Atacames

Atacames is a city in the Pacific cost of Ecuador in the south east from Esmeraldas city. It is a typical Afro-Ecuadorian town with hot Caribbean rhythms, fish specialties, its cheerful inhabitants, a large beach of 5 km, possibilities for land and water trips, and surfing.

By bus
There are direct buses from Transportes Esmeraldas, Panamericana and Occidental leaving to Quito (Terminal Carcelen, 7hr, $10) and Guayaquil every day, around 7 - 8 hours. Transesmeraldas also has buses to Cuenca, Machala, Huaquillas, Portoviejo and Manta. AeroTaxi even has buses to Ibarra and Otavalo.

By plane
There are flights from Quito and Cali to Esmeraldas. From the small airport you take a cab and arrives in 30 - 40 min. to Atacames.

By car
Good roads allow easy access by car, about 4-5 hours from Quito by car. Some prefer the way via Los Bancos, others via Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

Get around
To the south there is Súa, a little fisher village. An unmaintained path that starts at the soccer field connects Atacames and Súa and passes by a lighthouse that it is not used anymore. Another 5 minutes away Same, a hotel resort village. Be aware that these small villages are totally empty beside high season in July and August. No joke, Same at June is like a ghost city in a bad Hollywood movie but they make for good day trips.

Eat
There are a lot of restaurants, but no varierity at all. So enjoy your ceviche or your pizza.



Drink
There are a lot of kiosks and bars on the beach, and a lot of discos in front of it

Sleep
Be careful when choosing a hotel - thefts are common. Travellers have reported money stolen out of their room, and police say they hear this type of stories often.