Esmeraldas Province · Ecuador
Where to stay in Esmeraldas
Esmeraldas is a city in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, home to about 155,000 people.
- Best months
- August to December
- Nearest airport
- ESM6 km · Carlos Concha Torres International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
- Language
- Northern Quichua, Shuar, Spanish
About
About Esmeraldas
Esmeraldas is the wettest coastal province and summer is simply less rainy than the rest of the year. Most days in Esmeraldas is bright sun, with a tropical shower in the afternoon and at night. January-February are the best months to visit Esmeraldas, as they receive the most sun. They are also the hottest months. The northern coast and tropical forests of Esmeraldas receive more rain than the southern beaches and savannah. As of October of 2019, the US State Department has given Esmeraldas a travel advisory level of "Do not travel".
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Esmeraldas
See
Go to Súa. It is an important fishing village with several species of seabirds. There are also basic whale watching tours offered from June-September.
- Museo Regional de Arqueologia
Do
- Malecón de Tachina
- Playa de las Palmas
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Esmeraldas
10 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Paraiso | 21.8 km | |
| Hostal Ludos | 22.2 km | |
| Hotel Cielo Azul | 22.8 km | |
| Hotel Club del Sol | 22.8 km | |
| Hotel El Marqués | 22.0 km | |
| Hotel la Barca | 22.7 km | |
| Hotel Perla Verde | 2.3 km | |
| Hotel Puerto Ballesta | 16.9 km | |
| Hotel RC Tonsupa | 18.3 km | |
| Rio Suites | 17.1 km |
All 10 hotels in Esmeraldas, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Esmeraldas
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Esmeraldas are August to December. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; March is the wettest, with about 298 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Esmeraldas: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Carlos Concha Torres International Airport (ESM), about 5.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; La Florida Airport (TCO, 140 km) is also within reach.
ESM · Carlos Concha Torres International Airport
TCO · La Florida Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Esmeraldas
Eat
On the coast of Ecuador, you can get seafood at good prices. For $6 you can get a nice dish of delicious spiced rice with shrimp and fried green plantain or you can get a ceviche for $4. You can get a nice fry fish with beans and rice or a hot seafood soup. If you have not eaten lobster for a long time, here is your chance, as you can get a delicious spiced lobster for $12-15.
Drink
Enjoy party nights in Atacames, a city 20 min away from Esmeraldas. In Atacames you can find different kiosks with very loud music making natural juices, margaritas, piñas coladas and more. There many clubs there to go out dancing. Salsa, merengue, reggeaton, etc., just for $2.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Esmeraldas: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Esmeraldas?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Esmeraldas are August to December. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; March is the wettest, with about 298 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Esmeraldas?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Carlos Concha Torres International Airport (ESM), about 5.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; La Florida Airport (TCO, 140 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Esmeraldas?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Esmeraldas
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.