Río Verde (2 hours north from Esmeraldas), is also a good place to spend some quiet days if you want to relax.

Accommodation

Hostería Pura Vida.- They offer fishing tours and have rooms and cabins with private bath. Also, restaurant, bar, hammocks, etc. Located on a deserted beach. Very peaceful. Transport: There are frequent buses from Esmeraldas to Palestina. The Hostería is situated along the road, a couple of kilometers before Palestina.

Rocafuerte.- (further Río Verde) It has the best seafood of the region.

La Tolita.- (northeast of La Tola) Is located on an island on the northern banks of Río Cayapas. La tolita is a small town, where the tolita culture developed between 300 BC and 700 AD. Several artifacts have been discovered in this site. There is a small museum with exhibitions of this culture in the village.

Accommodation and Restaurants

If you're planning to spend some days in the village, there is a few basic places to stay such as: Arist, Bero, & EI Jhonny.

Transport

There is a frequent bus service between La Tola and Esmeraldas. Also, there are boats running between La Tola and San Lorenzo which connects with buses to or from Esmeraldas.

Important note: Unfortunately, the villages of Limones and Borbón have the highest rate of malaria in the country. So, beware!

Accommodation

Accommodation in Limones is basic and it's not recommended. It's better to spend the night in San Lorenzo.

Frequent boat service between Borbón, La Tola and Limones (1 hour), for around US$2, as well as to San Lorenzo (1 hour), for about US$3. Boats can be hired for trips to the mangrove islands nearby. More information is available at the Capitanía del Puerto in Las Palmas.

Frequent Bus service to San Lorenzo (2 hours), US$2.00. To Esmeraldas (4 hours) with several bus cooperatives. The ticket cost is around US$3.

Accommodation and Restaurants

Tolita Pampa de Oro.- Basic. Reservations: 2566075, in Quito.

Comedor.- Typical food. The best and only restaurant in town. Located at the bus stop.

Santa María.- Is a village located further the Cayapas and Onzole rivers confluence.

Residencial.- Basic. They organize jungle trips to the Cayapa villages.

Zapallo Grande.- Is a small town located beyond upriver from Santa María with pretty surroundings, a pharmacy, hospital, a school and a church. From this location, you'll be able to see the Cayapa Indians with their canoes much closer.

To access the Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas (entry fee US$5), from San Miguel cost some US$25.00 for a group of 5 people including a guide and an extra US$5 to hire a boat. You may sleep at the rangers' hut which is very basic, or Camp next to it. There is also a residencial in the village where you can spend the night as well.