AllMovie

Rare-gem mining is the subject of this docudrama, which profiles a Japanese-American who became indoctrinated into the sometimes life-threatening world of Colombian emerald-hunting. Emerald Cowboy is based on the story of Eishy Hayata, who left a lucrative job in Los Angeles in the 1970s to become an Esmeraldero in the lawless mountain regions of Colombia. There, his battles with rogue thieves, his daring descents into the mines, and his incredible gem finds earned him the name of "The Emerald Cowboy."