Manta city
 Manta is the major port along the central Ecuadorian coast in the
province of Manabi. It has a population of approximately 200,000. It is
located about four hours north of Guayaquil and nine hours southwest of
Quito by bus. Also more modern shopping centers are being built as
tourism and the city’s population grow.
Manta is a charming city by the beach. Until recently, it was only known
for its important tuna fishing fleet, the production and bottling of
vegetable oil, and the commercialization of "paja toquilla" (straw)
hats. The "paja toquilla" hats, commonly known as Panama hats because
they were originally sold through the Panama Channel, are made in the
nearby town of Montecristi among other towns of the province, and are
very well known internationally.
Today the visit of cruise ships full of tourists, the
aerial base rented to the US Air Force by the Ecuadorian government for
the antinarcotics operations, and the construction of modern hotels like
Oro Verde and Howard Johnson have improved Manta’ s economy and
transformed the city into an important international tourist
destination.
Manta is a modern city, but some antique bamboo and ooden houses still
remain as a remainder of the old village. Located at the Pacific coast
and with an average temperature of 25 degrees Centigrade all year long,
dry weather and dry tropical forest in its surroundings.
The delicious gastronomy is also one of the main attractions of Manta. A
variety of traditional tasty tropical dishes prepared with fresh seafood
are served at the main hotels and restaurants in appetizing
presentations. Don't miss the "ceviches" of several sea foods, or the
exquisite "viche de pescado", which consists of albacore or tuna fish
with peanuts, yucca, corn, and sweet potato. |
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 The city of Manta is decorated by a wide variety of tree species: ceibos,
jasmines, almonds, rubber plants, acacias, mango trees, beautiful palm
trees on the beaches, etc. Colorful flowers like that of the "Buganvilla"
plant are also found. The balsa tree (ochroma logopus) is native to this province. Its light
wood allowed the first inhabitants of the region to navigate large
distances easily and rapidly. The floor of the balsas was built with
balsa wood and the walls were built with bamboo (guadua augustifolia).
A visit to the Central Bank Museum is a must in the city of Manta. The
museum includes a permanent exhibit room of the archeology of the seven
cultures that inhabited the province of Manabi from 4.200 BC to 1.530
AC: Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera, Guangala, Bahia, Jama-Coaque and
Manteño-Huancavilca.
Its main beach, Murcielago, has a modern boardwalk with a variety of
restaurants offering local culinary specialties and the region's most
delicious drinks. In recent years, it has become a popular stop for
international cruise liners sailing from the Caribbean to Latin America.
The city has several bars and discotheques, which are often frequented
by tourists, especially on the weekends. In October, Manta welcomes
dozens of performers who come to the Chusig Theater for the
International Theater Festival.
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