 |
Unspoiled Beaches and Archaeology
Located along the central part of Ecuador’s Pacific Coast, Manabí
is known for its beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages, commercial
centers such as Manta, which is the country’s second largest port,
and Machalilla National Park, with its rich vegetation and varied species
of fauna. It also produces many handicrafts and is known worldwide for its
pottery and panama hats. The Province’s climate is dry- to humid- subtropical,
with an average temperature of 25 degrees centigrade. There are two domestic
airports and an international cargo airport, as well.
Sandy beaches - Take your pick
San Vicente, San Jacinto, San Clemente, Puerto Cayo, Puerto Rico, Puerto
Lopez, Crucita, Canoa, Cojimíes, Pedernales, and Jaramijó
are all lovely beaches backed by fishing villages. These beaches stretch
over 300km along the coast of Manabí. Frequented year-round, Manabí’s
resorts offer peace and quiet as well as delicious, uniquely coastal cuisine.
The surrounding vegetation is made up of mangroves, thickets, and woods.
Villages such as Puerto López and Pedernales have become resorts
with good hotel infrastructure and act as departure points for trips to
places like Machalilla National Park. More isolated hotels and ecolodges
made of cane and other locally produced materials are also popular tourist
destinations.
TOP
Towns - History, Customs, and Handicrafts
Manta, the country's second largest port, with its extensive hotel facilities,
is Manab?'s major city. Its main beach, Murci?lago, has a modern boardwalk
with a variety of restaurants offering local culinary specialties and the
region's most delicious drinks. In recent years, it has become a popular
stop for international cruise liners sailing from the Caribbean to Latin
America. The city has several bars and discotheques, which are often frequented
by tourists, especially on the weekends. In October, Manta welcomes dozens
of performers who come to the Chusig Theater for the International Theater
Festival.
Bah?a de Caraquez also has many first-class hotels and places to relax and
enjoy yourself. Many people chose to take a short boat ride across the Chone
River to enjoy a day in neighboring San Vicente. Alternatively, you can
enjoy the beaches in Bah?a ,.stroll along the boardwalk, or perhaps head
off to a secluded beach such as Boca Brice?o or El Matal. Other places of
interest include the R?o Chone estuary, with its islands Coraz?n del Sol
and Fragatas, the Central Bank's Museums, and the House of Culture.
Among the many attractions of Portoviejo, the province's capital, also known
as the city of the "Royal Tamarind Trees", are the Metropolitan Cathedral
and the San Pedro Seminary. Around the town there are several natural thermal
baths and spas such as El Zapallo, La Pe?a, La Papayita, San Antonio, and
Cerro de Hojas.
TOP
Montecristi - History Among 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.
TOP
Machalilla National Park - Archaeology and Virgin
Beaches
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.
TOP
Cuisine
Made of fish, shrimp, or shellfish, Ceviche is one of Manabí’s
most mouth delectable specialties. In general, all types of seafood are
very popular. But what you can find on the table on a daily, both for locals
and tourists, are fish viche, made with peanuts, and sancocho, a loca delicacy
made with plantains and fish. In Puerto Lopéz, spondylus ceviche,
a dish prepared from the spondylus shellfish, is also quite popular.
TOP
Map of Manabí, Ecuador |
|
|
 |
Province's Capital |
 |
Road |
 |
Cities |
 |
Spas |
 |
Archaeology |
 |
Handicrafts |
 |
Machalilla |
|
TOP
| Manabí Introduction
| Beaches | Manabí Towns
| Montecristi |
| Machalilla National Park | Manabí
Cuisine |
| Map of Manabí, Ecuador |
|
Amazon
