Temperatures in Salinas average a typical 80 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, but the dry season tends to be centered between December and May.  If you plan to visit a beachfront location, these months are preferred travel times.  Popular beaches in Salinas include San Larenzo, Las Palmeras, Chipipe, Mar Bravo, and Punta Carnero.

Salinas is known as the small city offering any amenity you can expect from its larger counterparts.  Many hotels and resorts in the area thrive on the tourist market there, as well as local merchants.  Salinas’s resorts offer modern-day amenities to guests, and all the comforts of home.  Souvenirs and local artwork can be found virtually anywhere to bring home to your loved ones, or serve as a personal memento.  Fresh seafood may also be purchased locally, and is caught daily as one of the city’s many forms of business.

Fishermen from around the world know Salinas for its many annual deep sea fishing competitions.   Tuna, blue and black marlin, and sailfish are popular targets, and many world fishing records have been set during these tournaments.  Water and sport lovers flock to Salinas for the hang-gliding, waterskiing, and boating opportunities.  The bay of Salinas serves as home base for the Salinas Yacht Club, where yacht owners can enjoy a day at sea or serve as charters.  Due to the large fishing business in Salinas, fresh seafood and exotic plates are served at almost any restaurant in and around town.  Tourists may choose from smaller cafes to larger, more commercial dining options.

Tourists interested in the history and origins of Salinas like to visit the Naval Archeological Museum, located on the Malecon.  Archeological samples in this small museum highlight many cultural aspects of the pre-Hispanic history of the region.

Many sights and attractions in Salinas warrant extensive online research and study prior to travel there.  No traveler wants to overlook an important aspect to local culture and history!  Salinas’s many beaches and resorts, coupled with local commerce and points of interest make this town a perfect addition to any itinerary.

Depending upon the time of year you visit Quito, you may experience either the dry or wet climate changes.  Summer is considered the dry season, and stretches from June to September.  October through May lends way to the winter wet season, with many rains and clouds occurring.  Quito’s high altitude causes the climate to be cooler than lower cities in Ecuador, with an average temperature of sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit.

Air transport and extensive bus networks provide a variety of transportation options for tourists.  International connections and local flights are available through Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport.  This is a good option if you plan on traveling to places such as the Galapagos Islands.  The bus rapid transit system, MetrobusQ network, is a perfect option for local travel.  Due to the hills and confusing layout of the land, many tourists find it easier and more economical to leave the driving to the natives.  Many other buses are available for local travel on their fixed routes.  Map out your itinerary ahead of time to ensure you are choosing the correct route and bus!

The historic centre is located in central Quito, and boasts over 40 churches of interest.  Most important to tourists are the Cathedral of Quito, Church of the Society of Jesus, Church and Convent of St. Francis, Church and Convent of St. Dominic, Church and Convent of La Merced, and the Basilica del Voto Nacional.  Quito is also well-known for being homeland to El Panecillo, a hill that serves as home to a famous monument built for Virgin Mary.

Several urban parks in Quito include Parque Metropolitano Guanguiltagua, La Carolina, El Ejido, and La Alameda.  Tourists find the parks ideal for picnics, hiking, and trail hiking.  If you love outdoor activity when traveling, a visit to one of Quito’s parks is absolutely necessary.

Pichincha is an active volcano located on the western side of Quito.  The last recorded eruption occurred in 1999, though it is not expected to do so again anytime soon.  The aerial tramway in Quito takes tourists to a location on Pichincha called Cruz Loma on the eastside of the mountain.  Here they visit many shops and restaurants, while enjoying the view of the city from such a high altitude.

These islands are located on the equator, but weather can be influenced by ocean currents and El Nin͂o.  Effects can include heavier rains or smaller, frequent drizzles.  This all depends on what season the Galapagos Islands are in.  From June to November, “Garua” causes frequent fog and cold winds, and the average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius is accompanied by drizzly rain.  December to May brings the warm season with higher average temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius, constant sunshine, and occasional strong rains.  Temperature tends to vary with varying altitudes, so consider what your activities will include in order to dress appropriately.

Getting to the islands is an important element of planning your trip.   You may travel by boat, or fly to one of the islands’ small airports in Baltra or San Crist́obal Island from Ecuador’s mainland.  If you are booking a tour, this aspect will usually be taken care of for you.  Verify the tour’s plans before departure, and inquire as to how they plan on transporting you and your loved ones.

