena city page (requests described as available in the app): https://www.uber.com/global/en/r/cities/salinas-santa-elena-ec/

• DiDi Ecuador, Guayaquil driver page: https://web.didiglobal.com/ec/conductor/ciudades/guayaquil/

• El Telégrafo, March 15, 2023, Cabify ended operations in Ecuador: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/nacionales/210/cabify-dejo-de-operar-en-ecuador

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers.

My wife, Ulvia, and I own a condo in Salinas, on Ecuador's Santa Elena Peninsula, and we split our time between here and Alabama. Salinas Coast Notebook is where I'm writing down what we've learned, so your first trip or your first month goes smoother than ours did.

Six guides are up on the site now:

• Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador: flying into Guayaquil and getting to the coast

• Your first 30 days: what to handle first and what can wait

• Renting a condo: how housing and HOAs really work

• Healthcare: where we go, and when to head to Guayaquil

• Money, banking and utilities: cash, ATMs and paying the bills

• Salinas by season: weather, crowds and whale season

I’ll send a short note about once a month with new guides and things worth knowing. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

If you have a question about Salinas, just reply to this email. I read every one.

Rickey

Some links on this site are affiliate links. A commission may be earned if you book or buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Details are on the Disclaimers page. Nothing here is legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice.

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

This page is a practical seasonal guide, not a forecast. Climate sources agree on the broad pattern even when they do not publish the same rainfall totals, so I stay with that pattern and name the sources at the end. Arrival details are in Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador. A first-month checklist is in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador. Housing and high-season notes are in Renting a condo in Salinas, Ecuador: buildings, fees, and what to check.

Two seasons, not four

Salinas does not have a four-season year like Alabama. It has a warmer, more humid stretch and a cooler, drier one.

From about January through April it is hotter, and that is when most of the year’s rain falls, especially in February and March. The rain is not constant, but when it comes it can be heavy. Climates to Travel describes January through April as the hot, relatively rainy period, May and December as transitional months, and June through November as drier and cooler. Weather Spark’s averages for Salinas put a warmer stretch from late January into late April, a cooler stretch from early July into early November, and the wetter part of the year from mid-January into late April. Climate-Data’s 1991–2021 table likewise shows the wettest month in February and among the driest in August and October, with March typically the warmest and August or September the coolest.

August is typically the coolest month. Weather Spark’s averages put August highs around 69°F and lows around 62°F, compared with March highs around 82°F. Climate-Data’s long-term means are similar: about 25.4°C in March and about 21.4°C in August or September. Those are averages, not a promise for your week.

I do not treat any one annual rainfall total as official, because published climate pages do not all agree on the yearly sum. What they share is the timing: a wetter first part of the year, then a long drier stretch.

The cool, dry, gray months

The drier half of the year is not automatically bright and sunny. From about May onward, the Humboldt Current cools the sea and the air along this coast. Official climate notes for Santa Elena, in a technical mémoire from Ecuador’s Instituto Geográfico Militar and Instituto Espacial Ecuatoriano, describe coastal fogs and light drizzle — neblinas y lloviznas — under that current, with only very weak precipitation. On this coast that gray, damp weather is often called garúa.

In practical terms, June through November can feel breezy, cooler, and sometimes overcast, even on days when it barely rains. Pack a real layer for evenings and for windy spots such as La Chocolatera, not only shorts and a t-shirt.

El Niño, in brief

El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the periodic warming of the equatorial Pacific that INAMHI, Ecuador’s national meteorological service, tracks and explains. On this coast, El Niño years can bring heavier or more irregular rain than a typical wet season, and sometimes flooding. Climates to Travel notes that heavy rains, especially in February and March, are more likely in El Niño years. The official Santa Elena climate study records the 1983 El Niño year as exceptional, with far more rain on the peninsula than a typical year.

That is a pattern, not a forecast for your trip. If you are planning a stay in the warmer, rainier months, check current INAMHI and ERFEN updates, and ask your building how it handles heavy rain and brief outages.

Crowds, holidays, and the beach season

Weather is only half of the story. Crowds matter just as much if you care about parking, restaurant waits, or the price and availability of a short stay.

The main beach high season on this coast runs roughly from December through April, when the water is warmer and more people come to the peninsula. The U.S. trade guide for business travel in Ecuador advises avoiding Holy Week and the stretch from mid-December to mid-January, because many people are on vacation then. Weekends are often busier in any month; Salinas is about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil and is a straightforward trip from the city.

A second busy period comes when schools in the Sierra and Amazonía are on vacation, typically from late June through much of July and into August, when many highland families head to the Costa. For the 2025–2026 school year, Teleamazonas reported the Ministry of Education calendar with classes in that regime ending on June 26, 2026, after which student vacations begin. Private and municipal schools can run on their own calendars, so treat that as a useful pattern, not a permanent date. TopTravel’s Salinas guide likewise flags July and August as high season and recommends booking ahead.

The municipality of Salinas publishes a tourism calendar with the main local markers: Carnaval in February or March; Semana Santa in March or April; whale-watching promotions from the third week of June; the Baño de San Juan on June 23; the patronal and independence festivities of San Lorenzo around August 9 and 10; the Virgen de las Mercedes celebrations around September 24 to 27; and cantonization day on December 22, with year-end festivities and New Year lights on the malecón. Exact holiday dates move with the calendar, so confirm the year you are traveling.

If you want a quieter week, look at midweek stays outside those peaks. I enjoy Salinas in high season and in the quieter months, and I would still come if the dates you have are the dates you have.

Whale watching

One of the special things this coast offers is humpback whale watching. Ecuador’s Ministry of Production describes the humpback season as June through September, including Salinas and nearby Ayangue on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The municipality of Salinas notes that the season along the malecón is promoted from the third week of June.

If you are here in those months, a boat trip is worth planning. Go with a licensed operator, follow the crew’s rules, and do not treat a sighting as guaranteed on any given day. The season is the window; the whales set the schedule.

Want to see the whales? This Isla de la Plata day trip from Salinas on GetYourGuide leaves from Salinas and heads to Puerto López and Isla de la Plata. Whales are usually seen June through September. If you book a tour through that link, a commission may be earned. It does not cost you extra.

What to pack, and how to book

Pack for the month you are in, not for a generic “beach vacation.”

In the warmer, rainier months, bring light clothes, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and rain cover you will actually use. The air is more humid, and a downpour can be brief or last longer than you expected. In the cooler, drier months, add a real layer — a light sweater or a windbreaker — for evenings, air-conditioned rooms, and windy points. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than dress shoes.

For busy periods — December through April, Sierra school vacations in July and August, Carnaval, Semana Santa, and local festival weekends — book lodging earlier than you would for an ordinary midweek stay, and confirm cancellation terms.

[AFFILIATE: Booking.com Salinas stays] If you book through that link, a commission may be earned. It does not cost you extra.

One more habit I keep in every season: I would not make the drive between Guayaquil and Salinas after dark if I could wait until morning. Road conditions and traffic are easier to judge in daylight. That advice is in the arrival guide, and it is worth repeating here.

FAQ

When is the best time to visit Salinas, Ecuador?

Anytime, in my view. I enjoy this coast year-round. December through April is the classic beach season if you want warmer water and do not mind more people. For whales, come between June and September. Midweek stays outside holidays are usually calmer.

What is the weather like?

A warmer, rainier stretch from about January through April, especially in February and March, and a cooler, drier, sometimes gray stretch from about June through November. August is typically the coolest month. May and December sit in between.

What is garúa?

A gray coastal mist or light drizzle associated with the Humboldt Current in the cooler months. Official climate notes for Santa Elena describe fogs and light drizzle with only weak precipitation. It can make a dry month feel overcast without much real rain.

When is it crowded?

Roughly December through April, during Sierra school vacations around July and August, and on weekends, Carnaval, Semana Santa, and local festival dates. Book ahead in those windows.

