Ecuador, I have discovered, is a very special place. After searching many other places around the world, I discovered this enchanting Country and decided this was the best place for our Recovery Center to be built. It is a place of spectacular diversity, having 4 natural geographical regions: the Pacific coastal (Costa) lowlands in the west, the Highlands (Andes - Sierra) in the center; and the eastern lowlands (Oriente). The last, the Galapagos Islands, are 600 miles west in the Pacific ocean. Ecuador is a country with endless natural richness. The geographic and climatic diversity of its four regions have given rise to thousands of unique species of flora and fauna. Ecuador has an estimated 14 million in population. 95% of Ecuador's population is Roman Catholic. Spanish is the official and dominant language in Ecuador. There are several Amerindian languages, but Quechua is widely spoken. Over 65% of Ecuadorians are mestizo (Amerindian and white mixed), 25% Amerindian, 3% black and 7% other. The Republic of Ecuador has three major cities, Quito the Capital, Guayaquil the Economic capital and Cuenca, the Cultural capital. Salinas is closest to Guayaquil. The geographical diversity of Ecuador means that there are a number of different climates and microclimates in the country's four regions. Temperatures vary according to elevation and the location of the cities and towns. In this tiny nation's 22 provinces – divided into 4 basic regions - you'll find tropical islands, towering snowcapped peaks, sandy beaches, and simmering jungle. Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean countries. It has the highest average population density in South America and the highest percentage of native Americans. As it's names indicates, Ecuador (equator in Spanish) extends over both sides of the equator. It is bordered in the north by Colombia and in the east and south by Peru. When we talk about weather in Ecuador we talk about trends. Most of the country has a dry season and a wet season. No matter the season, typically, the best of the weather in the Andes will be around the full moon. Normally for about three or four days each side of the full moon the weather will be better. And shortly after the full moon the weather returns to it's previous pattern. This phenomenon benefits the snow climbers who climb at night. By planning your ascent around the full moon you can benefit from the extra light and the improved weather conditions. Being on the equator gives Ecuador it's weather conditions, it also allows it to have 12 hour days year round. In the morning it gets light within 20 minutes of 6 am and at night it is dark around 6 p.m. There is no long dusk.

"The Ocean" Location: 2h 19' 04.49" S, 80h 53' 38.81" W (Google Earth Coordinates)

ABOUT SALINAS :  Salinas is a beautiful city. Maybe not in the same sense as South Beach in Florida, but it still has charm and and the best that Ecuador can offer. It is located at the Westernmost tip of the Santa Elena Peninsula, 88 miles (141 Kilometers) from Guayaquil (where most visitors land by air). The most luxurious accommodations in all of Ecuador are found on this beach. Salinas (salt mine) got its name because salt used to be extracted from this region, the furthest western point of Ecuador on the Pacific Ocean. The boardwalk of Salinas (Malecón) is a safe place that offers lots of entertainment day and night. The beach front (Malecón) is lined with high-rise apartment buildings, while the rest of the village spreads inland, with more typical coastal constructions. Salinas Ecuador has excellent restaurants and hotels; it is a resort for stylish sunbathing during the day and upscale dancing at night. The water of the ocean is warm year-round. The 9.5 mile wide sandy beach, in a half-moon shape, is divided into two sections by the Salinas Yacht Club. The West side is nicer, while to the east there are water skiers and other people doing water sports like jet skiing or wind surfing. Jet skis and surfing equipment can be rented in this area. The Salinas waterfront teams with classy seafood restaurants and ice cream parlors. There are also other beach areas in Salinas which offer more privacy and less tourists which is where the Savitch Recovery Center On The Ocean is located. The road to Salinas Ecuador is lined by the tropical dry forest. Salinas is surrounded by seemingly barren flatlands, with pools where sea water evaporates leaving tons of salt behind. These man-made lagoons are visited by many kinds of shorebirds. Salinas Ecuador hosts world deep sea sport-fishing competitions, mainly for Tuna, Blue Martin and Black Marlin, but sailfish is also popular. Some world records have been obtained here. There is a vast diversity of restaurants and cafeterias. On the Malecon, just two blocks away from the Barceló Colon Miramar (luxury hotel), you can visit the Naval Archaeological Museum. This small museum displays the vast archaeological richness of the region with samples of the Ecuadorian pre-Hispanic history. The abundance of these sculptures in the region remains a mystery, but its known that they represent fertility of the women and the land. These figurines hold a close relationship to similar representations in other cultures of the time, such as the Maya or the far Egyptian culture. If you are sports inclined, there are plenty of opportunities to fish, sail, surf and dive. There is also good entertainment for all ages in Salinas Ecuador. In addition you can find vestiges of an amazingly rich history, since the most antique cultures of America settled on the Coasts of South America.   CALL: 888-OCEAN 80 (888-623-2680) or    954-993-7246  Kathy/Intake Coordinator Copyright © 2008 savitchrecoverycentercom.  All Rights Reserved.