Ethnic groups in the canton as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010:[4] People travel from all over the world to enjoy Surfing in Ecuador.

Atacames provides services for tourists all year round, but the high season are weekends, Easter, Carnival, Christmas, and some weeks in the summer.

Atacames is full of discotheques, and dance clubs that play the most recent hits from different styles of music such as salsa, merengue, and reggaeton.

Atacames is also well known for its "caipirinhas", a Brazilian drink made from sugar cane alcohol, fresh lime juice and much ice.

There a covered (though outdoor) line of booths called "covachas" where locals sell a variety of products such as hand made jewelry and handcrafts.

Vegetables, which are generally grown in the highlands of Ecuador, are often missing from the regular diet due to their higher price.