When can I see humpback whales?

The season is generally June through September, and the municipality of Salinas promotes it from the third week of June. Sightings are not guaranteed on any given day.

Should I drive at night?

I would not, if I could wait until morning. Plan the Guayaquil-to-Salinas drive in daylight.

Sources

• Weather Spark, average weather in Salinas, Ecuador, year-round (warm, cool, and wetter season ranges; March and August averages): https://weatherspark.com/y/18290/Average-Weather-in-Salinas-Ecuador-Year-Round

• Climate-Data.org, Salinas, Santa Elena Province, 1991–2021 climate table (wettest and driest months; warmest and coolest months): https://en.climate-data.org/south-america/ecuador/santa-elena-province/salinas-25474/

• Climates to Travel, climate of Salinas (hot, relatively rainy January–April; dry, cooler June–November; May and December transitional; heavier rains more likely in El Niño years; Humboldt Current): https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/ecuador/salinas

• Instituto Geográfico Militar and Instituto Espacial Ecuatoriano, technical mémoire on climate and hydrology of Santa Elena (Humboldt Current; coastal fogs and light drizzle; rains concentrated early in the year, especially February–April; August typically coolest at the Salinas station; 1983 El Niño year as exceptional): https://www.geoportaligm.gob.ec/geodescargas/santa_elena/mt_santa_elena_clima_e_hidrologia.pdf

• INAMHI, El Niño phenomenon (definition and official monitoring): https://servicios.inamhi.gob.ec/fenomeno-el-nino/

• Municipality of Salinas, “Qué hacer y visitar” (about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil; Carnaval, Semana Santa, whale-season calendar from the third week of June, Baño de San Juan, San Lorenzo festivities, Virgen de las Mercedes, cantonization on December 22, year-end events): https://www.salinas.gob.ec/index.php/turismo/que-hacer-y-visitar

• Ecuador Ministry of Production, start of humpback whale-watching season (June through September, including Salinas and Ayangue): https://www.produccion.gob.ec/ecuador-inicia-la-temporada-de-avistamiento-de-ballenas-jorobadas-con-acciones-para-fortalecer-su-comercializacion-turistica/

• U.S. International Trade Administration, Ecuador Country Commercial Guide, Business Travel (avoid Holy Week and mid-December to mid-January for business travel): https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/ecuador-business-travel

• TopTravel, Salinas and the Pacific route (December–April warmer season; July and August as high season during Sierra school vacations; humpback whales June–September): https://toptravel.ec/destinos/ecuador/salinas/

• Teleamazonas, reporting the Ministry of Education calendar for the Sierra-Amazonía 2025–2026 school year (classes end June 26, 2026): https://www.teleamazonas.com/actualidad/noticias/sociedad/clases-vacaciones-regimen-sierra-amazonia-2026/

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

This page is practical background, not tax or financial advice, and not a recommendation to open any particular account. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with your bank and the utility company.

If you are still getting your bearings, start with Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador and Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador. The condo fee known as the alícuota is covered in more detail in Renting a condo in Salinas, Ecuador: buildings, fees, and what to check.

The money is already dollars

Ecuador adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency on January 9, 2000, according to the Central Bank of Ecuador. If you are arriving from the United States, you do not change money at the airport. You spend the same dollars you already know, in coins and bills.

That convenience still comes with a cash habit: carry small bills. The U.S. International Trade Administration’s commercial guide for Ecuador says merchants generally will not accept bills larger than $20. I have found the same pattern in daily life here. A $50 or $100 bill can be hard to break at a taxi, a market stall, or a small shop. I keep $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills for ordinary purchases.

Cash, cards, and ATMs

Larger hotels, supermarkets, and many restaurants take major cards. The same trade.gov guide notes that Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are widely accepted at larger retailers, while many smaller retailers are cash only. That matches what I see in Salinas and La Libertad: Supermaxi and similar stores are usually fine with a card; taxis, markets, and corner shops often want cash.

ATMs in Salinas and La Libertad dispense dollars and generally work with U.S. networks. Banco del Pacífico ATMs have worked well for me. The bank says its machines are associated with the Banred, Cirrus, and Plus networks. I use a machine inside a bank or a shopping center when I can, and I tell my home bank I will be in Ecuador so the card is not frozen.

I am not quoting an ATM withdrawal limit or a fee here. Limits and charges on a card from home vary by your bank and by the machine, and a local bank’s published caps for its own debit cards are not automatically the same as the cap on a visitor’s card. Ask your bank before you travel, and read the on-screen notice at the machine.

Day to day, I use a mix of cash and card.

If you need to move money between the United States and Ecuador, or you want a travel card alongside your regular debit card, a service such as Wise can be useful to compare. [AFFILIATE: Wise or travel card] If you use that link and later buy a product or fund a transfer, a commission may be earned. It does not cost you extra. This is not financial advice.

Opening a local bank account

Some longer-term residents open a local account so they can pay bills or keep a cash cushion in Ecuador. I am describing the general process, not walking you through my own paperwork.

At Banco del Pacífico, the bank’s savings-account page says a foreigner is asked for a color copy of a cédula or a passport that shows visa information, plus a recent utilities or internet bill. The same page has advertised that a savings account can be opened with no initial deposit. Those requirements can change, and a U.S. person may be asked for additional tax forms. Go to a branch, ask for a current list, and take originals and copies. This is not tax or financial advice.

The condo alícuota

If you rent or buy in a building, you will hear the word alícuota. It is the regular fee for the common parts of the building — security, elevators, cleaning, and similar shared costs. I walk through what to ask in Renting a condo in Salinas, Ecuador: buildings, fees, and what to check.

In many buildings, some utility bills are paid through the administration or folded into the monthly fee. In others, you pay the electric or water company yourself. Ask the administrator, in writing, which bills are included and which are yours.

Electricity: CNEL EP Santa Elena

Electricity on the peninsula is provided by CNEL EP, through its Unidad de Negocio Santa Elena. That is the public electric utility, not a private landlord service.

CNEL’s collections page lists several ways to pay: cash at bank windows if you have a previous bill or the supply number (the cuenta contrato) and the amount; monthly debit arranged with your bank; some credit-card options; online payments through a bank website, entering the cuenta contrato and choosing the business unit; and authorized points such as pharmacies and shops identified as official collection spots. The company’s site also lists a contact number, 1800-263537.

We have our condo utilities set up on automatic bank draft, so the bills pay themselves each month.

Water: Aguapen EP

Potable water and sewer service in the province of Santa Elena, including Salinas, are provided by Aguapen EP (also written Aguapen-EP), the public water company for the peninsula. The Consejo de Participación Ciudadana y Control Social describes it as the public company that supplies drinking water and sanitary and storm sewer service in the province, and the Gobernación de Santa Elena refers to it as the mancomunada, or joint, water company.

You pay with the client code or contract number on the Aguapen bill. Servipagos, a national bill-payment network, says you can pay current or past-due Aguapen water and sewer bills at its agencies by presenting that number and the amount, and that the payment posts immediately. As with electricity, confirm whether your building pays the account or you do.

For drinking water at our condo, Ulvia and I use bidones, the large refill jugs. That is a household habit, not a comment on the utility itself.

Internet and mobile phones

I use my U.S. plan with roaming, and that is enough for our trips. If you are staying longer, a local prepaid SIM is a practical option. The three mobile carriers in Ecuador are Claro, Movistar, and CNT, according to the same U.S. trade guide. Ecuador requires you to register a SIM with identification. Claro publishes a process for activating a prepaid chip with a passport, so have your passport with you at the store. I am not quoting plan prices, because they change.

For a home or condo internet line, coverage varies by street and building. CNT, the public telecommunications company, provides fixed-line service on the coast as well as in the highlands, per that trade.gov guide. Other private fiber or cable providers may already be wired into a given building. Ask the administrator what works at that address before you sign a contract.

