Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camping
Camping is available within the Cotacachi-Cayapas Re-
serve and requires a knowledgeable guide to get around.
Inquire at the Ranger Station in San Miguel. Along the
coast there are few designated camping sites associated
with cabañas. If you decide to camp on the beach, be cautious about
leaving your belongings unattended. Camping is also available at
Playa Escondida
for $5 per night.
Where to Eat
Restaurants along the coast offer a great selection of sea-
food. In fact, seafood is a staple here (what a surprise), and
the cuisine is good enough to warrant its availability
throughout the highlands, at least in the major cities.
Ceviches
- mixed raw fish and vegetables marinated with lime juice
(almost like a cold soup and absolutely delicious) - are a local favorite.
Be careful, though, to order a dish like this only in a restaurant that is
used to serving travelers. The last thing youwant to deal with this far
fromproper medical treatment is bad fish or shellfish. Other common
meals include mixed
camarones
(shrimp, rice, and vegetable dishes),
the catch of the day with rice and fried plantains, and
cocado
, seafood
cooked with coconut, resulting in a distinct, sweet flavor. This is not
to be confused with
cocadas
, another specialty of the coast, which are
sweets made from grated coconut and enough sugar to rot all your
teeth before you know it. Of course, it's delicious.
Esmeraldas & Las Palmas
A simple but fantastic selection of entrées is served up in a truly local
establishment at
La Sultana del Valle
, Av. Libertad and Parada, on
the way to Las Palmas,
6-712-988. It's open until 10 pm. Ceviches,
the catch of the day, and an unpretentious atmosphere are the spe-
cialties here. This place offers the town's best bang for your buck.
Another good and inexpensive seafood restaurant is
LosRedes
, open
until at least 10 pm. It's located at the Central Plaza downtown, along
Bolívar. This is just one of the many casual and popular local estab-
lishments.
Watch
for
thieves
in
this
downtown
neighborhood after dark.
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