Manta is a city belonging to the province of Manabi in Ecuador is the fifth most populous city in the country located about 435 km southwest of the national capital, Quito and 200 km northwest of the country’s largest city, Guayaquil. If you want to add to your list of destinations wonderful places, these 5 tourist spots in Manta will delight you.
Tuna fishing is the backbone of Manta’s economy and, in recent years, tourism and the chemical industry are equally supporting Manta’s economy. Manta is also home to the country’s largest seaport, as well as an international cargo airport.
What to visit in Manta Ecuador?
Bat Island in Manta Ecuador
El Murciélago is one of Manta’s most famous beaches, surrounded by many restaurants with delicious seafood, hotels, supermarkets and entertainment centers. Activities that tourists can enjoy here include diving, sailing, fishing, bodyboarding and surfing.
The beach is clean and the water is calm, making it a wonderful place to take a morning stroll, swim, watch seabirds, relax on the sand and shop for souvenirs.
If you walk a bit towards the main beach street, you will find many restaurants with lots of seafood dishes such as lobster, crab, fish and shrimp. The food there is a bit pricey compared to other places I’ve been to in Ecuador, but the taste and service are quality and you can take some time to enjoy the tranquil seascapes.
San Lorenzo
Located about 20 km from the city of Manta, San Lorenzo beach stands out for its caves, different rock formations and typical seabirds. From June to September it will be ideal for whale watching in San Lorenzo and other activities include surfing and sunbathing.
Central Bank Museum
If you like history and art, you must visit the Central Bank Museum. It is a small museum that exhibits a variety of paintings, ceramics, sculptures and artifacts from pre-Columbian times to the present day. Upstairs, you will find some interesting paintings from modern Ecuador.
The museum used to be part of the Central Bank of Ecuador, but was transferred to the Ministry of Culture of Ecuador in 2010. Admission to this museum is free and visitors can take a guided tour of the museum to learn more about the art pieces. and how it reflects the life of the people and culture in pre-Columbian times.
Santa Marianita
Is a beautiful beach town located 20 kilometers from Manta named sant Marianita.
Its perfect wind and long, wide coastline make it a great kitesurfing destination. In fact, Santa Marianita hosted the sixth South American windsurfing championship and there are kitesurfing schools in the area for those interested in learning kitesurfing.
In addition to kitesurfing, visitors flock to Santa Marianita for whale watching. A week before my visit, there were whales giving birth to their new babies on the shore. The beach was fairly empty the day I went, and there are few hotels and restaurants nearby.
