Esmeraldas
In the northwestern corner of Ecuador, cultures with roots spanning the globe come together amidst jungle, river and sea. This intriguing nexus of peoples and ecosystems is the essence of the province of Esmeraldas, and its primary allure for the visitor.
European feet first touched Ecuadorian soil here, when the Spanish landed on the Pacific coast in 1526. The conquistadors were astounded to find Indians bedecked in emeralds awaiting them on shore. Convinced that the region was abundant in the brilliant gems, they named it Esmeraldas.
While today, Esmeraldas harbors few emeralds, it does lives up to its other name, the “Green Province.” The northernmost of the coastal provinces, Esmeraldas is also the lushest, riddled with estuaries, mangroves, and flooded tropical forest.
Guayaquil
Hyacinths drift by on the chocolate brown Guayas River. The forest seems to almost close in on the town. A tour includes the Municipal Market, the City Museum and the column called La Rotonda, celebrating a meeting of Bolivár and San Martín. The pristine Galapogos Islands are straight west of here, beyond the horizon.
Manta (Quito)
Manta with a population of approximately 140,000 is Ecuador"s major port along the central coast. Colorful fishing villages, unspoiled beaches and unusual tropical dry forest make Manta an important tourist destination and the starting point for exciting day trips. Montecristi was founded in the early 1600's with its colonial architecture, this small town is best known for its weaving wickerwork, and as the birth place of the "Panama hat" which although historically produced in Ecuador, were first widely distributed from Panama.
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