"Most people drive straight through to Montañita without knowing there's a sunken wreck, a reef wall, and a navy pier full of fish sitting right in Salinas bay." The Santa Elena Peninsula is not marketed as a snorkeling destination — which means the spots that exist are largely uncrowded and undiscovered by visitors. Salinas alone has four distinct entry points, ranging from a shallow wreck accessible to beginners to deeper reef walls suited to more experienced snorkelers. Further along the coast, the rocky outcrops at Anconcito, the offshore islet of Farallón Dillon, and the reefs near Punta Blanca extend the options considerably.
Important: no gear rental is available on the peninsula. Bring your own mask, fins, and snorkel. Scuba diving operators in Salinas may occasionally rent equipment — ask directly — but this cannot be relied upon.Four spots within or just off the Salinas malecón — each with different character and depth.
Salinas Bay · Intermediate ★ Top spot Barco Hundido Reef (formerly the sunken ship site) The wreck that gave this spot its name has been removed, but the rocky reef that surrounds the area is very much worth snorkeling when visibility permits. Corals, sponges, and a good variety of reef fish have colonised the rocky bottom. At its best on a calm morning in the Dec–Apr season when the bay settles and visibility opens up — on a good day this is the standout snorkel spot in Salinas. Local fishermen and boat operators know the exact location.
Rocky reef Intermediate Visibility-dependent Best Dec–Apr
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Salinas Bay · Intermediate Paco Illescas A rocky reef site in Salinas bay named locally after a well-known figure in the area. Rocky bottom with good fish diversity and some coral growth. Deeper than the Barco Hundido, better suited to intermediate snorkelers comfortable freediving a metre or two to get close to the reef.
Rocky reef Intermediate Best Dec–Apr
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Salinas Bay · Beginner Yacht Club Rock Wall The submerged wall of the Salinas Yacht Club harbour creates a sheltered, easy entry point with calm water. The wall is encrusted with marine growth and hosts small fish, sea urchins, and occasional octopus. Excellent for beginners and children — shallow, protected, and easily accessed from the edge of the harbour area.
Wall / harbour Beginner Year-round
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Salinas · Beginner–Intermediate · Access may require permission Navy Base Pier The pier structure of the Salinas naval base has become an effective artificial reef over the years — pilings colonised by invertebrates, with good fish life gathering around the substructure. Access is subject to military permission and is not always granted to civilians; ask at the gate and bring ID. When access is available it is one of the more interesting structural snorkel sites in the bay. Do not attempt to enter without permission.
Pier / artificial reef Beginner–Intermediate Best Dec–Apr ID required · ask at gate
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Beyond Salinas, three spots along the coast offer rockier, wilder conditions with more marine life — and fewer people.
Ballenita · Intermediate Farallón Dillon A rocky offshore islet reached by panga from Ballenita beach (~$5–8 per person, negotiate on the beach). The submerged rock faces host corals, sea fans, and a rich variety of reef fish. On calm days when the surf is flat, visibility is excellent and this is the best snorkeling spot on the peninsula. Check conditions before making the crossing.
Rocky reef / islet Intermediate Calm days only Panga required
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Anconcito · Intermediate–Advanced Anconcito Reefs The rocky shoreline below Anconcito's bitumen cliffs shelters a series of reef outcrops accessible at low tide. Good fish diversity including species attracted by the natural oil seeps. Entry from the rocks requires care — wear fins and check the tide before entering. The same area is used by scuba diving operators for offshore dives.
Rocky reef Intermediate+ Low tide access
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Punta Blanca · Intermediate Punta Blanca Reefs The rocky southern end of Punta Blanca's long white-cliff beach has reef patches worth exploring on calm days. Manta rays aggregate here seasonally. Entry from the beach on the southern end — avoid the Espigón surf break area. Remote and uncrowded; no facilities of any kind.
Rocky reef Intermediate Calm days only
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| Period
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Conditions
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| Dec–Apr
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Best visibility of the year in Salinas bay — warm water, calm surface, low swell. Ideal for all spots. Barco Hundido and Paco Illescas are at their best. Water 24–26 °C.
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| May–Jun
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Transition. Visibility still acceptable in the bay. Offshore spots (Farallón Dillon, Punta Blanca) can get choppy as the dry season wind picks up.
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| Jul–Oct
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Dry season. Stronger winds, increased surface chop, reduced visibility in the bay. Anconcito reefs hold up better as they are more sheltered. Whale watching season — boat crossings to Farallón Dillon are rougher.
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| Nov
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Conditions begin to improve. Visibility returns in the bay. Good shoulder-season window.
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Visibility at all spots is strongly affected by recent rain, wind, and boat traffic. Early morning — before the bay fills with boat activity — almost always gives the best conditions regardless of season.
No gear rental on the peninsula. Bring your own mask, fins, and snorkel from home or purchase in Guayaquil before arriving. Dive shops in Salinas occasionally have rental equipment — ask directly — but availability is inconsistent and cannot be relied upon.
What to bring:
- Mask and snorkel — full-face masks are convenient but a traditional mask gives better field of view underwater
- Fins — essential for the rocky entry spots (Anconcito, Punta Blanca) and the panga crossing to Farallón Dillon
- Wetsuit or rashguard — the bay is warm Dec–Apr; a rashguard is enough. Jul–Oct a 2–3mm shorty is comfortable
- Water shoes — for rocky entries at Anconcito and Punta Blanca
- Underwater camera — the Barco Hundido reef and Farallón Dillon both photograph well on a good visibility day
All Salinas spots are reachable on foot or by short taxi from anywhere in Salinas. The Barco Hundido may require a short swim from the malecón or a panga ride — ask locally for the current best entry.
Farallón Dillon (Ballenita) requires a panga from Ballenita beach. Negotiate directly with local fishermen — around $5–8 per person. Ballenita is 15 minutes east of Salinas by taxi or bus.
Anconcito is 20 minutes east of Salinas. Rocky entry from the base of the cliffs — accessible at low tide only. Check tide tables before going.
Punta Blanca is 25 minutes west of Salinas toward Chanduy. No direct bus — take a taxi. No facilities at the beach.
See Public Transportation and Taxis & Apps.
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Spot Overview
| Spot
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Level
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Access
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| Barco Hundido Reef ★
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Intermediate
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Visibility-dep.
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| Paco Illescas(La Isla)
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Intermediate
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Visibility-dep.
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| Yacht Club Wall
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Beginner
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Shore entry
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| Navy Pier
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Beginner+
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ID required
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| Farallón Dillon
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Intermediate
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Panga only
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| Anconcito Reefs
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Intermediate+
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Low tide only
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| Punta Blanca
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Intermediate
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Calm days only
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Bay Visibility Typical visibility in Salinas bay: Dec–Apr (best) May–Jun Jul–Oct (lowest) Nov Early morning always gives best visibility regardless of season. Offshore spots (Farallón Dillon) can exceed 15 m on calm days. ⚠ Gear — Bring Your Own
No rental available on the peninsula. Purchase or rent in Guayaquil before arriving.
Minimum kit:
- Mask & snorkel
- Fins
- Rashguard or wetsuit
- Water shoes (rocky entries)
⚠ Safety Notes
ℹ Never snorkel alone. All spots outside Salinas bay are remote with no rescue services nearby.
ℹ Rocky entries at Anconcito and Punta Blanca require fins and water shoes. Check surge before entering.
ℹ Boat traffic in Salinas bay — use a surface marker buoy (SMB) if you have one, especially near the Barco Hundido.
ℹ Sea urchins are present at all rocky sites. Do not stand on the reef or rocky bottom.
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