5 Activities You Must Do In Manta, Ecuador

Manta, located along the central Pacific Coast of Ecuador, has the largest sea port in this small Andean nation. The city hosts an annual international theater festival in September, celebrates Carnaval in style, and welcomes international cruise ships year round. Ecuadorians flock to Manta’s beaches on weekends and holidays, especially during the local school vacation from mid-December through March.

Kitesurf at Santa Marianita

The best South American beach for kitesurfing, Santa Marianita, lies a few miles down the road from Manta, Ecuador. Host to the sixth South American Windsurfing Championship, Santa Marianita is fairly new to the windsurfing circuit. Local outfitters rent equipment and offer lessons for beginners to intermediate students.

Surf the waves at San Lorenzo

A short distance from Manta, the Playa San Lorenzo is a quiet and laid-back beach, lacking the thumping music from the beachfront bars and restaurants found at many favorite surfing destinations in Ecuador. With a slow, consistent break, the waves are a pleasure for those brand new to the sport, while intermediate surfers can perfect their technique.

Catch a world record marlin

In 1985, Jorge “Pancho” Jurado held the world record for catching the largest blue marlin out of Manta, Ecuador, weighing 1,014 pounds. While fishing in these mild waters can take place year round, June through December offers the best opportunities for bites. Blue and striped marlin are regular visitors. Other sports-fishing opportunities include wahoo and bigeye tuna.

Observe howler monkeys in the wild

Founded in 2008, the tiny Pacoche Reserve protects more than 5,000 hectares of dry coastal forest, an endangered habitat along the Ecuadorian Pacific Coast. With hundreds of bird species, the reserve is already popular with bird watchers worldwide. But few people realize that the land is home to many other animals, including hard-to-see squirrels, deer, wild cats, and armadillos. The howler monkeys are consistent creatures and tend to follow a daily trail among the trees. With a resourceful local guide, chances of seeing these amazing creatures are very good.

Breakfast like a costeño

The favorite meal of the day for many costeños (Ecuadorians born on the coast), is breakfast. Standard favorites include dishes made from green plantains, like bolon de verde and tigrillo. But if you want to eat truly local, you have to try encebollado, a brothy soup made with fresh tuna caught just off shore in Manta. Mom-and-pop restaurants make a huge pot early in the morning and serve until either mid-afternoon or when they are all sold out, whichever comes first.