The Marimba tradition gives Esmeraldas a distinctive cultural starting point. It originated in the Afro-descendant communities of Esmeraldas Province and combines the bombo, cununos, guasa, maracas, and marimba with singing voices. It also includes traditional songs and dances. On December 2, 2015, Marimba music, songs, and dances from the region of Colombia’s South Pacific and Esmeraldas Province in Ecuador were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The city of Esmeraldas also has its own cultural heritage designation: it was declared a Cultural Heritage Site of Ecuador on July 23, 1996. This brings an urban cultural heritage designation and the broader Marimba tradition into view as distinct cultural points of reference.
Regional Cuisine and Coastal Experiences
Esmeraldas’ intangible cultural heritage includes cuisine based on seafood, coconut, plantains, and chillangua. At Playa Bonita, you can enjoy ceviches, encocados, and balas by the sea beneath palm-thatch shelters. The dishes and venues available locally may vary.
Wetlands and Mangroves
Laguna de Cube offers another view of Esmeraldas’ landscape: it includes areas permanently covered with fresh water and a floodable wetland. The lagoon lies within the Mache-Chindul Reserve, in Esmeraldas Province, in the Quinindé canton and the Rosa Zárate parish.
In Muisne, visitors can see mangroves and learn about yellow, white, and red mangroves. Majagual Reserve, meanwhile, is known for mangroves with specimens up to 64 meters tall. In the Cayapas-Mataje Mangrove Ecological Reserve, mangroves grow to more than 50 meters; the reserve’s cultural heritage also includes songs, dances, and Marimba music from Afro-Ecuadorian culture.
Activities and Differences Between Places
Playa de Muisne, in the Manglares Estuario del RĂo Muisne Wildlife Refuge, is designated for hiking and observing flora and fauna. Check the schedule and access requirements before visiting.
Reaching Isla de Muisne requires a boat ride across the Muisne River. Boat services and crossing conditions may change; checking before your trip can help you plan.
Mompiche combines a long beach with volcanic sand, mangroves, and tropical vegetation. The town is also considered a meeting place for surfers and ecotourists. If this combination interests you, check with local operators and confirm conditions before your trip.
The places mentioned differ considerably when it comes to water activities: Atacames Beach offers jet skiing and banana boat rides; canoeing and kayaking are possible at freshwater swimming spots in Quinindé canton. Check the specific operators and conditions in Atacames in advance.
Atacames also has an extensive waterfront promenade with restaurants and nightclubs; individual venues’ offerings may change. The town is one of Ecuador’s main destinations for whale watching. Specialized offers to observe the animals in the wild are seasonal and should be confirmed before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Atacames, SĂşa, Esmeraldas, Mompiche, San Lorenzo, Same, Tonsupa, San Francisco, Las Peñas, Muisne, RĂo Verde Canton, TonchigĂĽe.
For the broader travel overview: Ecuador.