Out of 16 main islands referred to as “archipelago”, a few points of interest include Baltra, Darwin, Espan͂ola, Fernandina, and Floreana.  Baltra became a U.S. Air Force Base during World War II.  It still serves as a military base for Ecuador, and is known for its iguana inhabitants.  Charles Darwin influenced the name of Darwin, and seals, sea lions, gulls, whales, and turtles can be seen here.  Espan͂ola boasts snorkeling and public beaches filled with many native birds and other animals at both Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez.  Fernandina was named after King Ferdinand II or Aragon, who paid for Columbus’s voyage.  The famous Mangrove Forests and native wildlife on Fernandina give many photo and exploration opportunities.  Floreana serves as a nesting site for flamingos and turtles, and is one of the earliest islands to be inhabited by humans.

Travelers are encouraged to research the many options available at the Galapagos Islands.  Variety of wildlife and points of interest separate this group from any other island chain.  Plan a trip to the Galapagos to relax and renew, scuba dive or explore for a unique and coveted experience!

Make your trip a surprise!  Call your spouse’s employer and explain what you’d like to do, and how long you plan to keep your loved one away from work.  He/she can help adjust the workload to allow for a future absence.  If your honey is self-employed, this may be a little more difficult.  Proceed with the planning process and plan the trip as far in advance as possible.  Gift the tickets or a handmade certificate telling them where and when you plan on taking them!

Use HotelsCombined.com to find a romantic hotel or resort for your vacation in Ecuador.  Book special services ahead of time at the on-site spa or salon, and reserve a bottle of champagne and chocolates to be waiting in your room when you arrive.  Ask your hotel about the most romantic beaches and places of interest nearby, and book events such as picnics or adventure-seeking activities ahead of time.

Choose a location you both will enjoy.  If your loved one loves the water, splurge on an oceanside hotel room in Salinas or an island getaway on Isla de Muisne.  Chartered yachts available in Salinas are always a special surprise, and some will offer group discounts if you don’t mind sailing with other couples.  Adventurous couples enjoy the unique wildlife found in the Galapagos Islands.  You can also nonchalantly ask your significant other where they would most like to visit someday; they usually won’t suspect a thing, and this will give you a great place to start.  You can determine which destinations in Ecuador will offer the same customs and cuisine.

Choose a special gift to give once you arrive at your location.  Consider the occasion you are celebrating, and choose an item that can be useful on the trip.  A piece of jewelry demands a fancy dinner to display it, but a luxurious robe suggests a day of rest and relaxation.  If you are the more creative type, consider giving them a poem or piece of art to commemorate the trip.

You first need to examine the reasons for your trip.  If you have an explorative personality and want new experiences, your vacation will look very different than a sun goddess’s idea of getting away.  If you hate extreme temperatures, or have a favorite climate or season, this fact may limit your travel choices and help you determine your destination city.  Ecuador boasts many climates, as the higher altitudes of cities like Quinto are cooler and milder than lower locations like Salinas.  Research as much as possible before you leave; it’s always hard to relax when you’re not aware you should have packed a jacket instead of a bikini!

Decide what you would like to do while away from home.  Do you want to learn something new, or visit a historical landmark?  Quinto boasts many national parks and museums for this purpose.  If you want to relax on the beach instead, you probably want to splurge on a five-star hotel or resort in Playas or Salinas.  You can easily find one online at sites such as HotelsCombined.com.  If you’re an outdoorsman, landscape and wildlife are probably more important factors to you.  Consider visiting the Galapagos Islands, where unique wildlife and ocean creatures give you a perfect opportunity for hiking and snorkeling.

Don’t pack your itinerary so tightly that you begin to feel haggard and sleep-deprived.  Plan to do nothing in between the museums or day trips you plan in order to reenergize.  Booking a massage or spa treatment, reading a book, and taking a nap or sleeping late will help you feel renewed.  Another stressor tends to be monetary worries.  Make sure you have accounted for every possible cost involved, then account for more.  Unexpected taxi cab trips and lost or stolen luggage will take you by surprise if you’re not prepared!

Learn about the history, language, and customs of Ecuador.  Trying to learn a few new phrases in Spanish is always appreciated by the locals, and you’ll have new information to pass to your friends when you return home.  Create a personal connection with the area by learning a new piece of local history at Quinto’s Historical Centre, or how to make a signature dish on Salinas’s coastline.  Each time you use your new skill at home, it will serve as a relaxing reminder of your stress-free travels in Ecuador!