At our condo we use Netlife for internet.

A small travel kit helps on the money and phone side of a trip: a document organizer for the passport and a backup card, a lockable day-bag, and a refillable bottle. [AFFILIATE: Amazon travel gear] If you buy through that link, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It does not cost you extra.

FAQ

Does Ecuador use the U.S. dollar?

Yes. The Central Bank of Ecuador dates official dollarization to January 9, 2000. You spend U.S. dollars in Salinas.

Should I bring cash, a card, or both?

Both. Larger stores and many restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, and small shops often want cash. Bring small bills. Bills larger than $20 can be hard to break.

Which ATMs have worked for you?

Banco del Pacífico ATMs have worked well for me in Salinas. Use a machine inside a bank when you can, and ask your home bank about fees and limits. I am not quoting a number here.

Do I need a local bank account?

Not necessarily for a short stay. A local account can be useful for a longer stay or for paying bills. Requirements vary by bank and by your visa status. This is not financial advice.

Who provides electricity and water in Salinas, Ecuador?

Electricity is from CNEL EP’s Santa Elena business unit. Water and sewer are from Aguapen EP. In a condo, ask how those bills are handled. The alícuota is covered in Renting a condo in Salinas, Ecuador: buildings, fees, and what to check.

Can I get a local SIM?

Yes. Claro, Movistar, and CNT are the mobile carriers. Bring your passport to register the SIM. I use my U.S. plan with roaming; a local SIM is a good option for a longer stay.

Sources

• Central Bank of Ecuador, institutional history (dollarization, January 9, 2000): https://www.bce.fin.ec/en/central-bank-of-ecuador/history/

• U.S. International Trade Administration, Ecuador Country Commercial Guide, Business Travel (bills larger than $20 generally not accepted; card acceptance at larger retailers; cash at many smaller retailers; ATMs and bank fees; Claro, Movistar, and CNT as mobile carriers; CNT fixed-line service on the coast and in the highlands): https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/ecuador-business-travel

• Banco del Pacífico, automated teller machines (Banred, Cirrus, and Plus networks): https://www.bancodelpacifico.com/Personas/Canales-de-atencion/Presencial/cajeros-automaticos

• Banco del Pacífico, savings account requirements for foreigners (color copy of cédula or passport showing visa data; recent utilities or internet bill; advertised opening with no initial deposit): https://www.bancodelpacifico.com/personas/cuentas-y-tarjetas/cuentas-de-ahorro/cuenta-de-ahorro

• CNEL EP, Gestión de Recaudación (payment channels, cuenta contrato, Unidad de Negocio Santa Elena, contact number 1800-263537): https://www.cnelep.gob.ec/gestion-de-recaudacion/

• CNEL EP, clients of the Unidad de Negocio Santa Elena: https://www.cnelep.gob.ec/los-clientes-de-la-unidad-de-negocio-santa-elena-se-integran-a-un-nuevo-sistema-comercial-de-cnel-ep/

• gob.ec, CNEL EP, payment of public electricity bills: https://www.gob.ec/cnel/tramites/pago-facturas-servicio-publico-energia-electrica

• Consejo de Participación Ciudadana y Control Social, May 20, 2024, bulletin on the user committee for Empresa Pública Aguapen-EP (drinking water and sanitary and storm sewer service in the province of Santa Elena): https://www.cpccs.gob.ec/2024/05/convocatoria-para-conformar-comite-de-usuarios-a-los-servicios-de-la-empresa-publica-aguapen-ep-de-santa-elena/

• Gobernación de la Provincia de Santa Elena, visit to the Atahualpa potabilization plant of Aguapen EP (joint water company serving the province): https://www.gobernacionsantaelena.gob.ec/gobernador-realizo-un-recorrido-por-la-planta-potabilizadora-atahualpa-de-aguapen-ep/

• Servipagos, Agua de la Península (AGUAPEN) bill payment (client or contract number; water and sewer bills): https://www.servipagos.com/servicios/agua-de-la-pensinsula-aguapen/

• Claro Ecuador, prepaid chip activation with a passport: https://www.claro.com.ec/personas/servicios/servicios-moviles/prepago/claro-chip/activacion-con-pasaporte/

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

This page is how I handle routine care on the peninsula, what I would do in an emergency, and how I think about paying for it. It is not medical advice, and it is not insurance advice.

If you are still on the road from Guayaquil, start with Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador. Groceries, getting around, and the first-month checklist are in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador. Housing is in Renting a condo in Salinas, Ecuador.

If something is urgent

For any emergency in Ecuador, call 911. It is the official national number for police, fire, and ambulance. The Servicio Integrado de Seguridad ECU 911 says the call is free, it can be made from a landline or a mobile phone, and the line is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, anywhere in the country. Ecuadorians and foreigners can use it. Say what the emergency is, give your exact location, and name a nearby landmark a driver can find.

Do not travel or drive at night if you can avoid it. That is the same rule Ulvia and I try to follow on the drive in from Guayaquil. If you can wait until daylight to go to a clinic, or to the city for more specialized care, that is what I would try to do.

Save 911 in your phone when you arrive, along with your lodging address in Spanish.

Where I go for routine care

For routine care, I use Clínica Granados, a private clinic in Ciudadela Santa Paula, on Calle 5ta E between Avenida 14 and Avenida 18. The clinic’s own site, hospitalgranados.med.ec, lists it as Hospital Granados and posts the same address. The published phone number is (04) 277-5576, with emergencies at extension 101. The site lists the emergency service as available 24 hours a day, and it also posts outpatient hours. Confirm those hours before you go, because they can change.

It is the private clinic I use in Salinas, Ecuador. I am not telling you which doctor to see, or whether this clinic is the right one for you. This is not medical advice.

The public hospital in Salinas

Salinas also has a public hospital, Hospital Básico José Garcés, operated through the Ministry of Public Health. The Ministry describes it as a second-level hospital that handles general surgery, trauma, gynecological procedures, and emergency work for people in the canton. I mention it so you know it is there. For routine care, I use the private clinic.

If you need care, ask a local professional and follow the people who are treating you. I cannot tell you which facility is right for you.

Paying for care

I pay cash at private clinics. I also carry Ecuadorian private health insurance, which is often called medicina prepagada. In Ecuador, the companies that finance those prepaid health plans are regulated by the Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros. I am not quoting premiums, deductibles, or waiting periods, and I am not describing what any particular plan covers, because plans differ and this is not insurance advice.

Bring a way to pay. Keep some U.S. cash in small bills for a clinic visit, and ask the front desk whether they also take a card. I will not invent a typical bill, because charges depend on the visit.

If you already have coverage from home, read the policy before you travel and ask the company what it will and will not do in Ecuador. Never assume a clinic or a hospital will bill your insurer the way a U.S. hospital might.

I want to be clear about my own role. I am a licensed insurance agent in the United States, but I do not sell Ecuadorian health insurance. Nothing on this page is an offer, a comparison, or a recommendation of a policy, and it is not a promise that any plan will pay a claim.

IESS, and why I do not use it

People sometimes ask about IESS, the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, which is Ecuador’s social-security health system.

Official IESS pages say a foreigner living in Ecuador may be able to join voluntarily if they have an Ecuadorian cédula de identidad, or a refugee card issued here, are at least 18, and do not have unpaid obligations to IESS. A visa can be part of obtaining that identity card, but the requirement I have seen on the IESS site is the document itself. Rules change, so if this matters to you, check the current IESS requirements and, when you need it, talk with a qualified professional. I am only pointing to what the official pages say.

I do not use IESS, even though some visa holders may be able to join. I do not feel that it is the right thing for me to do. My feeling is that IESS is meant for Ecuadorians. That is a personal choice, not a rule, and it is not advice about your own situation.

