Esmeraldas Airport

Overview

Carlos Concha Torres International Airport is the main air gateway serving Tachina in northwestern Ecuador, and a practical arrival point for travelers heading to the Esmeraldas area and the nearby Pacific coast. Identified by IATA code ESM and ICAO code SETN, it is classified as a large airport and operates close to sea level at an elevation of 32 feet (10 m). That low elevation can support straightforward aircraft operations, while its role as the area’s primary airport makes it an important link for regional access, business travel, and coastal trips.

Quick facts

• Official name: Carlos Concha Torres International Airport
• Location served: Tachina, Ecuador
• Airport codes: ESM and SETN
• Elevation: 32 ft (10 m)
• Runway: 18/36, 7,874 ft, asphalt, lighted
• Time zone: America/Guayaquil

What travelers should know

For visitors, the most useful operational detail is the airport’s single lighted asphalt runway, designated 18/36 and measuring 7,874 feet, which supports reliable arrivals and departures while giving a clear sense of the airport’s scale. Because local time follows the America/Guayaquil zone, it is worth checking your ticket, transfer, and pickup times carefully if you are connecting from elsewhere. Since the airport serves Tachina, it is a convenient reference point when arranging onward road travel, especially if you are coordinating hotel transfers or meeting drivers who may know it by its codes, ESM or SETN, rather than by the full airport name.