An Attempt to Characterize the “3S” (Sea, Sun, and Sand) Parameters: Application to the Galapagos Islands and Continental Ecuadorian Beaches

Galápagos Islands outperform continental Ecuadorian beaches in the '3S' (Sea, Sun, and Sand) parameters critical for tourism. The study analyzed 64 beaches—10 in Galápagos and 54 on mainland Ecuador—finding that Galápagos boasts white sand, blue water, and high sunshine hours, while continental beaches lag with darker sand and less appealing water colors. Using exploratory and bibliographical methods, including lab analysis of sand samples and light-hour data from international archives, researchers compared these findings to global 3S tourism destinations. To boost 3S tourism, the study recommends enhancing complementary attractions like culture, gastronomy, and architecture while developing new coastal routes.

Mestanza-Ramón, C., Pranzini, E., Anfuso, G., Botero, C. M., Chica-Ruiz, J. A., & Mooser, A. (2020). An Attempt to Characterize the “3S” (Sea, Sun, and Sand) Parameters: Application to the Galapagos Islands and Continental Ecuadorian Beaches. Sustainability, 12(8), 3468. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083468