Coast - provinces
EL ORO
Capital: Machala
Surface Area: 5850.1 Km2
Population: 559846 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 07
Its capital is the city of Machala, founded on 25 June, 1824. Internationally recognized as the Banana Capital of the World, this region is also home to the Mullopungo, Chilla and Tioloma foothills. As a border province, it trades extensively with neighbouring Peru, which greatly benefits the development of both the province and the country. The province’s culture, wealth of bird species, rivers, mountains and beaches, along with the friendliness of its people, has made it a Cultural Heritage candidate.
ESMERALDAS
Capital: Esmeraldes
Surface Area: 15232.60 Km2.
Population: 430000 Inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 06
“Ecuador’s Green Province”
Esmeraldas is popularly known as a green province, located on the northwest coast of the country. The terrain is generally flat with small hills that do not exceed 300 meters, foothills of the western mountains. Small elevations can be found in Cojimíes and Atacames. Punta Gorda, San Francisco and the hill of Chinto should be taken into account. From a geographical point of view, the most important rivers are those that have served as natural ways for the local inhabitants to transport products (tagua nut, balsa wood, rubber and banana) and for the irrigation system. Its main attractions are its beaches.
GUAYAS
“The Pearl of the Pacific”
Capital: Guayaquil
Surface Area: 20902 km2
Population: 2515146 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 04
The Guayas Province is the most densely populated of Ecuador; the last 40 years have seen the population increase fivefold. The Guayaquil metropolitan area is soon expected to exceed 2.5 million inhabitants, a rapid growth that is partly due to migration to this important urban and commercial centre of the Ecuadorian coast.
The lush vegetation is favoured by the climate, which facilitates the agricultural production of rice, sugar cane, cocoa, coffee, bananas, cotton, oilseeds, etc.
Guayas, especially the Port of Guayaquil, has played an important role in Ecuador’s development. The major industries found there include food, textiles, tobacco, chemicals, metallurgy and timber.
LOS RIOS
Capital: Babahoyo
Surface Area: 5850.1 km2
Population: 662884 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 05
The growth rate of the urban population of this province is high, relative to Guayas and Pichincha.
The average temperatures range between 22 and 33 degrees Celsius. In summer, from June to November, the weather is dry, with cool temperatures. During the winter, from December to July, it is rainy and hot.
The main agricultural products are cocoa, coffee, bananas and rice. The main economic activities include fisheries, livestock and trade of agricultural products for export and domestic market supply such as corn, beans, cocoa, coffee, bananas, sorghum and soybeans, among others.
MANABI
Capital: Portoviejo
Surface Area: 18878.8 km2
Population: 1267844 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 05
Manabi’s climate ranges between subtropical dry and tropical moist. The temperature is not uniform; the average temperature of Portoviejo reaches 25 degrees Celsius and the Port of Manta 23.8 degrees Celsius.
The people of this province are relatively young. High migration flows, destined principally for Guayas and Pichincha, have been recorded.
It has beautiful attractions that include the beaches of Manta, Jaramijó, San Jacinto, San Clemente, Bahía de Caráquez, San Vicente, Puerto Lopez, Puerto Cayo, Los Frailes, San Mateo, Machalilla and Salango. North of Bahía de Caráquez are the islands of Los Pájaros, Corazón, Canoa and Los Aposentos. The Machalilla National Park, Pacoche Ecosystem in Manta and the province’s pottery products are also among its attractions.
SANTA ELENA
Capital: Santa Elena, capital of the county with the same name
Surface Area: 3762.8 km2
Population: 238889 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 04
The climate of the province of Santa Elena is enjoyable because of the freshness of the sea breeze.
Local trade is based on fishing and tourism, which starts from January to April when coastal tourism is received, and continues from July to September with tourists arriving from the mountains.
SANTO DOMINGO DE LOS TSACHILAS
Capital: Santo Domingo
Surface Area: 3857 km2
Population: 268075 inhabitants
(Telephone) Area Code: 02
Santo Domingo De Los Colorados is a town surrounded by breath-taking scenery of tropical forests, rivers, waterfalls and wildlife. It is characterized as a link between the country’s different regions.
The main economic activities include agriculture (coffee, oil palm, abaca, cacao, tubers, corn, rubber and tropical flowers), raising livestock and tourism activities.
