Esmeraldas (Ecuador)

Esmeraldas is a port city in northwestern Ecuador, with population around 160,00 (metro around 190,000). The city is served by a large seaport (on Pacific Ocean) and small airport (for domestic and international flights). The seaport is at the mouth of Esmeraldas River.

Port Esmeraldas is Ecuador's principal cargo port serving country's export of agricultural (rice, maize, albaca, fruits, bananas) and lumber products (wood, wood chips), as well as livestock (cattle, pigs). The city is also the terminus Trans-Ecuadorian oil pipeline (part of Trans-Andean oil pipeline through Argentina and Chile). Oil tankers transport Ecuadorian oil from Esmeraldas to Port Balao (oil refinery). Other major industries are commercial fishing (tuna, snapper, corvina), manufacturing, timber, chemicals.

Tourist attractions in Esmeraldas include pristine fine-sand beaches, tropical forests, indigenous people (Cayapas), La Tolita (archaeological site), authentic hand-made arts and crafts. Carlos Concha Torres Airport is located approx is 3 km (2 ml) to the east of the town and serves domestic flights and planes on the routes Ecuador-Colombia.