Travel Guide Salinas

Salinas, a modest little seaside resort, has become the city of the Mojo Isleño. But how does a tomato sauce become the identity of a town? It all goes back to 1938, when the owner of the restaurant Ladi's Place, which already existed at the time, decided to revisit a recipe from the Canary Islands and modify it using local ingredients. This sauce was generously covered with freshly caught fish and seafood and was a great success. A culinary legend was born. And it has been going on for over 80 years. There is now a dedicated gastronomic route, the Ruta Gastronómica del Mojo Isleño, with a handful of restaurants specializing inMojo Isleño, and even an International Mojo Isleño Festival , since 2001, for which great chefs are invited. Each restaurant has its own way of preparing this emblematic sauce. The recipe, passed down from generation to generation, remains an inexact science, but the base remains the same: fresh ingredients cooked over low heat (onions, garlic, pimiento morrón or red bell pepper, green olives, tomatoes, bay leaves, olive oil), then stored overnight in the refrigerator to release the flavors. As you can see, people come to Salinas mainly to... eat and taste this famous sauce! Fans of car racing will also find interest in coming here, as Salinas has a famous speedway (it operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5pm). Those who prefer nature can explore the bay by kayak.