Difference between revisions of "Manta"
Revision as of 21:41, 16 June 2009Manta is a coastal city located on the Pacific ocean in Ecuador. Manta is a major commercial and holiday resort center and is the second largest seaport in Ecuador. The city's main industries include tuna fishing, canning, and processing; coffee; tagua nut artwork; cocoa and other products quoted in the world markets. The climate, the marine ecosystem, and the relief of the land are central elements of the tourist attractiveness of Manta.
HistorySince 1999 Manta has shared it's airport with the U.S. Air Force in unison with Ecuador in strategic warfare against Colombian drug traffic cartels through surveillance flights in an effort to stop the flow of illegal narcotics. In 1996 a Boeing 707 cargo aircraft crashed into a wooden church located in Manta. It was reported that amazingly the statue of the virgin remained intact. Manta was also the host city for the sixth South American Windsurfing Championship in 1991. GeographicManta is an important city at the province of Manabí. It located in a dry tropical forest area. Manta also serves as the primary industrial port for Ecuador's tuna fishing industry. ClimateManta is located in a dry tropical forest area with an average annual temperature of 25 degrees Celsius (77° F) The area has a huge variety of climatic zones attributed to the peculiar ones characteristic geographical like the coast, interandina or mountain, amazon and insular. During the year, there are two seasons; rainy, and dry. The rainy season is approximately six months long when it is hot and humid, and occurs from December to May. The dry season is approximately six months long and occurs during the months of June to November. It is warm but very low humidity. Get inFrequent bus service to Guayaquil (4 1/2 hours), ticket value around US$5.00. To Quito (about 10 hours), ticket value around US$7.00. To Portoviejo (1 hour), ticket value around US$1.00. To Jipijapa (1 hour), ticket value around US$1.30. To Bahía de Caráquez (about 3 1/2 hours), ticket value around US$2.50. To Esmeraldas (8 1/2 hours), ticket value around US$7.20. To Santo Domingo (5 hours), ticket value around US$6.20. If you plan to travel by airplane frequent flights from/to Quito and Guayaquil (US$75 round trip). Get aroundTaxi service is cheap and you can get to most places for a dollar to three dollars. You can also take buses everywhere but it is more complicated to mention all routes here. SeeThe evenings see a hive of activity of partying people, loud music and meandering cars that form around the nearby side streets and main frontage of the Malecón that arcs around the bay. Bathed in constant fresh winds the Malecón is always a pleasant area to walk in the evening and most refreshing in the night breezes.
BeachesEl MurciélagoThe best beach in Ecuador, really the best. It has a a wide variety of restaurants serving seafood and local dishes, recreational sports, craft markets, bars and other places for fun and relaxation. Located nearby are banks, hotels and a commercial area. The waters are favorable for engaging in aquatic sports such as surfing, diving, sailing, body-boarding, and fishing. TarquiBarbasquilloSan MateoLocated on a cliff overlooking the sea, San Mateo is a thriving fishing village. The locals are very friendly, and a bit tipsy after a good catch. San Mateo is also known among surfers as the longest wave in Ecuador. The competition is stiff out on the water; the locals can be territorial. La TiñosaArea where there are dunes and cactus ten feet {three meters} high, as well as varied wildlife species. Sector used for tourists' rest. This beach is located to few kilometers of the parish San Mateo, it is three kilometers of extension and it is surrounded of mountains with a dry vegetation. Santa MarianitaThe perfect area for the capture of marine species. It is located to 12 kilometers in the rural area of the canton Manta. Forty minutes of the urban center going in car. This beach of approximately 8 kilometers invite the visitors to enjoy their warm waters in the characteristic tranquility of this sector. This beach has telephony services. LinguiqueBeach far from the urban area, with interesting rocky areas; place where snails, octopi and lobsters are plentiful. It is located 50 minutes from the center of Manta, at a distance 18 kilometers. From the height, it offers the visitors the possibility to observe the sea in all their extension in a beautiful panoramic view. Their people are devoted to the fishing and agriculture. San LorenzoSan Lorenzo is located 28 kilometers from Manta. It is known for its diverse rock formations, caves, marine birds and the Island of The Silver. The months of June to September you can take in the incredible sight of hunchback whales as they pass from north to south. San Lorenzo's forest, with an extension of 50 hectares, was declared a protected area to avoid its deterioration as an ecological area. Popular activities include surfing, sunbathing and whale-watching. The climb to the light house is amazing and often accompanied by views of blue-footed boobies. Main AttractionsIsla CorazónIt’s a mangrove island where one of the largest frigate bird colonies of the southern pacific lives. The island is great for bird watching, at least 60 sea bird species are found. La segua MarshIt’s a sweet water humidity area of about 172 hectares. In La Segua there are approximately 280 thousand kinds of birds. It’s one of the most interesting bird-watching sites on the Ecuadorian coast. Cerro SecoOne of the last tropical dry forests in the world is located in the Bahía de Caráquez area near by the Pacific Ocean.Early in the morning dozens of birds can be seen and heard. A small colony of golden orioles builds its nests in the giant ceibos branches. El EstuardioOne of the sites to be visited is El Estuario, where 101 bird species have been registered. Tropical dishesManta has an amazing selection of fresh seafood. You can find fish, shirmp, octopus, calamari, clams, mussels, prawns, lobsters, crabs and scallops that are especially fresh and cheap. Ceviche and viche de pescado are traditional tropical dishes in Manta. Fresh coconut juice is always available on the beach, and other delicious fresh fruit juices and smoothies are available on the malecon.
EntertainmentManta hosts an International Theater Festival in September. There are sporting events from January through April. Downtown you can find first rate night clubs, bars, and casinos. DoLearn Spanish and Surfing Academia Surpacifico [2] and Montanita Spanish School [3] provide special Spanish language programs, such as "Spanish and surfing", "Spanish and kiteboarding", medical Spanish, volunteer program. This language school is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ecuador. During the off season you can easily get a beach front hotel room. The cost of your vacation will be pleasantly inexpensive. The people are friendly. If you go during June through August you will enjoy comfortable weather that is not too hot. BuyManta has Paseo Shopping Mall on Avenida 4 de Noviembre. It is a a western styled modern shopping mall including clothing shops, a supermarket, banks and automatic teller machines, movie theater, and food court. Close to Manta is Montecristi which has been known for years for their panama hats. There are numerous little shops selling Panama hats, tagua nut artwork, and other works of artisan craft works made in Ecuador. An English speaking tour guide or taxi driver can be helpful in your shopping. RestaurantsThe people who live in there, they eat at their home. They have their tropic delicious food. They eat rice what cook with the salt and oil. And for the tourist, they always eat in the restaurant.
DrinkIced coconut water (agua'e coco!!) is very popular due to the hot temperatures. It tastes really good, freshly extracted from the coconuts in front of you. NightlifeManta offers many places to have a great time, all of them in the main street called "Flavio Reyes."
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