Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Esmeraldas is a coastal city in northwestern Ecuador. It is the seat of the Esmeraldas Canton and the capital of the Esmeraldas Province. It is the major seaport of northwestern Ecuador, situated on the Pacific coast at the mouth of the Esmeraldas River.

Esmeraldas boasts some of the coast's most stunning beaches, most bordered by small settlements. The northernmost of the coastal provinces, Esmeraldas is also the lushest, riddled with estuaries, mangroves, and flooded tropical forest. Its wild and remote inland areas are only accessible by canoe.

The busy port city forms a distinct contrast to the laid back beach towns only minutes away. Most visitors opt to stay at nearby beach areas and come into the city as needs dictate. The best nightclubs, bars and restaurants are in the Las Palmas neighborhood.

Things to See & Do

* Beaches
* Coastal jungle
* Cotocachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve
* Bilsa Biological Reserve

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - U.S. dollar (USD)
Language - Spanish
Land Area - 15,216 km² (Esmeraldas Province)
Population - 300,000 approx
Electricity - 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style
Time - GMT minus five hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 593

Transport Links - TAME Airlines offers daily flights to Esmeraldas from Quito.

Transportes Esmeraldas and Transportes Occidentales offer regular bus service between Quito (Terminal Terrestre bus station) and Esmeraldas (main plaza downtown).