Overview
Santa Elena is a town in southwestern Ecuador, and is the capital of both the province and the canton of the same name. Santa Elena, originally called Sumpa, is located on the Ecuadorian peninsula near the city of Guayaquil.
Description
East of Santa Elena Peninsula, the landscape seems fit for a cowboy. It becomes increasingly dry and scrubby, and the ceiba trees give way to 5m-high candelabra cacti. But at its westernmost point, Salinas is the glitziest beach town on the south coast, with an immaculate stretch of beach (and lots of watersports) backed by concrete apartment blocks and hotels. There's a significant scenic lookout here marking the westernmost point in Ecuador. While Puerto Lopez to the north has better marketing, whale-watching in this location is arguably better, as the migration happens closer to shore. Salinas is also home to a fascinating whale museum. Inland from Salinas is the transport hub of Santa Elena.
Santa Elena, Guayas
Ecuador
URL:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/santa-elena-peninsula-to-guayaquil