Ecuador Manta

The original manteños were skilled navigators, sailing aboard balsa wood rafts and trading goods as far as Panama and Peru, and perhaps to Mexico and Chile.

Today's Manta sailors continue this seafaring tradition, taking their fishing boats many miles onto the open sea, as Manta is the hub of the country's tuna industry, as well as its second-largest shipping center.

Colorful fishing villages, unspoiled beaches and unusual tropical dry forest make Manta an important tourist destination and the starting point for exciting day trips.

Nearby is the small town of Montecristi, founded in the early 1600's.

With its colonial architecture, this small town is best known for its wickerwork weaving, and as the birth place of the Panama Straw Hats which, although historically produced in Ecuador, hats were first widely distributed from Panama.

Montecristi is a great place for shopping for local crafts at a number of shops across from the main plaza, featuring ceramics, wickerwork and of course, Panama hats in a variety of shapes and colors.

Ecuador Manta is a favorite Port of Call for many international cruise companies.

Shore excursions are arranged to explore the tropical charm of the city and its surroundings, where visitors find one of Ecuador's most famous handicrafts, the Panama Hats.

These hats are hand woven in the nearby small town of Montecristi.

You can also spend the day at a nearby secluded beach and spread out towels to bask in the equatorial sun.

The evenings are full of activity: partying people, loud music and groups of young people that form around the waterfront Malecón that arcs around the bay and the nearby side streets.

The Malecón is always a pleasant area to walk in the evening and most refreshing in the night breezes.

The recently refurbished Playa Murcielago (Bat Beach), very popular with locals, is in the area of the Malecon; it features a scenic boardwalk, restaurants serving excellent seafood fresh out of the ocean, recreational sports, craft markets, bars and other places for fun and relaxation.

Its warm waters are favorite for practicing aquatic sports such as snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing and sport fishing.

Ecuador Manta shows evident signs of growth, development and progress. It has become a major commercial and holiday resort center.

Its modern infrastructure, including five-star hotels is attracting investment and tourism.



Metropolitan Touring is a travel company in Ecuador that has been actively working to develop the beautiful seaport of Manta as an exciting stop for international cruise liners such as:

Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Delphin Seereisen, Special Expeditions, Radisson Seven Seas, Holland American Line, Crystal Cruises, Hapag Lloyd, Silver Sea Cruises, Hanseatic Tours) by offering international cruise visitors innovative shore excursions, that reflect not only the natural wonders of Ecuador, but its rich and diverse Cultures and People

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