Discover Manta

Manta brings together themes that appeal to different interests when planning a trip: archaeological collections, regional everyday history, coastline and fishing tradition. The places and descriptions below give you specific points of reference to help you decide which aspects of the city are especially important for your stay.

Museums and history

At the Museo Manta, the Manteño and Bahía cultures are featured alongside contemporary art. The Manteño culture dates from 500 to 1532 AD, and the Bahía culture from 500 BC to 500 AD. The museum also displays contemporary artworks by Ecuadorian artists. This creates a thematic range from archaeological history to contemporary art. The collections include more than 824 archaeological objects and 65 works in the art collection; these collection figures may change over time. The museum also offers a library, spaces for temporary exhibitions and a toy library. These offerings may also change.

The Museo Centro Cultural Manta is located opposite Playa El Murciélago. Its exhibition halls house more than 1,100 archaeological objects relating to the history of the region’s pre-Columbian cultures; this collection figure may change. Its location opposite the beach creates a tangible spatial connection between culture and coastline if you consider these themes together when planning your trip.

In the center of Manta, the Museo Municipal Etnográfico Cancebí is housed in a historic building dating from 1908. Its collection reflects the everyday life of the rural population, the Montubios and the Cholo fishers of Manabí. Agricultural tools and household objects offer insights into different aspects of life and work; there are also recreations of traditional houses. The focus here is therefore on everyday culture and the objects that shape it.

Another Manteño reference is the Monumento a la Silla Manteña in Manta’s Parque Central. The monument is a replica of the U-shaped seats used by the Manteño elite between 500 and 1534 AD. Unlike the extensive museum collections, the focus here is on a specific form and its use by a particular social group.

Coastline and activities

According to the city’s tourism information, Manta has 47 kilometers of coastline and 15 beaches. These are suitable for swimming, surfing and other water sports. Beach conditions and available facilities vary. Extreme sports are practiced on the beaches of Santa Marianita and San Mateo. Playa El Murciélago is distinguished by its golden sand, warm water and particularly favorable natural surroundings; beach conditions may vary.

The Espigón Barbasquillo is a stone structure on Barbasquillo Beach in Manta. It extends out into the sea and offers opportunities for walks and sport fishing, as well as panoramic ocean views. Alongside the beach descriptions, this brings a specific structure with several stated uses into focus. The different coastal themes can thus be distinguished: the city’s information refers to the municipality’s beaches, while the Espigón is associated with walks, sport fishing and sea views.

Fishing and trip planning

The Mercado de Mariscos is located in Playita Mía on Vía Puerto–Aeropuerto in Manta. It connects visitors with the diversity of Pacific products and Manta’s fishing tradition. If you plan to visit the market, check whether it is currently operating before setting out.

When looking for a hotel in Manta, you can first decide on your main area of interest: museum collections and everyday culture offer a different focus than beaches and water sports, while the Mercado de Mariscos highlights fishing and Pacific products.

Discover more destinations: Machalilla, Crucita, Cojimies, Montañita, Jaramijó Canton, Jama, Jipijapa, Honorato Vasquez.

For the broader travel overview: Manabí.