Santa Elena Province, Coastal province in western Ecuador
This region stretches along Ecuador's Pacific coast, bordered by Manabí to the north and Guayas to the east. The territory divides into three cantons and offers numerous coastal sections with small fishing villages and beach towns.
The territory was part of Guayas Province until 2007, when it became an independent administrative unit. The separation followed a long process of regional demands for its own provincial identity.
The population includes a strong presence of Mestizo communities at 79.1%, followed by Afro-Ecuadorian and Montubio groups according to the 2010 census.
Travelers can choose between three cantons offering different experiences: urban life in one, tourism in another, and administration in the third. Coastal roads connect these places and often provide ocean views.
At the westernmost point of the continental coast, Pacific Ocean waters meet the Gulf of Guayaquil. This spot is called La Chocolatera and is marked by a clear geographic formation.
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