Plan your trip as far as a year ahead of time.  Christmas in Ecuador is a special gift to place under the tree this year!  Gifting the trip to family members gives everyone an exciting twist on traditional presents, and something to anticipate for several months.  Planning ahead can also save you money.  Holidays are almost always peak rate times, but adjusting your departure and/or arrival date with the airline can greatly reduce your costs.  Use online sites such as HotelsCombined.com to find discount or family rates on your hotel rooms in Ecuador, and book as soon as possible.

Create a celebratory mood at your destination.  If the holiday is Christmas, or La Navidad, take some small decorations to hang around your hotel room, and give small gifts to mimic a normal holiday.  This is one of the most important holidays for Latin American culture.  Modern Christmas celebrations can be seen in larger cities like Quinto, the capitol of Ecuador.  Santa Claus visits and decorations in malls cater to local and visiting families.  In smaller mountain and country towns, it is still customary to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve.  Every Ecuadorian home boasts their own Nativity scene display, often set in the family’s front room.

The most popular tradition for the New Year’s celebration is the burning of An͂o Viejo, or the “Old Year”.  Local families across the country gather eucalyptus trees and make dummies from old clothes and plywood.  The dummies are then burned in the streets at midnight to eliminate evils from the past year.  Drinking and dancing is also a customary celebration for any holiday in Ecuador.

Learn about these local customs during your visit, and choose one to take home with you for next year.  Sharing a new tradition from Ecuador with friends and extended family members is a great way to find new ways to celebrate.  Talk to the Ecuadorian locals about what you typically do on this holiday, and ask them what activities they take part in that might be similar.  The kids will love learning about different traditions around the world, and will remember this holiday trip for years to come!

Plan your trip as far as a year ahead of time.  Christmas in Ecuador is a special gift to place under the tree this year!  Gifting the trip to family members gives everyone an exciting twist on traditional presents, and something to anticipate for several months.  Planning ahead can also save you money.  Holidays are almost always peak rate times, but adjusting your departure and/or arrival date with the airline can greatly reduce your costs.  Use online sites such as HotelsCombined.com to find discount or family rates on your hotel rooms in Ecuador, and book as soon as possible.

Create a celebratory mood at your destination.  If the holiday is Christmas, or La Navidad, take some small decorations to hang around your hotel room, and give small gifts to mimic a normal holiday.  This is one of the most important holidays for Latin American culture.  Modern Christmas celebrations can be seen in larger cities like Quinto, the capitol of Ecuador.  Santa Claus visits and decorations in malls cater to local and visiting families.  In smaller mountain and country towns, it is still customary to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve.  Every Ecuadorian home boasts their own Nativity scene display, often set in the family’s front room.

The most popular tradition for the New Year’s celebration is the burning of An͂o Viejo, or the “Old Year”.  Local families across the country gather eucalyptus trees and make dummies from old clothes and plywood.  The dummies are then burned in the streets at midnight to eliminate evils from the past year.  Drinking and dancing is also a customary celebration for any holiday in Ecuador.

Learn about these local customs during your visit, and choose one to take home with you for next year.  Sharing a new tradition from Ecuador with friends and extended family members is a great way to find new ways to celebrate.  Talk to the Ecuadorian locals about what you typically do on this holiday, and ask them what activities they take part in that might be similar.  The kids will love learning about different traditions around the world, and will remember this holiday trip for years to come!

Twentieth century innovation has brought us a great tool to increase storage space with deflatable plastic bags.  All you have to do is fill the bag and zip it shut, and then roll the air out of the handy closeable nozzle.  This makes for a great way to pack for your return trip home as well.  Making a small investment in these bags will save you hundreds on baggage fees, and are durable enough to last for several years’ worth of travel.

Plan your wardrobe before packing.  Several of us pack things we never use on our trip, and then start kicking ourselves for lugging huge bags around we didn’t need after all.  Learn what the local climate and precipitation patterns are for the time of year you are visiting Ecuador.  Cities and towns at higher altitudes like Quito tend to have rainier and cooler environments, whereas Salinas is known for constant, year-round warm weather.  Choose clothing that can be worn for many different purposes, and dress up or down with accessories versus additional pieces of clothing.  Make it a habit to roll your clothes instead of folding them – this saves significant packing space.  Also, avoid clothes that need to be hung in a wardrobe bag.