When care is more specialized

Serious medical issues are best handled in Guayaquil, Quito, or Cuenca. If you have time, the best option may be to go back to the United States. Guayaquil is the closest, about two hours away by car. I described that drive in Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador. If you can make that trip in daylight, I would.

For serious or specialized care in Guayaquil, Hospital Clínica Kennedy — also called Grupo Hospitalario Kennedy — is my pick. I had cataract surgery on my left eye with Dr. José Francisco Rivera at Clínica Kennedy in Guayaquil. Excellent physician and excellent care.

Kennedy has two hospital campuses, and its own site says each one has an emergency service and a trauma unit. One campus is in Ciudadela Kennedy, at Avenida del Periodista and Callejón 11-A. The other is in Samborondón, at kilometer 1.5 on the road to La Puntilla. Both appear on the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil's May 2026 hospital list. The group's site lists insurer convenios and an SGS ISO 9001 certification whose published scope includes the emergency service. I have not seen a Joint Commission International accreditation for a hospital in Guayaquil. Hospital Metropolitano in Quito states that it is the only JCI-accredited hospital in Ecuador.

Guayaquil has other solid private hospitals. Interhospital is on Avenida del Bombero, kilometer 6.5, on the Vía a la Costa — the road you use coming in from Salinas — and its site lists a 24-hour emergency department. Hospital Alcívar, at Coronel 2301 and Azuay, publishes a 24-hour emergency service and an international-patients page. Omni Hospital, on Avenida Juan Tanca Marengo at Calle 13E NE, is also on the Consulate list. Hospital Luis Vernaza, downtown at Loja and Escobedo, is the large nonprofit hospital of the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil. Inclusion on a consular list is not an endorsement, and this is not medical advice.

Sometimes there is no time to travel. When my wife needed an emergency appendectomy, we had no choice but to go to a local clinic. She received excellent care at Granados Hospital. I highly recommend it for an emergency.

If you might need the trip to Guayaquil, write down the hospital name and address before you need them, and think about how you would get there in daylight.

Dental care on the peninsula

For dental care on the peninsula, I highly recommend Dr. Moncayo. His office is in the nice two-story building near the entrance to the La Milena subdivision. He studied in Brazil and has the latest equipment. Excellent in all respects. His practice is Moncayo Dental Ateliê, on Av. Carlos Espinoza Larrea in Salinas. You can reach the office on WhatsApp at +593 99 012 5530.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are easy to find in Salinas and La Libertad. Common national chains in Ecuador include Fybeca, Pharmacys, and Cruz Azul. I mention them as chains you will see around the country, not as a personal recommendation.

I usually use Fybeca.

Bring a copy of your prescriptions and a small supply of any medicine you cannot easily replace. Ask the pharmacist whether a local prescription is needed for a refill. I will not invent whether a given medicine is in stock, or whether the rules here match the ones at home.

If you are visiting, look at travel medical insurance

If you are coming to Salinas, Ecuador, for a short stay, it is worth looking at travel medical insurance before you leave home, including whether a policy would help with a hospital bill or a medical evacuation. I am not telling you which company to use, and I am not promising that any policy will cover a particular visit or a flight home. Read the policy. This is not insurance advice.

One option to compare is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, a travel medical policy for people staying abroad. Check its limits, exclusions, and age and trip-length rules before you buy.

If you use a link on this page and later buy a policy, a commission may be earned. It does not cost you extra, and a commission is not a promise about coverage or about the quality of any company. You are always free to buy directly, without using a link here.

FAQ

What should I do in a medical emergency in Salinas, Ecuador?

Call 911, give your exact location and a nearby landmark, and follow local emergency staff. If you can avoid driving at night, wait until daylight. This is not medical advice.

Where do you go for routine care?

I use Clínica Granados, a private clinic in Ciudadela Santa Paula, on Calle 5ta E between Avenida 14 and Avenida 18. I pay cash there.

Do you use IESS?

No. Official pages say some foreign residents may be able to join if they have the right identity documents, but I do not use IESS. My feeling is that it is meant for Ecuadorians. That is a personal choice, not a rule.

How do you pay for care?

I pay cash at private clinics, and I carry Ecuadorian private health insurance, or medicina prepagada. I am not quoting prices or premiums, and this is not insurance advice.

Where would someone go for more serious care?

Serious issues are best handled in Guayaquil, Quito, or Cuenca, or back in the United States if you have time. For planned specialized care in Guayaquil, Clínica Kennedy is my pick. I had cataract surgery on my left eye there with Dr. Rivera. In a true emergency, Granados Hospital in Salinas gave my wife excellent care for an emergency appendectomy.

What about dental care on the peninsula?

I highly recommend Dr. Moncayo. His office is in the nice two-story building near the entrance to the La Milena subdivision. He studied in Brazil and has the latest equipment. Excellent in all respects.

What about pharmacies?

Pharmacies are easy to find in Salinas and La Libertad. Fybeca, Pharmacys, and Cruz Azul are common national chains. Fybeca is the one I use. Bring a copy of your prescriptions.

Sources

• Servicio Integrado de Seguridad ECU 911, official emergency line (free, 24/7, nationwide, from a landline or mobile phone; Ecuadorians and foreigners): https://www.gob.ec/ecu-911/tramites/solicitud-atencion-emergencia-traves-diferentes-mecanismos-alerta

• Servicio Integrado de Seguridad ECU 911, institutional page (single number 9-1-1, free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from any landline or mobile phone): https://www.ecu911.gob.ec/servicio-integrado-de-seguridad-ecu-911/

• Clínica Granados (Hospital Granados), contact page (Calle 5ta E / Av. 14 y 18, Cdla. Santa Paula, Salinas, Santa Elena; phone (04) 277-5576; emergencies ext. 101; emergency service listed 24 hours): https://hospitalgranados.med.ec/contacto/

• Clínica Granados (Hospital Granados), home page (address and emergency line): https://hospitalgranados.med.ec/

• Ecuador Ministry of Public Health, Hospital Básico José Garcés in Salinas (second-level public hospital; general surgery, trauma, gynecological procedures, and emergency work): https://www.salud.gob.ec/gobierno-del-presidente-noboa-invierte-mas-de-usd-209-mil-destinados-a-modernizar-el-area-quirurgica-del-hospital-jose-garces-en-salinas/

• IESS, voluntary affiliation for Ecuadorians and foreigners living in Ecuador (cédula de identidad or refugee card issued in Ecuador; no outstanding IESS obligations): https://www.iess.gob.ec/es/web/afiliacion-voluntaria/ecuatorianos-y-extranjeros-dentro-del-ecuador1

• IESS, affiliation frequently asked questions (voluntary affiliation requirements for foreigners in Ecuador, including cédula de identidad or refugee card, age 18 or older, and no outstanding obligations): https://www.iess.gob.ec/es/preguntas-frecuentes-afiliacion

• - Ley Orgánica que Regula a las Compañías que Financien Servicios de Atención Integral de Salud Prepagada y a las de Seguros que Oferten Cobertura de Seguros de Asistencia Médica, official text hosted by gob.ec (object and regulation of prepaid health companies): https://www.gob.ec/sites/default/files/regulations/2020-03/Documento_LEY-ORGANICA-COMPANIAS-SALUD-PREPAGADA-ASISTENCIA-MEDICA.pdf

• - National Assembly of Ecuador, notice that the prepaid-medicine law was published in Registro Oficial Supplement 863 on October 17, 2016: https://www.asambleanacional.gob.ec/es/noticia/46435-ley-de-medicina-prepagada-entro-en-vigencia

• - Grupo Hospitalario Kennedy (Hospital Clínica Kennedy), home page (campuses; insurer convenios; SGS ISO 9001 certification whose published scope includes the emergency service): https://hospikennedy.med.ec/

• - Grupo Hospitalario Kennedy, contact page (Av. del Periodista y Callejón 11-A, N.O. Kennedy, Guayaquil; Samborondón campus at Km 1 ½ vía La Puntilla): https://hospikennedy.med.ec/contacto

