Salinas

A hot spot for the Ecuadorian elite, Salinas is a hopping beach town that most adventurous travelers tend to avoid. However, that's not to say that this modern city by the sea isn't without its charms.

The long stretch of white sand beach is nearly empty in the morning, but soon fills up by mid-afternoon with rows of brightly colored umbrellas and family-size tents (rented on the beach). If you don’t mind spending an extra couple dollars for a good meal, then the upscale restaurants that line the Malecón are a great place to sample the local gastronomy. Most joints boast outside seating, a great place to enjoy the sultry, salty sea breeze and watch the sunglasses-clad people strolling beachside.

While most of the town — behind the retro and very posh hotels, restaurants and holiday high-rises — differs little from the characteristic dusty streets and aged concrete buildings of the small coastal towns, its nooks and crannies are full of culture and worth exploring. You won't find the beach-bar huts that clutter Atacames; most of the bars in Salinas are street-side, which means the beach is open, clear and perfect for walkers, runners, bikers and lovers. As the sun sinks behind the high rises, and night settles in, the city lights shimmer on the sea and Salinas nightlife really heats up. The laze-by-the-sea attitude that accompanied the day is quickly replaced by an electric-like buzz of the night’s prospects: tropical drinks and dance music until the early morning sun sends streaks across the sky and it's time for another day of lounging on the beach.

While this is a great place for young party-goers and hip couples, it is also family-friendly, amazingly. Don't be surprised to find grandmothers and grandfathers or couples with young toddlers in tow, rambling up the Malecón at 10 p.m., ice creams in hand, enjoying the peaceful beachside bliss or checking out the local night markets. Younger or single Salinas inhabitants pour into the restaurants and bars just a few meters away. Salinas probably isn't the best place to spend all your travel time, but it's definitely worth more than a passing glance: stop in and spend a night or two, enjoy the citified beach during the day and lively Malécon restaurants and bars at night. Just remember to fill your wallet before you come.

From July to September another traveler makes its way to the shores off of Salinas: the Humpback Whale. Whale-watching tours can be arranged at offices in Salinas. If you miss whale season, you can also organize fishing and boat tours, water sports activities or city tours. And anyone keen to hang ten can organize surfing classes with Surfas de Paradise, located (appropriately) on the beach.