My wife, Ulvia, and I own a condo in Salinas, Ecuador, and we spend part of every year here. The trip is simpler than it looks, once you know one fact: Salinas does not have its own international airport. You fly into Guayaquil, clear immigration, and continue out to the Santa Elena Peninsula.
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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