Manta, Equador

Manta is a major coastal city located in the Coastal Lowlands of Ecuador. It is a commercial and vacation resort area and is the second largest seaport in Ecuador. Manta receives numerous visits from foreign as well as local tourists.

Manta boast many popular beaches, such as "El Murciélago", "Santa Marianita", "San Lorenzo" and "Barbasquillo". The refurbished Playa Murciélago (Bat Beach), very popular with locals, is in the Malecón area; 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. Other important sites include Iglesia La Dolorosa, the "Mirador" at San Lorenzo beach, the Teatro Chusic, the "Parque de la Madre", and the "Plaza Civica".

Nearby, also, is the small town of Montecristi, founded in the early 1600s. With its colonial architecture, this small town is a great place for shopping for local crafts such as ceramics, wickerwork and Panama hats in a variety of shapes and colors.

Things to See & Do

* Beaches
* Montecristi
* The Malecon
* Playa Murcielago - the most popular beach area
* Plaza Civica

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - U.S. dollar (USD)
Language - Spanish
Land Area - 60.49 km²
Population - 200, 000 approx
Electricity - 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style
Time - GMT minus five hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 593

Port Location - The port area is located on the outskirts of city, approximate 3-4km's from the city centre.

Transport Links - Eloy Alfaro International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city. There are daily flights serving Quito and Guayaquil.

Bus service is readily available to most cities and towns.