Salinas (Ecuador)

Salinas is a coastal city located in the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. It is the seat of the canton that bears its name. The westernmost city on mainland Ecuador, Salinas is an important tourist center. Salinas, Ecuador's largest coastal resort, offers one of the country's best real estate investment markets and most popular and most upscale beach lifestyle. Recently, Salinas was the center of controversy during the contentious "more fun, less sun," debate. It is the site of the ISA World Junior Surfing Games Ecuador in 2009. There are two major yacht clubs in Salinas, the first is Salinas Yacht Club, which is a good bit smaller than the Puerto Lucia Yacht Club, in Santa Elena, in an area known as 'La Libertad' which, in Spanish means; 'The Freedom Town'. Puerto Lucia boasts a hotel, several restaurants to eat, a private beach and apartment block buildings, as well as the large marina and port.Formerly a small fishing village until the June 30, 1929 was established as a rural parish of Santa Elena, which belonged to the December 22, 1937, when by official decree signed by the Commander in Chief, General Alberto Enriquez Gallo and published in Official Gazette No. 52 of December 27 of that year, was elevated to the rank of Canton. Its cantonal head is modern and progressive spa town of Salinas, the main tourist attraction of the Ecuadorian coast, and is composed of the rural parishes Ancon, and Jose Luis Tamayo Anconcito (Muey).Political divisionSalinas is divided into four urban parishes. They are:Alberto Enriquez GalloCarlos Espinoza LarreaSanta RosaVicente Rocafuerte