Manta, Ecuador -
Manta is the most important port city in
the Province of Manabí and the one having the greatest economic growth. There
are good hotels in Manta
near Tarqui Beach and El Murcielago Beach. Noteworthy locations near Manta
are towns of Jaramijó, Punta Blanca, San Mateo and Montecristi. The province of
Manabi is home to over three hundred
kilometers of peaceful and relaxing Pacific Ocean shoreline.
 EcoCity
Bahia de Caraquez Ecuador Beach ResortManta is a picturesque and
important port on the Pacific Ocean, located in a dry tropical forest area with
an average annual temperature of 25 degrees Celsius (77° F). Because it has some
of South America's most breathtaking beaches, Manta was selected as the site of
the sixth South American Windsurfing Championship. It is known for its diving
and sport fishing. It also serves as the primary industrial port of Ecuador's
tuna industry.
In addition, Manta hosts an International Theater Festival in September.
Sporting events take place in November, and also from January through April. In
the city, one also finds a selection of first rate night clubs, amusement parks,
and casinos. Manta has a rich history: it was originally settled by the
pre-Hispanic Manteña culture. Today it is a primary city in the province of
Manabì.
Montecristi,
Ecuador - Panama Hats - This village is internationally renowned for the
high quality of the “Panama Hats” they produce (yes, you read correctly, Panama
Hats are and always have been from Ecuador and not from Panama). Lying at the
foot of a large hill called Montecristi, the small town of the same name has
many attractions such as Eloy Alfaro’s (an ex-Ecuadorian President) house, the
Hermanas Largacha Museum, and the Monserrate Sanctuary, where thousands of
Ecuadorian and foreign pilgrims traditionally flock, especially on the weekends.
Another place of interest is La Pila, whose artisans make a variety of
sculptures and replicas of Pre-Colombian ceramics. In addition to hats, these
artisan centers display other handmade crafts made of different types of straw
and iron.
 In Montecristi,
Ecuador live a handful of master weavers, the creators of the finest straw hats
in the world "Montecristi Panama Hats". Hats so fine, they almost defy
description. Montecristi panama hats are made from toquilla straw, hand-split
into strands not much thicker than thread and woven so finely, at first a panama
hat appears to be made from linen. Masterpieces of detail, the edges of these
panama hats are woven back into the brim never trimmed and sewn like lesser
quality panama hats. Each panama hat is woven by a single artisan, hand-blocked,
and takes months to complete. Because there are so few master weavers of panama
hats left (two generations ago there were 2000 panama hat weavers; today there
are about 20 weavers of panama hats), these works of woven art are becoming
endangered to the point of disappearing.
Machalilla
National Park - With its unspoiled, white beaches; its leafy, endemic
vegetation; and La Isla de la Plata, where some of the Galapagos species thrive
in abundance, Machalilla National Park is visited all year round by both local
and foreign tourists. The main season is from June to October, which is when the
whales come from the Antarctic to breed in the region. Situated 80 km south of
the town of Portoviejo, the Park is also home to sites of archaeological
interest such as Agua Blanca, with its remains of the Machalilla culture.
Salango Island, where endangered species such as the anteater have found
shelter, is also worth mentioning.
 Manta, Ecuador - Cruise Ship
Port - Passengers onboard the Seven
Seas Navigator have several diverse shore excursion options in Manta. A tour of
Manta and the nearby village of Montecristi which
includes a visit to the archaeological museum in Manta and a chance to see
Panama hats being made in Montecristi. Although many people believe that the
first Panama hats were actually made in Panama, they were not. They were first
marketed in Panama, but manufactured in South America. Montecristi remains as
one of the best places to buy one of these woven hats or other goods made from
wicker. Even if you are not interested in hats, a trip to Montecristi is
worthwhile. The village is only about 15 minutes inland via bus from Manta and
still retains its colonial look, although many of the old buildings need
restoration. A ride on the Chivas bus to Montecristi will have you laughing all
the way!
Two shore excursions in Manta involve a
short flight inland to the capital city of
Quito. At only 16 miles south of the equator,
you would think Quito would be hot and tropical. However, its 9,200 foot
elevation and valley location surrounded by mountains give the city a
spring-like climate year-round. Quito's wonderfully preserved colonial center
earned it a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. A walking tour
of the old city, with its grand colonial buildings and ornate balconies is a
must.
The second
shore excursion involving a flight to Quito includes a bus ride along the
Pan American highway to the most famous Indian Fair Market in South America
Otavalo. The Otavaleño
weavers have been using the backstrap loom for over 4,000 years! The
Otavaleños weave tapestries, bags, ponchos, shawls, blankets, and sweaters.
The shops in Otavalo also sell other crafts, and bargaining is expected.
Sounds like a shoppers' heaven! Otavalo Ecuador Handcrafts and
Artesian market.
Zona
Franca de Manabí: ZOFRAMA
-
The ManabÌ Free Zone, ZOFRAMA S.A. was created in order to work for the
development of Ecuador, right in the middle of America, in the middle of
the world. The ManabÌ Free Zone was created under Ecuadorís Free Zone
Law, wich basically looks for an attractive scheme that would allow and
motivate Investment in Ecuador with the intention to generate a great
number of jobs. The Law also looks for the economic and financial growth
of the Country. The Commitment of ManabÌ Free Zone is to create progress
motor, job generator, for sustained development with economic stability
and safety, with professional management that will assure success of
local and foreign firms working in the Free Zone. The ManabÌ Free Zone
is located in the Metropolitan area of Eloy Alfaro.
Eloy
Alfaro Air Base Manta, Ecuador -
Eloy Alfaro Air Base in Manta is one of
five primary Ecuadorean Air Force air bases. Several steps are being
taken to increase the US presence there. The detection and monitoring
coverage shortfall is mainly driven by the physical condition of FOL
Manta, Ecuador, which restricts US forces to single plane, Day Visual
Flight Rules operations. The Department of State (DOS), which has the
lead on securing long-term access agreements, concluded a 10-year
agreement with Ecuador in November 1999. In 1999 the 12th US Air Force
was tasked with providing support, literally overnight, to the Forward
Operating Location (FOL) at Manta, Ecuador but had no assets available
to complete the mission. The US is spending $62 million to expand
and improve the Manta runway and build hangars, dormitories and a dining
hall.
About Beaches in the
Manibi Province - In Spanish -
Ubicada en la parte central de la Costa del Pacífico, Manabí ofrece
hermosas playas, encantadores pueblos de pescadores y los principales
centros turísticos como San Vicente, San Jacinto, San Clemente, Puerto
Cayo, Puerto López, Crucita, Canoa y Pedernales, estos lugares son muy
visitados durante todo el año y ofrecen paz, tranquilidad y rica
gastronomía. La vegetación circundante está compuesta por manglares,
matorrales y bosques. Lugares como Puerto López y Pedernales, se han
convertido en centros poblados con buena infraestructura hotelera y
puntos de partida hacia destinos como el Parque Nacional Machalilla.
Hosterías construidas con caña guadúa y otros materiales de la región,
son parte de su atractivo.
Playas del Ecuador Manta
Manabi Ecuador
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