Travel Guide Esmeraldas

This provincial capital, which was badly hit by the 2016 earthquake, has once again become a bustling, noisy, lively and colorful city. It's cheeky in the way that only cities on tropical coasts are. However, Esmeraldas itself offers little of interest to the visitor. We recommend that you avoid walking around after dark, as muggings are a regular occurrence. It's more of a stopover town on the way to the south of the Costa (or a last stop before Quito if you're coming from the south). It is one of the country's most important ports, as it houses the terminal for the pipeline that transports oil extracted from the Amazon.On September 21, the city celebrates its founding with a series of demonstrations. The festival is renowned throughout the country for its hot atmosphere. The celebration of the city's independence, on August 5, gives rise to an equally wild party.Safety - Esmeraldas and the surrounding area are currently plagued by gang rivalries linked to drug trafficking, and it is advisable not to stay there without good reason.