Manta is a mid-sized city in Manabí Province, Ecuador. It is the second most populous city in the province, the fifth most populous in the country. Manta has existed since Pre-Columbian times. It was a trading post for the Mantas. Its main economic activity is tuna fishing. Other economic activities include tourism and chemical industry with products from cleaning supplies to oils and margarine.
Despite its location near the equator, the Humboldt Current serves to give Manta an arid climate. The city is cloudy and sunny-hot most of the year, and rainfall is erratic and largely confined to the months between January and April. At these times, it occurs mainly during El Niño events when the Humboldt Current weakens.
Manta possesses the largest seaport in Ecuador. Manta has also an international airport, Eloy Alfaro International Airport with passenger airline service and daily domestic flights.
PLACES TO VISIT IN MANTA:
Pacoche Wet-Tropical Forest
The Pacoche is located 26 kilometers from Manta, with exuberant and varied vegetation, where you can breathe pure air that gives life to this wonderful landscape. It has also a dry and semi-desert area, with a range of variety of wild species and that have an interesting structure of the resource.
Santa Marianita Beach
Santa Marianita Beach is located 20 minutes from Manta City and it is the most popular Beach in the area for kitesurfing from April to December. There are several local kitesurf school who offer classes.