Ecuador's northern coast region is formed by the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. It ranges from cloud forests to tropical jungle and from mangroves to dry, rolling plains. The northern coast also has some of Ecuador's best beaches, and the area attracts thousands of surfers, fishermen and sun worshippers.
Most travelers arriving from the highlands will enter the northern coast region through the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The province is one of the newest in Ecuador, having been created in 2007. The province is centered around the city of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, an important commercial and transportation hub linking the sierra with the northern coast. The surrounding countryside is covered in forest, which range from the cloudforests in the far eastern part of the province to the jungles in the west. The Tsáchilas (locally knowns as” Colorados” though this word is not used within the community) is an interesting cultural experience for visitors who take a trip there. It is possible to visit their centers and view their shamanic demonstrations. Of particular note, this culture always color their hair with “achiote” dye, to make it a brilliant red color.
Moving northeast from Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, you will enter the province of Esmeraldas, which runs along the coast to the border of Colombia. The province's capital is also called Esmeraldas, and it lies on the Pacific Ocean. It is an important port and center for oil refining, and it is also the center of Afro-Ecuadorian culture. Esmeraldas is also an emerging eco-tourism destination. The Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve preserves many of the province's forests, swamps and hills. The Cayapas Mataje reserve, in the province's far north, protects one of the most extensive mangrove forest ecosystems in the world.
Esmeraldas also has some of the most popular beaches in Ecuador. South of the capital, the beaches of Tonsupa, Atacames, Muisne, Same and Súa attract revelers of all types. Farther south, the beaches along the Punta Galera beckon visitors with their empty sand of views of humpback whales passing off-shore. The resort town of Mompiche attracts surfers, families and foreign visitors with its consistent breaks and laid-back ambience.
The northern coast also has some of Ecuador's best beaches, and the area attracts thousands of surfers, fishermen and sun worshippers...
Further south, the province of Manabí is one of Ecuador's premier tourist destinations. The capital, Portoviejo, lies slightly inland and is an important university town. Nearby, the small town of Montecristi is famous for being the birthplace, and still a major producer, of Panama hats. The landlocked canton of Chone offers visitors the chance to explore tropical dry forests.
Manabí's most famous attractions are its beaches. Starting in the north at Pedernales, Jama, Canoa, San Vicente and extending all the way to Puerto Lopez, the Manabí coastline has some of the nicest beaches in Ecuador. Popular coastal destinations include the relaxed surfing town of Canoa, the eco-friendly city of Bahía de Caráquez, the windsurfing hotspot at Crucita, the cultural hub of Manta and the whale-watching center at Puerto Lopez. Parque Nacional Machalilla protects some of most important dry forests and most pristine beaches in the country. Nearby Isla de la Plata, meanwhile, is often compared to the Galápagos Islands due to the abundance and diversity of wildlife and birdlife that can be found on its rocky shores. Due to its location and Manabí's seafood, the province has an enviable reputation.