• - Grupo Hospitalario Kennedy, emergency page (emergency service and trauma unit at each of the two hospital campuses): https://hospikennedy.med.ec/emergencia

• - U.S. Consulate General Guayaquil, List of Hospitals and Medical Providers for the Guayaquil Consular District, updated May 2026 (Clínica Kennedy campuses, Omnihospital at Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Calle 13E NE, Interhospital, Hospital Alcívar, Hospital Luis Vernaza, and others; list is not an endorsement): https://ec.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/167/2026/05/Hospital-and-Medical-Provider-List-GYQ-2026-01.pdf

• - Interhospital, home and contact pages (Av. del Bombero km 6.5, Vía a la Costa; hospital open 24/7; emergency, laboratory, and pharmacy listed 24 hours; (04) 375-0000): https://interhospital.com.ec/ and https://interhospital.com.ec/contactanos

• - Interhospital, "Nosotros" page (quality commitment that cites ISO 9001:2015): https://interhospital.com.ec/nosotros

• - Hospital Alcívar, location page (Coronel 2301 y Azuay, Guayaquil): https://hospitalalcivar.com/quienes-somos/ubicacion/

• - Hospital Alcívar, ambulance and emergency page (emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year): https://hospitalalcivar.com/servicio/trauma-uno/

• - Hospital Alcívar, International Patients page: https://hospitalalcivar.com/informacion-al-paciente/international-patients/

• - Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil (nonprofit hospital; Loja No. 700 y Escobedo, Guayaquil): https://hospitalluisvernaza.jbg.med.ec/

• - Hospital Metropolitano, Quito, certifications page (states it is the only hospital in Ecuador accredited by Joint Commission International, reaccredited for a fifth time): https://www.hospitalmetropolitano.org/es/certificaciones-acreditaciones-logros

• - Centro de Diagnóstico Ocular, Dr. José Francisco Rivera Delgado (offices at Clínica Kennedy Policentro, sección Gamma, and Clínica Kennedy Samborondón, Torre Alfa; cataract surgery listed among services): https://www.cdo.com.ec/

• - Fybeca, official pharmacy site and pharmacy locator: https://www.fybeca.com/ and https://www.fybeca.com/farmacias

• - Pharmacys, official pharmacy site: https://www.pharmacys.com.ec/

• - Farmacias Cruz Azul, official pharmacy site, and Grupo DIFARE page describing Cruz Azul and Pharmacys as national pharmacy chains: https://www.farmaciascruzazul.ec/ and https://difare.com.ec/farmacias

• Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros, registration of companies that finance prepaid comprehensive health-care services (medicina prepagada): https://www.gob.ec/scvs/tramites/registro-companias-financien-servicios-atencion-integral-salud-prepagada

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

This page is how I would search for a rental, what I would check in a building, and the paperwork that usually comes with a lease. It is not legal advice, and it is not a buying guide. Before you sign anything, have a local lawyer read the contract.

If you are still on the road from Guayaquil, start with Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador. Groceries, getting around, a clinic, and ATMs are in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador.

Where I would look first

The area I would point a newcomer to is the malecón and San Lorenzo. That stretch puts you close to the beach, the restaurants, and a walkable daily routine.

Salinas has calmer pockets and busier ones. San Lorenzo is livelier. Chipipe, just along the bay, is quieter and more family-oriented. Either can work. What matters is that you can walk to the malecón, that a taxi can find the gate, and that the building feels like a place you would come home to at night.

The municipality of Salinas calls the town the main beach resort on mainland Ecuador, about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil. Weekends are often busier because people come out from the city. That is one reason I would stay more than a couple of nights before I chose a unit.

Stay a while, then look locally

My advice is to stay on Airbnb first, then look locally. A short stay lets you test the noise, the water pressure, the elevator, and how the block feels after dark.

Once you are here, two of the most useful channels are Facebook expat groups and the people who already work in the buildings. Guards and administrators often know which units are about to come free, sometimes before anything is posted online. Be polite, be clear about your dates, and do not treat a hallway conversation as a contract.

I would not decide from photos alone. Walk the unit in daylight, and again in the evening if you can.

A short stay while you search

Ulvia and I co-host our condo, La Siesta, Piso 6A, in Salinas, on Airbnb. If it is available for your dates, you are welcome to use it as a base while you look. I own it, so I want that to be clear. [LINK: La Siesta Airbnb listing]

If our place is not open, or you would rather compare a few buildings, a short hotel or apartment stay in Salinas, Ecuador, is a practical way to start.

[AFFILIATE: Booking.com Salinas stays]

What to check in the building

The unit matters, but the building often matters more. These are the things I would check before I got attached to a view.

The monthly condo fee, or alícuota, and who pays it. In Ecuador, condo owners contribute to the building’s common expenses — security, elevators, cleaning, pumps, and the like — in proportion to their unit. In a rental, that fee may stay with the owner or be passed through to you. Ask for the current monthly amount, what it covers, whether special assessments are pending, and who pays it. Get that in writing in the lease. I am not quoting typical fees here, because they vary by building.

Water pressure and the cistern. Go to the bathroom and the kitchen and actually run the taps, especially if the unit is on a higher floor. Ask how the building stores water, whether there is a cistern and a pump, and what happens when municipal pressure drops. Confirm drinking-water arrangements with the host or landlord; I covered our own habits in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador.

A backup generator. Power on the peninsula is not always uninterrupted. In 2024, Ecuador ran scheduled nationwide rationing during a severe drought, and those cuts reached Salinas and the rest of Santa Elena. The province has also had local outages when transmission equipment failed, including a stretch in early 2026 before service was restored. Ask whether the building has a generator, what it actually powers — elevators, water pumps, common lights, or only a guard post — and how often it is tested.

Security and guards. Many beachfront buildings have a gate and a guard. Visit at more than one time of day. Ask how entry works for residents, guests, and deliveries, and whether someone is on duty overnight.

Ocean view versus street noise. A direct view of the bay is lovely, and it can also mean more wind, more weekend activity on the malecón, and more noise at night. Spend an evening in the unit if the owner will allow it. A slightly quieter place a block off the malecón can be the better one to sleep in.

Also ask about house rules, pets, parking, and how the administrator prefers to be contacted. If the unit is furnished, walk through an inventory and take photos on the day you receive the keys. Ecuador’s tenancy law says a furnished rental contract should include a written inventory and valuation of the furniture.

Leases, deposits, and the paperwork

Ecuador has used the U.S. dollar since January 9, 2000, so rents are quoted and paid in dollars. You do not change money to sign a lease.

Have the agreement in writing, in Spanish, even though the law also recognizes verbal contracts. A handshake or a WhatsApp thread is a hard thing to prove later. I would not sign a Spanish-language lease I did not fully understand. Pay a local lawyer to review it. This page is not a substitute for that.

Under the Ley de Inquilinato, if the monthly rent is more than one unified basic wage — $482 a month in 2026, a figure that is set each year — the contract must be in writing, and the landlord is supposed to register it with a notary within 30 days of signing.

A security deposit, or garantía, is common, but the current law does not require one. In practice, landlords and tenants often agree on one or two months’ rent. If you pay a deposit, the contract should say how much it is, when it can be used, and how and when it will be returned. Keep a receipt.

One more legal point that surprises people: in many written residential leases, the tenant has a right to a minimum term of two years, with exceptions, including certain short or temporary stays. If you only want a place for a few months, do not assume a one-year clause, or a handshake about leaving early, will work the way it would at home. Ask a local lawyer how the rule applies to your dates and your contract.

The National Assembly has been considering reforms to this law. Until a change is published, the current rules are the ones that matter.

