Esmeraldas is rightly known as the Green Province. The northernmost of the coastal provinces, Esmeraldas is also the greenest, covered with mangroves and blessed by abundance of tropical forest. Its wild and remote inland areas are accessible only by canoes. This makes Esmeraldas the ideal staging ground for a river safari. Natural lovers enjoy exploring the rich biodiversity of the region, including a number of endemic bird species. Nature lovers can explore the region best in the Ecological Reserves in Esmeraldas. There are a number of Ecological Reserves in Esmeraldas.
You have to take the coastal road north from the city of Esmeraldas and cross the Esmeraldas River. You will soon reach the thick forests and deserted coastline. The road is bordered by small fishing villages, most with attractive beaches and few tourists. The two largest towns of the region are Rio Verde and Rocafuerte.
Ecological Reserve harbors 55,000 hectares of untouched mangrove forests, uninhabited beaches, and abundant fauna, and offers excellent bird watching opportunities.
The Mataje-Cayapas enjoys the benefit of several foreign assistance and investigation projects that bring in researchers from all over the world. The Japanese technical mission for world mangrove reforestation has granted that the mangroves of the Majagual Forest, contained within the reserve, are the tallest in the world.
The reserve stretches north to the Colombian border from the river towns of La Tola and Limones. Limones hosts the beach forests of Canchimalero and the Canal de Santa Rosa, where you get outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities, including enormous bird colonies and rare mammals such as the miniature tree sloth.
The forestry reserve of La Chiquita is one of the must see among the Ecological Reserves in Esmeraldas. You can hire a local boatman to take you on an upriver exploration, or on an island-hopping adventure through the area's mangroves and estuaries.
In years past the visitors arrived in San Lorenzo after an eight hour train journey from the Andean town of Ibarra but now with the construction of highways you can reach there faster. Daily buses connect this place to the Esmeraldas city.
You are sure to enjoy your tour in Esmeraldas.
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