St. Helena

CULTURE

History and Museums

In Santa Elena, the past comes alive through its museums. The Sumpa Lovers Museum invites you to learn about the Las Vegas culture, which inhabited the area between 8000 and 4600 BC. There you can see one of the oldest human burials in South America and discover how these early settlers lived. A few kilometers away, the Valdivia Museum houses pieces from the Valdivia culture (3500-1500 B.C.), a pioneer in ceramics and famous for its enigmatic female figures, known as Venus of Valdivia. Dare to submerge yourself in the ancestral culture of Santa Elena.

NATURE

Relaxation and surfing beaches: Water that creates and connects

Santa Elena belongs to the Spondylus Route, Ecuador's coastal tourist route that invites you to enjoy the sea in your own way. If you are looking for adrenaline and good waves, Montañita and Olón are unmissable destinations for surfers of all levels, with vibrant environments and natural. For those who prefer to relax, beaches like Salinas and Ayangue offer tranquility, calm waters and ideal landscapes for rest. Whether it is between boards or walks in front of the sea, the coast of Santa Elena has the perfect plan for every traveler.

Protected areas:

For ecotourism lovers, the Puntilla de Santa Elena Coastal Marine Fauna Production Reserve (REMACOPSE) offers a unique experience by the sea with whale watching from June to September, sea lions and coastal birds in a stunning natural environment. A few kilometers away, the Loma Alta Communal Ecological Reserve invites you to walk through trails between cloud and dry forests, managed by local communities that protect their biodiversity. Two distinct and complementary landscapes that reveal the natural wealth of the Ecuadorian coast.

ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND RURALITY

The province of Santa Elena holds the living memory of some of the oldest cultures in the Americas. Here flourished civilizations such as Las Vegas and Valdivia, whose vestiges can still be explored in museums and archaeological sites. From millenary burials to ritual ceramics, each finding reveals the cultural richness of these cultures. ancestral communities. To visit Santa Elena is to travel through a territory where history is present in the identity of its people.

Holidays:

Experience the joy and tradition of Santa Elena through its most emblematic festivities. In January, celebrate the cantonization with parades, music and local flavors. In February, enjoy the Carnival in Salinas with parades, concerts, beach games and a festive atmosphere in front of the sea. In May, experience the Feast of San Isidro Labrador in Montañita, where gratitude for the harvest is celebrated with music, dances and parades. And in June, don't miss the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, with colorful maritime processions and lively culture in the fishing villages. Celebrate Santa Elena's festivities to connect with Ecuador's coastal essence.

GASTRONOMY

Santa Elena's cuisine invites you to savor the best of the Ecuadorian Pacific. The seafood casserole combines green plantain, peanuts and a mixture of shrimp, squid and conch. The bolón de verde has mashed plantain with shrimp or fish. And the pipián de morena rescues tradition with albacore, yellow corn and spices. Unique flavors and memorable.

CRAFTS

In Santa Elena, the handicrafts reflect the identity of the province. Discover works in shell, tagua and wood, made by local hands with techniques passed down through generations. The toquilla straw weavings, marine accessories and figures inspired by pre-Columbian cultures such as Valdivia and Las Vegas are part of the peninsular handicraft legacy. Visiting their fairs and workshops is to take a living part of their culture.