High season and timing

Salinas, Ecuador, is a year-round town, but it is not equally busy every month. The warmer stretch from about December through April is high season on this coast, with more visitors and tighter lodging. There is another busy period when schools in the Sierra are on vacation, typically around July and August. National holidays, long weekends, and visitors from Guayaquil can fill buildings even outside those months.

If you are hoping to rent for a season, start looking before the crowd arrives. I will not invent rental prices here; they move with the calendar and the building. Weather and packing are in Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador, and a later guide will go deeper on the seasons.

FAQ

Where would you tell a newcomer to look?

The malecón and San Lorenzo. Chipipe is a calmer stretch of the same bay. Live there a few weeks before you commit to a longer lease.

How do I find a rental in Salinas, Ecuador?

Stay on Airbnb first, then look locally. Use Facebook expat groups, and ask building guards and administrators about units that may be coming available.

What should I check in a building?

The monthly alícuota and who pays it, water pressure and the cistern, whether there is a backup generator and what it powers, security and guards, and whether the view is worth the noise.

Is a written contract required?

I would always want one, in Spanish, reviewed by a local lawyer. The law also recognizes verbal contracts, but if the monthly rent is above one unified basic wage ($482 in 2026), the contract must be in writing and the landlord should register it with a notary within 30 days.

Do I have to pay a deposit?

The current tenancy law does not require a garantía, but many landlords ask for one, often one or two months’ rent. Put the amount and the return conditions in the contract, and keep a receipt. This is not legal advice.

When is high season?

Roughly December through April, and again during Sierra school vacations around July and August. Weekends and holidays can be busy in any month.

Sources

• Ley de Inquilinato, official text hosted by gob.ec (written and verbal contracts, Art. 27; two-year minimum term and exceptions, Art. 28; written contract and notarial registration when rent exceeds one unified basic wage, Art. 29; furnished inventory, Art. 24): https://www.gob.ec/sites/default/files/regulations/2025-10/LEY_DE_INQUILINATO.pdf

• Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, official text hosted by gob.ec (owners contribute to common expenses in proportion to their unit, Art. 5): https://www.gob.ec/sites/default/files/regulations/2024-11/LEY_DE_PROPIEDAD_HORIZONTAL.pdf

• Ministerio del Trabajo, Acuerdo Ministerial MDT-2025-195 (unified basic wage for 2026 set at $482 a month, effective January 1, 2026): https://www.trabajo.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2026/01/ACUERDO-MINISTERIAL-MDT-2025-195.pdf

• Primicias, keys to the Ley de Inquilinato (verbal or written contracts, notarial registration above one basic wage, deposits not required by law, common practice of one or two months’ rent): https://www.primicias.ec/economia/ley-inquilinato-arrendador-inquilino-ecuador-127061/

• El Comercio, what the Ley de Inquilinato says about evictions, deposits, and contracts: https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador/que-dice-ley-inquilinato-ecuador-desalojos-garantias-contratos/

• Lupa, fact-check that the current Ley de Inquilinato does not require a rental deposit: https://lupa.com.ec/verificaciones/ley-inquilinato-garantia-arrendar/

• Central Bank of Ecuador, institutional history (dollarization, January 9, 2000): https://www.bce.fin.ec/en/central-bank-of-ecuador/history/

• Municipality of Salinas, “Qué hacer y visitar” (main mainland beach resort, 140 kilometers from Guayaquil, tourism calendar): https://www.salinas.gob.ec/index.php/turismo/que-hacer-y-visitar

• Anywhere, Salinas travel guide (December–April as the busiest season): https://www.anywhere.com/ecuador/destinations/salinas

• TopTravel, Salinas and the Pacific route (December–April warmer season; July and August as high season during Sierra school vacations): https://toptravel.ec/destinos/ecuador/salinas/

• Teleamazonas, reporting the Ministry of Education calendar for the Sierra-Amazonía 2025–2026 school year (classes end June 26, 2026): https://www.teleamazonas.com/actualidad/noticias/sociedad/clases-vacaciones-regimen-sierra-amazonia-2026/

• El Universo, CNEL power-rationing schedules in Santa Elena, including Salinas, November 3, 2024, during the national drought crisis: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/ecuador/horarios-de-cortes-de-luz-en-santa-elena-este-domingo-3-de-noviembre-segun-cnel-nota/

• Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía, press bulletin No. 233 (March 27, 2026): electric service in Santa Elena normalized after work on the provincial transmission substation: https://www.ambienteyenergia.gob.ec/gobierno-nacional-normaliza-el-servicio-electrico-en-santa-elena-y-cubre-el-100-de-la-demanda-tras-intervencion-en-subestacion-de-transmision/

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

My wife, Ulvia, and I spend part of each year in our condo here. The first month goes better when you do not try to settle in and see the whole peninsula in the same week. This page is a calm way through those first 30 days.

If you are still on the road from Guayaquil, start with the companion guide, Arriving in Salinas, Ecuador.

The first week, slowly

Sleep off the flight. Then handle the basics in daylight.

Get a little cash out, if you did not bring enough small bills, and do a grocery run before you start exploring. WhatsApp is how a lot of everyday coordination happens here — drivers, building staff, and small shops — so get that working early. I use my U.S. plan with roaming, which is enough for our trips; a local SIM is a good option if you are staying longer.

Walk the block around your lodging and learn a landmark a driver can find again: a gate, a tower, a named ceviche stand. Confirm the Wi-Fi, the water, and how the building handles trash and the front door. At our condo we drink bottled water from bidones, the large refill jugs. That is what I would plan on for the first week unless your host has told you otherwise.

Getting your bearings

Salinas sits at the tip of the Santa Elena Peninsula. La Libertad is the next town over and is where a lot of everyday shopping happens. Santa Elena, the provincial capital, is a little farther inland. You will pass both of them on the drive in from Guayaquil.

In Salinas itself, most visitors spend their time along the malecón. Chipipe is the calmer, family-friendly stretch of bay. San Lorenzo is busier, with more fishing boats, stalls, and restaurants. Punta Carnero, a short ride south, is a longer, windier beach that surfers like; it is a different afternoon than a swim on the bay.

Ulvia and I usually get around in our own car or a rental. If you do not want to drive, taxis and local buses cover many daily needs, especially if you are staying near the malecón.

Food and everyday shopping

You can eat very well in Salinas, Ecuador, without a plan: fresh fish, ceviche, and simple almuerzos (set lunches) are part of ordinary life here.

For groceries, we shop at Supermaxi, Mi Comisariato, and the market in La Libertad. Supermaxi is a full-size supermarket on the main road between Salinas and La Libertad — a short taxi or bus ride from the beach, not a casual walk with bags. The market in La Libertad is a good stop for produce and seafood. Many small shops and food stands are cash only, so keep small bills with you.

For a first-week meal out, I would send a friend to La Vanessa — Cevichería Vanessa — on Avenida Eduardo Aspiazu at Calle 18 in Salinas.

[AFFILIATE: Amazon - kitchen or household basics you have actually used in the condo and would buy again.]

Money in daily life

You are still spending U.S. dollars. Larger hotels, supermarkets, and many restaurants take Visa or Mastercard. Taxis, markets, and small shops often want cash. I try not to rely on a $50 or $100 bill for a small purchase.

ATMs in Salinas and La Libertad dispense dollars. Use a machine inside a bank or a shopping center when you can, and tell your home bank you will be in Ecuador so the card is not frozen. Fees and withdrawal limits vary by bank, so I will not invent a number here. Banco del Pacífico ATMs have worked well for me. A later guide will go deeper on banking and utilities.

Health and emergencies

For any emergency in Ecuador, call 911. It is the official national number for police, fire, and ambulance, it is free, and it is staffed 24 hours a day. Give your exact location and a nearby landmark.

Salinas has a public hospital, Hospital Básico José Garcés Rodríguez, operated through the Ministry of Public Health. It handles many local surgical and emergency needs. For routine care, I use Clínica Granados, a private clinic in Ciudadela Santa Paula, on Calle 5ta between Avenida 14 and Avenida 18. For more specialized care, people on the peninsula often travel to Guayaquil. I will write a fuller healthcare page later. This is not medical advice, and I cannot tell you which doctor is right for you.

