Making the most of Manta
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships dock 2km from central Manta. The harbour is filled with tuna fishing vessels, most anchored a short distance offshore.
A new cruise terminal was completed in October 2018.
From the pier, the free shuttle takes 15 minutes into town and drops passengers in front of the good shopping area at Plaza Civica, Manta.
Take a printable map with you.
Known as the “Tuna Capital of the World”, Manta lands more tuna pound for pound than any other port worldwide. Huge tuna boats sit beside the ship and the catch is visible all along shore.
Manta is the country’s second major port after Guayaquil, as well as a commercial and holiday-resort centre. Evenings bring partying people, loud music and meandering cars to nearby side streets and the main frontage of the bay-curving Malecón. Constant fresh winds make the Malecón pleasant for evening walks and refreshing in night breezes.
Since 1999, Manta has served as a military location for U.S. Air forces alongside Ecuador’s, using surveillance flights against Colombian drug-traffic cartels. It also serves the U.S.A. as a geographic lookout for war crafts heading north from the Middle East and Asia.
A Boeing 707 carrying cargo crashed into Manta’s wooden church in 1996; remarkably, reports said the statue of the virgin in the town remained intact.
A bridge on the eastern side of Rio Manta links Manta with Tarqui, a beach popular over weekends. Behind the Bus terminal, Banco Central museum (Avenida 8 and Calle 7) displays Huancavilca-Manteño ceramics. At weekends, locals fill the recently refurbished Playa Murciélago area of the Malecón for seafood, music, beach aerobics, parties and general nightlife ambiance. Leaving town, find the new Paseo Shopping center on Avenida 4 de Noviembre.
Getting around
Cabs are a very popular way to move around in big cities, generally with good service, new cars and tourist-helpful drivers. Fares depend on the taximeter, with an average ride between USD 1.50 and USD 2. At night, finding a metered taxi is difficult despite this being illegal, but charges should not exceed USD 2 to USD 3. Airport journeys cost extra, between USD 3 and USD 5.
Nearby places
Take a return taxi to Montecristi, 15 minutes from Manta. This quaint small town is the birthplace of the Panama hat, and its central-square craft market has many Panama hats and wicker work.
Food and shopping
In the middle of town, a market features Panama hats, paintings, clothing and silver jewelry.
Manta’s main beach, Murcielago, has a modern board walk and varied restaurants for local culinary specialties and the region’s most delicious drinks.
Money
Ecuador’s own coins match American coins exactly in size and weight, and both types are accepted there. U.S. dollar coins are widely used and preferred to $1 bills; American bills cover higher values, as Ecuador prints none itself.
Staying connected
Spanish is spoken.
Commercial and tourist areas have hundreds of "coffee-nets" offering net2phone, email, internet and fax services at very reasonable prices.
Opening Hours and
Most shops open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Many operate from family homes and, outside the largest cities, open daily whenever somebody is available to staff them.