Atacames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atacames
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
.jpg)
Atacames Beach
|
|
 Atacames
Location in Ecuador
|
|
| Country |  Ecuador |
| Province | Esmeraldas |
| Canton | Atacames Canton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi) |
| Population
(2022 census)
|
|
| • Total | 18,948 |
| • Density | 3,950/km2 (10,220/sq mi) |
Atacames is a lively beach town and a larger area called a canton on Ecuador's northern Pacific coast. It's in the Esmeraldas area, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of the city of Esmeraldas. In 2022, the town of Atacames had about 18,948 people. The whole canton (a larger administrative area) had 51,204 people. Atacames is known for having less poverty compared to other parts of the Esmeraldas province.
Long ago, in 1526, the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro visited Atacames during his second trip to the area. He found it hard to take over the land because the local people, who were part of the Incas at that time, fought back strongly.
Later, in the 1500s, some ships carrying enslaved people from Africa came to the coast. In 1553, a ship going from Panama to Peru got stuck near Esmeraldas. The 25 enslaved people on board managed to escape. Over the years, more escaped slaves and their families settled along this coast. Even though other groups lived in Atacames in the 16th century, today, many people in Atacames are Afro-Ecuadorians.
Tourism is the most important business in Atacames. It has more hotels than any other place in the Esmeraldas province. It's also easy to get to Atacames by bus from cities like Santo Domingo, Quito, and Esmeraldas.
Contents
People of Atacames
|
Atacames Canton
|
|
|---|---|
|
Canton
|
|
Same, a town on the Pacific Ocean in Atacames Canton
|
|
Location of Esmeraldas Province in Ecuador.
|
|
Cantons of Esmeraldas Province
|
|
| Country | Ecuador |
| Province | Esmeraldas Province |
| Seat | Atacames |
| Area | |
| • Total | 510.5 km2 (197.1 sq mi) |
| Population
(2022 census)
|
|
| • Total | 51,204 |
| • Density | 100.302/km2 (259.780/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (ECT) |
The people living in the Atacames canton come from different backgrounds. Here's a look at the main groups based on the 2010 census:
- Mestizo (people of mixed European and Indigenous heritage): 55.0%
- Afro-Ecuadorian (people of African heritage): 34.2%
- White (people of European heritage): 7.9%
- Montubio (people from the coastal rural areas of Ecuador): 2.1%
- Indigenous (native peoples of Ecuador): 0.4%
- Other groups: 0.4%
Surfing in Atacames
People from all over the world come to surf in Ecuador. The beaches in Atacames offer great waves for surfing almost all year. It's always a good idea to be aware of ocean safety when you're in the water. Another famous surfing spot, Salinas, Ecuador, hosted the ISA World Junior Surfing Games in 2009.
Evenings in Atacames
Atacames has a very lively atmosphere in the evenings. This is partly because the daytime weather is often hot and humid. Atacames welcomes visitors all year round, but it gets especially busy on weekends, during holidays like Easter, Carnival, and Christmas, and for a few weeks in the summer.
You'll find many dance clubs in Atacames that play popular music styles like salsa, merengue, and reggaeton. Along the beach, there are colorful kiosks where bartenders make a variety of fresh local fruit shakes and juices. There's also a covered outdoor area called "covachas." Here, local people sell many different items, including handmade jewelry and crafts. Many local women also offer hair braiding and bead services.
Eating in Atacames
The food in Atacames is typical of Ecuador's coastal areas. Meals often include fresh seafood like shrimp, crab, lobster, and various kinds of fish. Many people in Atacames are fishermen, so the food is usually very fresh.
You can find delicious dishes like ceviches (seafood marinated in citrus juice) and encocados (seafood cooked in coconut sauce). As is common in most of Ecuador, rice is usually served with your meal. A wide variety of fresh fruit juices are also available. Water and fizzy drinks are common too. Vegetables, which are often grown in the cooler highlands of Ecuador, might not be as common in meals because they can be more expensive.
Getting Around Atacames
Even though Atacames is a small town, it has several ways to get around. There are regular car taxis. However, many taxi services use bikes that are either powered by gas or by pedaling. These bike taxis are a fun and unique way to explore the town.
See also
In Spanish: Atacames para niños
