Salinas

Salinas, on Ecuador's Santa Elena peninsula, is the country's most popular beach resort and a fast-rising expat favorite, offering oceanfront and ocean-view property at prices far below comparable Latin American coasts. In 2026 the median condo sells around $149,000 at roughly $1,255/m², with one-bed ocean-view units near $70,000–$120,000 ($79,500 average), two-beds around $113,000, and three-beds near $172,000. As Ecuador's top domestic beach destination, Salinas supports active vacation-rental demand, with well-managed oceanfront condos achieving 6–9% gross yields in peak season. Ecuador's full dollarization removes currency risk for foreign buyers. Foreigners own on the same footing as citizens; Salinas sits outside the 50km border zone, and while some undeveloped coastal land within roughly 8km of the shoreline carries municipal restrictions, these do not affect Salinas's built condos and titled urban beachfront. A purchase near $48,200 (100× the 2026 minimum wage) qualifies for the Inversionista investor-residency visa. With reasonable beachfront entry prices, strong seasonal rental demand and growing expat interest, Salinas offers an accessible dollar-priced coastal play with 3–5% appreciation and standout cash-flow potential in its prime beach zones.