There is a small tourism office inside the Municipio building on Juan Montalvo, by the parque central, open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Also close to the parque, you'll find the Banco de Pichincha for changing traveler's checks, the Andinatel office, post office, and a console or two for the Internet at the stationers on Luis Tello.

The town is divided between the beach-restaurant-hotel zone, and the more residential and shopping part on the other side of the river. A small footbridge and the bridge on the main road connects them.

Safety. If you go out on the beach at night, keep close to the bars. Muggings and rapes happen in Atacames from time to time, even in daylight. Opportunistic theft is common. Also note that the sea is renowned for its strong undertow, so stay within your limits.

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||