Manta
Our cruise arrives in the charming Manta, which was the cradle of Manteña culture, the last pre-Columbian civilisation in Ecuador that lasted from 500 to 1526 AD. In 1735, the Port of Manta was chosen by Charles Marie de La Condamine, the French mathematician and geographer, as the destination in Ecuador for his mission to calculate the length of a meridian near the equator. Today, despite being a predominantly industrial port, the city is also an important centre for fishing and very popular tourist destination for Ecuadorians, with its extensive beaches and the blue sea, a short hop from the centre.
Not to be missed:
A visit to the centre of the city
The characteristic fish market in the barrio Tarqui, on the beach
A walk along the beach with a swim in the ocean.