Pharmacies are easy to find in Salinas and La Libertad. Bring a copy of your prescriptions and a small supply of any medicine you cannot easily replace.

Weather in your first month

Salinas, Ecuador, does not have a four-season year like Alabama. It has a warmer, more humid stretch and a cooler, drier one.

From about January through April it is hotter, and that is when most of the year’s rain falls, especially in February and March. The rain is not constant, but when it comes it can be heavy. From about June through November it is drier, breezier, and cooler; August is typically the coolest month. May and December sit in between.

Pack for the month you are in: lighter clothes and rain cover in the warm months, and a real layer for evenings in the cooler, windier ones. The municipality of Salinas also notes that humpback whale season along the malecón is promoted from the third week of June.

A few good first outings

You do not need a packed tour schedule in month one, but a couple of outings help the place feel like home.

The two I would start with are a walk along the malecón between Chipipe and San Lorenzo, in the morning or late afternoon, and a separate trip to La Chocolatera, the rocky point at the tip of the peninsula, where the currents meet and the views are worth the short ride.

If you are here in whale season, a boat trip is one of the special things this coast offers. Montañita, farther up the coast, is a reasonable day trip if you want surf towns and a change of scene — after you have your bearings in Salinas.

[AFFILIATE: GetYourGuide - whale-watching in season, a visit to La Chocolatera or the Santa Elena Peninsula, or a day trip toward Montañita, if a reliable option is listed.]

Weeks two through four

After the first week, slow down. Learn one or two regular spots and go back. Practice enough Spanish to order food, give an address, and say thank you. If you are in a condo, read the house rules and find out how the administrator prefers to be contacted. Electricity on the peninsula is provided by CNEL EP, and water and sewer by Aguapen EP; in a condo you may pay these through the building.

Note what still feels hard — a doctor, a taxi number, laundry — and fix those before the month is over. A later housing guide will go deeper on condos and HOAs.

A simple 30-day checklist

Days 1–3: Rest, cash, phone, water and Wi-Fi, a small grocery run, a walk around the block.

Days 4–7: A fuller shop at Supermaxi, Mi Comisariato, or the market in La Libertad; a pharmacy stop if you need it; a walk on the malecón; one easy meal out. Save official emergency numbers in your phone, starting with 911.

Days 8–14: Get comfortable getting to La Libertad. Add one outing: La Chocolatera.

Days 15–30: A second outing if you want one, a routine for laundry, groceries, and bidón refills, and a written list of contacts you would want if you came back.

[AFFILIATE: Booking.com - a short stay in Salinas, Ecuador, if a reader is still scouting a neighborhood before renting.]

FAQ

How much can I reasonably do in the first week?

Less than you think. Handle cash, food, the phone, and one walk along the malecón. Save La Chocolatera and longer outings for week two.

Do I need a car in Salinas, Ecuador?

Ulvia and I usually drive our own car or a rental, but you do not necessarily need one in the first month if you are staying near the malecón. Taxis and buses cover many daily needs.

What should I do in a medical emergency?

Call 911, give your location, and follow local emergency staff. This is not medical advice.

Is the first month a good time to look at real estate?

You can look, but I would live here a few weeks first. Housing and HOAs are worth their own guide.

Sources

• Municipality of Salinas, “Qué hacer y visitar” (attractions, beaches, whale-season calendar): https://www.salinas.gob.ec/index.php/turismo/que-hacer-y-visitar

• Servicio Integrado de Seguridad ECU 911, official emergency line (free, 24/7, nationwide): https://www.gob.ec/ecu-911/tramites/solicitud-atencion-emergencia-traves-diferentes-mecanismos-alerta

• Ecuador Ministry of Public Health, Hospital Básico José Garcés, Salinas: https://www.salud.gob.ec/gobierno-del-presidente-noboa-invierte-mas-de-usd-209-mil-destinados-a-modernizar-el-area-quirurgica-del-hospital-jose-garces-en-salinas/

• Clínica Granados (Hospital Granados), contact page, address in Ciudadela Santa Paula: https://hospitalgranados.med.ec/contacto/

• Central Bank of Ecuador, institutional history (dollarization, January 9, 2000): https://www.bce.fin.ec/en/central-bank-of-ecuador/history/

• Climates to Travel, Salinas climate averages (1991–2020 temperatures and rainfall): https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/ecuador/salinas

• Weather Spark, average weather in Salinas, Ecuador: https://weatherspark.com/y/18290/Average-Weather-in-Salinas-Ecuador-Year-Round

• CNEL EP, electricity service (for later utilities detail): https://www.gob.ec/cnel/tramites/pago-facturas-servicio-publico-energia-electrica

• AGUAPEN EP, water and sanitation for the Santa Elena Peninsula (for later utilities detail): http://www.aguapen.gob.ec/?page_id=703

• Cevichería Vanessa, restaurant location on Avenida Eduardo Aspiazu at Calle 18, Salinas: https://cevicheriavanessa.wordpress.com/

Some links are affiliates (GetYourGuide, Amazon, Booking.com). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice. Full disclaimers on the Disclaimers page.

This is the arrival path we use. Rules change, so check official sources before you travel.

Before you leave

Bring a passport with blank pages and enough time left before it expires. The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador says U.S. citizens should arrive with a passport valid for at least six months. The U.K. government says the same for British passports. Other passports can differ, so confirm with your embassy.

Also bring a return or onward ticket — officers sometimes ask for proof that you plan to leave — and some U.S. cash in small bills ($1, $5, $10, and $20). Ecuador has used the U.S. dollar as official currency since January 9, 2000, so travelers from the United States do not change money on arrival. Larger bills can be hard to break.

Download an offline map of the drive, and write down your lodging address in Spanish. If you are carrying a large amount of cash or goods, read current Ecuadorian customs rules before you fly. Thresholds change, and this page is not tax advice.

[AFFILIATE: Amazon - a simple packing list for the coast (reef-safe sunscreen, a packable hat, a small first-aid kit, a reusable water bottle). U.S. readers usually do not need a plug adapter; Ecuador uses Type A and Type B outlets and 120-volt, 60 Hz power, the same standard as the United States.]

Fly into Guayaquil, not Salinas

International flights land at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil. Our usual route is a connection through Miami into GYE. The municipality of Salinas puts the town about 140 kilometers from Guayaquil. By car, that is typically around two hours, depending on traffic, the time of day, and where on the peninsula you are headed.

Ulvia and I usually drive ourselves from the airport — in our own car, or in a rental. If this is your first visit, or you would rather not drive after a long flight, a pre-booked transfer or an official airport taxi is a solid option. I am not quoting rental or transfer prices here, because they change.

Passport and entry basics

I am not an immigration lawyer, and this is not advice for your case. I am only pointing to what official sources say.

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador states that U.S. citizens traveling for business or tourism on a tourist passport may enter without a visa for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year, and that an extension of up to another 90 days can be requested at provincial migration offices.

Published guidance is not always worded the same way. U.K. travel advice describes a visa-free visit of up to 90 days in any 12-month period, with a paid extension if you apply before the first period ends. If you hold another passport, or you already spent time in Ecuador this year, check the current rule with Ecuadorian immigration and your own embassy before you book.

Overstaying can mean a fine and trouble re-entering. If you are coming to live part of the year, as we do, get the right visa or residency category from official channels. Do not guess from a blog post, including this one.

At the airport in Guayaquil

GYE is a single-terminal airport and is straightforward. You clear immigration, collect bags, and walk into the arrivals hall.