You can fit much more in a regular carry-on, and will only cause yourself stress over ironing or steaming the garments.  Limit yourself to two pair of shoes; sneakers and sandals will give you options for walking long distances to visit Ecuadorian museums, or strolling to a nearby restaurant for a fresh seafood dinner.  Dress in your bulkiest clothing during travel.  If you are planning on hiking in Cruz Loma or one of Quito’s many mountainous parks, or traveling to a colder climate, wear your boots and coat during flight.   Visit HotelsCombined.com to choose hotels that provide a laundromat or laundry service in the cities of Ecuador you plan on visiting.

Call your airline and ask the definitive measurements of an acceptable carry-on bag.  If your current bag is smaller, grab your tape measure and go shopping to find one closer to the dimensions.  Buy one for every traveler in your group, and mix belongings if you must to avoid checking any baggage.  Before leaving for the airport, check your bag measurements to avoid any delays with the airline.  Once packed, a bag that exceeds limits will be required to be checked.

In the province of Esmeraldas, Isla de Muisne is sometimes referred to as the “enchanted island”.  The eastern side of this island separates itself from the mainland with a small waterway, which is frequented by barges and small motorboats.  Many tourists enjoy a day of sunny fun on the western border of Isla de Muisne.  If you are planning to visit the northwestern border of Ecuador, Isla de Muisne is a perfect place to visit the beach.

On the southwestern border of Ecuador lies Playas, which boasts many resorts in the area.  Simply search online at sites like HotelsCombined.com to find accommodations that suit your tastes.  Establishments along the coast here cater to the many visitors year-round.  With a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean and staff trained to serve your every whim, the casinos, clubs, and hotels in the area offer very nice rooms and restaurants to its visitors.

If experiencing nature and snorkeling are your favorite activities when visiting an island, Puerto Lopez is a must-see between June and October.  This is the time of year that the humpback whales are mating, and tourists are very likely to see one of these amazing animals in person!  Known for ecotourism and fishing, this town is also the headquarters of the Machalilla National Park.  A small island that is considered part of the Galapagos is located nearby.  Snorkeling and viewing the exotic species that inhabit this land are favorite activities for visitors.

Located in westernmost Ecuador, Salinas is known for ideal weather conditions year-round, typically 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  The many beaches that are claimed by this territory include San Lorenzo, Las Palmeras, Chipipe, Mar Bravo, and Punta Carnero; the first six months of the year are considered ideal for visiting these beaches.  Salinas is accustomed to catering to foreign tourists, as this industry supports most of its local businesses.  Higher-class hotels and resorts, restaurants, and museums are within an arm’s reach throughout Salinas territory.

All of Ecuador’s coastal towns boast excellent seafood and fish, fantastic wildlife, and tourist-friendly beaches.  Any one of these locations will offer special insight to Ecuador, though their specific personalities differ greatly.  Plan to visit one or all of the beaches in Ecuador for a special theme and tropical getaway this year!

Beach vacations are always a standard choice for most, as they seem to relieve the stress and worry of our everyday lives.  Beautiful water, sunny skies, and friendly residents add to your enjoyment and relaxation.  Recharging with a swim in the ocean and eating local produce that is always in season completes the feel of an exotic vacation for you and your family.  Whether you choose a local establishment to experience the country’s cultural aspects or a commercial resort and hotel, Ecuador provides a wonderful escape from home.

Adventure travelers enjoy visiting Ecuador’s rainforests, and viewing the native foliage and wildlife available in their natural habitat.  This experience is much different than visiting animals in captivity!  Tourists may book tours with well-educated natives that know the environment and personal relationship between the forests and their homeland.  Many eco-friendly conscious travelers enjoy the reminder of the natural beauty readily available to those of us who seek it!  A day in this varying climate also lends creative vacationers a perfect photo opportunity to preserve memories of their visit.

Historically, Ecuador obtained independence from Spain in 1822, and is still a Spanish speaking land.    Prior to this it was part of the Incan Empire for nearly a century, leaving many ruins and sites for travelers to see.  Ancient architecture and cultural imprints from 3500 B.C. present a wonderful opportunity to learn while away from home.  If you’re looking for a way to experience a piece of world history firsthand, research and plan to visit all of the ancient cities you want to see in Ecuador.

Vacationers today want to travel to faraway exotic lands, and have many options for activities once they arrive.  Ecuador provides the perfect opportunity to please everyone in your family.  Relaxing beaches leave you rested and renewed, while natural environments allow you to reflect and appreciate your surroundings.  Historical sites provide an interesting history lesson and reinforce past teachings and readings.  Most importantly, visiting a new country and land enriches your understanding of our many varying cultures in today’s world.