Chone is not a tourist destination in any conventional sense, but it has a distinct character rooted in the montuvio culture of coastal Ecuador and the cacao and cattle economy that drives the surrounding region. The town square and its environs have the amiable energy of a provincial Ecuadorian market town. The main draws are the rodeo montuvio tradition (the equestrian culture of the coastal mestizo communities), the Río Chone mangroves accessible by local boat, and the food — Manabí province has the most distinctive cuisine in Ecuador.