If you are taking a taxi, use the authorized airport taxis. The airport operator, TAGSA, says official taxis run 24 hours a day outside both the domestic and international arrival doors. Pay cash in the taxi, or pay by card at the cooperative’s office in the international arrivals hall. Phone numbers published by the airport are +593 4 216-9141 / 216-9142 and mobile +593 9 6015-5142. I would not accept a ride from someone who approaches you unsolicited in the arrivals hall.

If someone is picking you up, agree on a meeting point in writing — for example, “international arrivals, official taxi desk” — and have WhatsApp ready once you have data or Wi-Fi. If you are picking up a rental car, follow the signs to the rental desks after you collect your bags.

A phone that works

You will want data for maps, WhatsApp, and calling a driver if you have one.

I use my U.S. plan with roaming, and that is enough for our trips. Roaming is a simple option if your carrier offers it and you have already confirmed coverage and cost. If you are staying longer, or you want to avoid roaming charges, a local prepaid SIM is a good choice.

The main local carriers are Claro, Movistar, and CNT. Ecuador requires you to register a SIM with identification, so have your passport ready. Official airport listings show a SIM Store in the international departures hall (24 hours) and Wifi-To-Go at the international arrivals baggage belts (24 hours). Airport shops are convenient after a late flight; a carrier store in town is often simpler once you are settled. I am not quoting plan prices here, because they change.

The ride to Salinas, Ecuador

This is the part people worry about, and it is the easiest to plan ahead.

Do not travel or drive at night if you can avoid it. That is a rule Ulvia and I try to follow. The trip from Guayaquil to Salinas, Ecuador, is straightforward in daylight, but I would rather sleep in the city and continue in the morning than start that drive after dark.

Driving yourself is what we usually do, in our own car or a rental. The road west from Guayaquil to the peninsula is a straightforward drive, but it is still a long stretch after a red-eye, and first-time visitors may prefer not to get behind the wheel right away.

A pre-booked private transfer is what I would tell a first-time visitor to use, especially after a long flight, with luggage, or if you land after dark. A driver who already has your name and flight number saves you from negotiating a fare when you are tired.

[AFFILIATE: GetYourGuide - a private transfer from Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Salinas, Ecuador, if a reliable option is listed.]

Official airport taxis can also make the trip. Ask for the fare to your exact address in Salinas before you get in, and confirm that the price is for the whole car, not per person. Published third-party estimates vary widely, so I will not invent a “standard” price.

The bus is a solid low-cost option, and I would tell a first-time visitor it is fine. Intercity buses run from Guayaquil’s Terminal Terrestre to Salinas. You do have to get from GYE to the bus terminal first, and it helps to be able to handle your bags and find the right window in Spanish. I would still wait until morning if you land after dark.

The landscape flattens and dries out as you leave Guayaquil. You pass Santa Elena and La Libertad before you reach Salinas. If you arrive in daylight, that first look at the Pacific is when the trip starts to feel worth it.

If you land late

If your flight arrives after dark, or you have a long layover, I would not start the trip to Salinas, Ecuador, that night. Sleep in Guayaquil and continue in the morning.

When we do that, we sometimes stay at the Wyndham Guayaquil Puerto Santa Ana. The hotel’s amenities page lists a free 24-hour airport shuttle to and from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE), about three miles away. In our experience the hotel is safe and nice, and the breakfast buffet is excellent. The hotel’s dining page says Restaurante Rio Grande serves a breakfast buffet.

[AFFILIATE: Booking.com - Wyndham Guayaquil Puerto Santa Ana for a late-arrival overnight, or a short stay in Salinas if a reader is still scouting lodging.]

Walking in the door

Have your exact lodging address written down, including the building name and a nearby landmark. Coastal condos and gates are easier to find when a driver can call the guard or your host.

The first evening does not need to be ambitious. Get inside, confirm the Wi-Fi, and check the water. At our condo we drink bottled water from bidones, the large refill jugs, so that is one of the first things we sort out. Hold onto some cash for the morning, and eat something simple. The malecón and the grocery run can wait until daylight.

Welcome to Salinas, Ecuador. The rest of the settling-in is in the companion guide, Your first 30 days in Salinas, Ecuador.

FAQ

Do I fly straight into Salinas, Ecuador?

No. International flights use Guayaquil (GYE). From there it is about 140 kilometers, typically around a two-hour drive, to Salinas. Our usual route is a connection through Miami into GYE.

How do you get from the airport to Salinas?

Ulvia and I usually drive our own car or a rental. If this is your first visit, a pre-booked transfer or an official airport taxi is a good option, and the bus from Terminal Terrestre is also fine. Use the airport’s authorized taxi cooperative, not a driver who approaches you unsolicited in the arrivals hall. I would not make the trip after dark if I could wait until morning.

What if my flight lands at night?

I would sleep in Guayaquil and go to the coast in the morning. We sometimes stay at the Wyndham Guayaquil Puerto Santa Ana, which has a 24-hour airport shuttle from GYE.

Do U.S. citizens need a visa for a short visit?

The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador says U.S. citizens traveling for tourism or business on a tourist passport may enter without a visa for up to 90 days per calendar year, with a possible extension through provincial migration offices. Confirm this for your own passport and dates before you go. This is not immigration advice.

Is the money different?

No. Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar. Bring small bills and a debit card you have already told your bank you will use abroad.

Can I use my U.S. plugs?

Yes, in general. Ecuador uses Type A and Type B outlets and 120-volt, 60 Hz power, the same standard as the United States.

Sources

• Municipality of Salinas, “Qué hacer y visitar” (distance from Guayaquil): https://www.salinas.gob.ec/index.php/turismo/que-hacer-y-visitar

• TAGSA, José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, authorized taxi service: https://www.tagsa.aero/en_taxis.html

• TAGSA, airport store directory (SIM Store and Wifi-To-Go): https://www.tagsa.aero/en_comercio.html

• U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador, frequently asked questions (passport validity, 90 days per calendar year, return ticket, extensions): https://ec.usembassy.gov/es/preguntas-frecuentes/

• U.S. Department of State, Ecuador International Travel Information (check before you travel): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html

• GOV.UK, Ecuador entry requirements (passport validity, 90 days, onward travel): https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements

• Central Bank of Ecuador, institutional history (dollarization, January 9, 2000): https://www.bce.fin.ec/en/central-bank-of-ecuador/history/

• WorldStandards, Ecuador plugs and voltage (Type A/B, 120 V, 60 Hz): https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/ecuador/

• Travelmath, driving time from GYE to Salinas, Ecuador: https://www.travelmath.com/driving-time/from/GYE/to/Salinas,+Ecuador

• Rome2Rio, Guayaquil Airport to Salinas (distance and typical drive time): https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Guayaquil-Airport-Ecuador/Salinas-Provincia-de-Santa-Elena-Ecuador

• Wyndham Guayaquil Puerto Santa Ana, services and amenities (free 24-hour airport shuttle to and from GYE): https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/guayaquil-ecuador/wyndham-guayaquil-puerto-santa-ana/services-amenities

• Wyndham Guayaquil Puerto Santa Ana, dining (breakfast buffet at Restaurante Rio Grande): https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/guayaquil-ecuador/wyndham-guayaquil-puerto-santa-ana/dining

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Not legal, tax, immigration, medical, or insurance advice

The Salinas Coast Notebook is a firsthand living guide. I write from my own experience as a part-year resident of Salinas, Ecuador, and from public information I have checked as carefully as I can. It is here to help you get oriented. It is not professional advice.

Nothing on this site or in the newsletter is legal advice, tax advice, immigration advice, medical advice, or insurance advice. Laws, visa rules, fees, hospital practices, and insurance coverage change, and your situation may be different from mine.

Before you make a decision about a visa, a property, a tax question, your health, or an insurance policy, please check official sources and, when you need it, talk with a qualified professional who is licensed to advise you.

I do my best to keep information current, but I cannot guarantee that every detail is complete or still accurate on the day you read it. If you act on something you read here, you do so at your own judgment.