Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Punta Carnero’s vivid ocean sunsets…in shades of gold, orange and scarlet
Dear Reader,
I love spending time in Salinas, on Ecuador’s southern Pacific coast. Salinas is a lively city, with a nice boardwalk and a wide, sandy beach. It feels low-key, despite the luxury condos and expensive cars you see on the boardwalk…family-friendly, relaxed, and (with a buzzing nightlife scene) definitely fun.
And it’s affordable too…with a low cost of living, and super prices for beach and ocean-view property. How does an 1800 square-feet, ocean-view home for $189,000… sound?
The city beaches in Salinas are a great place to hang out. At the weekend and on public vacations, the beaches fill with sun-worshipers, swimmers, and sailors. Families gather on the sand to socialize and play. Couples stroll hand-in-hand along the boardwalk, browsing the handcrafts stalls, or pausing to buy ice-cream. Around the yacht club, a small flotilla of boats rocks gently on the ocean.
Outside Salinas, the beaches stretch north and south along the coastline. They’re quieter than the city beaches…and magnificently untamed. At Punta Carnero, a short 10-minute drive from Salinas, a long cream-colored ribbon of sand unwinds into the distance. Huge white-capped waves rise up, before crashing and breaking spectacularly on the sand. On the day I visited, the beach was almost empty, apart from two lone surfers racing across the sand…
The beach and ocean view from the balcony
Of the many beaches around Salinas, Punta Carnero packs the biggest punch. The sand is finer and lighter…and the waves more visually stunning…than anywhere else in the area.
Five years back, expats began buying the small local homes on the other side of the road from the beach, and renovating them, or buying lots and building their dream house. Major development hasn’t come here yet. But home and lot prices have risen steadily, particularly in the last two years.
That house for sale is 170 square meters (1800 square feet) and less than five years old. Built by American owners, it features an open-plan layout and large kitchen. The home has three guest bedrooms, one and a half baths, and a master suite with plenty of closet space, a seating area, and a good-sized bathroom.
The home’s open-plan living space
The spacious yard could use some landscaping but does have an outdoor Jacuzzi.
On the master suite balcony, you can hang up your hammock and enjoy the views of the beach and ocean, and the afternoon breezes…or Punta Carnero’s vivid sunsets, in striking shades of gold, orange, and scarlet. From July to September, you’ll see the humpback whales that come to the plankton-rich waters along this coast to breed.
The asking price for the house is $189,000.
Contact local broker Amy Pinoargote here to find out more details.
Margaret Summerfield
P.S. Amy runs real estate tours in the Salinas area, covering a wide range of property…new and old…condos, lots and houses…with prices to suit all budgets. She’s happy to show you Salinas and the beaches close by (including Punta Carnero)…let you get a feel for the area…share her experiences as an expat relocating here…and help you see just how far your real estate dollar will stretch on Ecuador’s south Pacific. Contact her here to arrange a personalized tour.
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Posted Under:
ecuador, emerging market, affordable
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