West of
Santa Elena and just before
Salinas beach resort lies the busy industrial and market town of La Libertad, where you will find everything you could ever wish to purchase. There are also several banks that take international credit cards, restaurants, shops of every description and live bingo halls nightly. The town is also a port for petroleum exports and the refinery is viewable from the main road.
Getting there. A frequent
bus service to
Guayaquil [
US$2.50*, 21/2 hours] with
CLP [
opposite Turis Palm Hotel] and
CICA nearby. To
Quito with
Trans Esmeraldas, located opposite
CLP [
US$10.50*, 10 hours]. To
Playas, take the aforementioned cooperatives and get off at
El Progreso, once here, exchange buses to
Playas [
US$1.50*, 1 hour].
*The prices are approximately
