Salinas de Guaranda, or simply Salinas, is a town in the province of Bolivar, Ecuador. Famous for its brand of cheeses called Salinerito (considered the country's premium range) as well as wool spinning and dye mills, Salinas de Guaranda is just 90 minutes by car from Guaranda. Mount Chimborazo rises above the area, reaching some 20,000 feet (6,100m), and due to the equatorial bulge, is the furthest point from the center of the Earth. The area is surrounded by interesting salt formations left over from salt mining, in addition, it is also home to a major sweets industry and has beautiful walks and fishing areas along with horse riding facilities. The entry cost into Salinas is US$2.00 and US$5.00 for the various community cooperative based projects accompanied with guides. The province of Bolivar is around 70% Subtropical covered by western cloud forest while the lower section is more agricultural producing citrus and sugar cane.

Father Antonio Polo initiated the FUNORSAL Foundation (Fundacion de Organizaciones de Salinas) to set up and manage cooperatives to transform raw materials to finished goods. See the Headquarters building (SEDE FUNORSAL) among the pictures below. For example, cocoa to chocolat candy, wool to yarn and textiles, meat to sausage, mushrooms to soups and packages, and milk into fancy and natural cheeses. To do this, workers are selected and trained (often in foreign countries), machinery is procured (often previously used), and extensive marketing is conducted.  Much of the production is sold in Europe and North America and the basic producers get to share in the wealth created from their work.

 

There is a frequent bus service to Salinas de Guaranda with Transportes Cándido Rada leaving from Plaza Roja in Guaranda. Or, take a bus from Cuatro Esquinas, located on the road to Ambato (10 km north of Guaranda). From there, take a truck to Salinas (20 km). A taxi costs around US$15. To go back to Guaranda take any bus from Salinas' main plaza (all of them go to Guaranda).

(Text adapted from: Salinas de Guaranda (2008). From Wikitravel)

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Free pictures of scenes along the road between Guaranda and Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador. Photos of the towns are separate.

01salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Hotel/Hostal El Refugio in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	02salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Man and his animals heading into Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.	The YouTube collection of videos of Ecuador   Watch the latest Ecuador videos on YouTube.com
03salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Rooster, hen and dog at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.	04salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Man heading into Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.
05salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Loose pig exploring the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.	06salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Llama taking a rest in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.
07salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Luxurient hills and farm fields of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.	08salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Llama waiting for the next load at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
09salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Burros getting some face time while waiting for the next load at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	10salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Clothes hanging to dry and roosters guarding their territory are typical in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
11salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg A real "fixer upper" - an old thatched roof building for sale in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	12salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Rooster guarding his territory in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
13salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Police staion in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	14salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Cattle heading home after a day in the pastures of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
15salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Cattle heading home after a day in the pastures of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	16salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Boy and dog share a ride on a pickup truck in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
17salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Llama heading home after a day of work at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	18salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Llama and burros waiting for the next load at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
19salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Llama waiting for the next load at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	20salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Typical intercity bus about to depart Salinas de Guaranda, for Guaranda, Ecuador
21salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Luxurient hills and farm fields surround Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	22salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes, with large children carried on their backs are typical in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
23salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes near the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	24salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The cemetery at Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
25salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The church is a mainstay of life in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	26salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The cross overlooks Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
27salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Steep cliffs form the backdrop for Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	28salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Luxurient hills and farm fields surround Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.
29salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Luxurient hills and farm fields and potato bed of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador at sunrise.	30salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
31salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	32salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
33salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	34salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
35salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes and their vegetables, fruits and other products fill the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	36salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Local people in colorful clothes at the market in the main plaza of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
37salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Luxurient hills and farm fields lie across the old salt mine area of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	38salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The salt mine area of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
39salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The salt mine area of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	40salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The salt mine area of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
41salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg The streaam flows between the salt mine area and the town of Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador	42salinasdeguarandaecuador.jpg Headquarters of FUNORSAL Foundation (Fundacion de Organizaciones de Salinas)

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