Know your city
The gap year projects are located in two beautiful fishing towns in the province
of Manabí. Located along the central part of Ecuador’s Pacific Coast, Manabí is
known for its beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages, commercial centers such
as Manta, the country’s second largest port and Manabí's economic center, and Machalilla
National Park with its rich vegetation and varied species of fauna. It also produces
many handicrafts and is known worldwide for its pottery and Panama hats.
If you are a water body, this is the perfect place for you. It has pristine beaches
for 300 km along the coast line. Not only do they offer breathtaking views but also
lip-smacking coastal cuisine like ceviche (cold, lime-based fish or seafood soup)
and sancocho (a local delicacy made with plantains and fish).
The province's climate is dry to humid subtropical, with an average temperature
of 25 degrees Celsius. The hot rainy season is from January to May, with cooler
but drier weather for the rest of the year. July and August tend to be gray, damp
and overcast but are best for whale-watching.
History of the city
The most ancient civilizations inhabiting
the area – the Valdivia, Machalilla an Chorrera – date back to 4000 B.C., while
the region's last Pre-Columbian inhabitants, the Mantena-Huancavilcas, lasted from
950 until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. As of the 1520s and 1530s, Spanish
conquistadores began arriving frequently on the Manabí coast. On March 12, 1535
Portoviejo, now the province's capital, was established, making it one of Ecuador's
oldest cities.
Around Manabí – Coastal Ecuador
If you like to do more than to saunter on the beaches, the province of Manabi has
more to offer:
Machalilla National Park
The most popular destination is Machalilla National Park with its unspoiled, white
beaches; its leafy, endemic vegetation; and La Isla de la Plata, where some of the
Galapagos species thrive in abundance. This park is visited all year round by both
local and foreign tourists. The main season is from June to October, which is when
the whales come from the Antarctic to breed in the region. Situated 80 km south
of the town of Portoviejo, the Park is also home to sites of archaeological interest
such as Agua Blanca, with its remains of the Machalilla culture. Salango Island,
where endangered species such as the anteater have found shelter, is also worth
mentioning.
Montecristi - History Among Hats
This village is internationally renowned for the high quality of the “paja toquilla’’
hats, commonly known as Panama hats. (Panama hats are and always have been from
Ecuador and not from Panama. They were sold through the Panama Canal and hence the
name). Lying at the foot of a large hill called Montecristi, the small town of the
same name has many attractions such as the house of Eloy Alfaro (an ex-Ecuadorian
President), the Hermanas Largacha Museum, and the Monserrate Sanctuary, where thousands
of Ecuadorian and foreign pilgrims traditionally flock, especially on the weekends.
Another place of interest is La Pila, whose artisans make a variety of sculptures
and replicas of Pre-Colombian ceramics. In addition to hats, these artisan centers
display other handmade crafts made of different types of straw and iron.
Culture and Customs
Manta, the country's second largest port, with its extensive hotel facilities, is
Manabí's major city. Its main beach, Murciélago, has a modern boardwalk with a variety
of restaurants offering local culinary specialties and the region's most delicious
drinks. In recent years, it has become a popular stop for international cruise liners
sailing from the Caribbean to Latin America. The city has several bars and discotheques,
which are often frequented by tourists, especially on the weekends. In October,
Manta welcomes dozens of performers who come to the Chusig Theater for the International
Theater Festival. Manta is also an important business destination for tuna and vegetable
oil multinationals.
Bahía de Caráquez also has many first-class hotels and places to relax and enjoy
yourself. Many people chose to take a short boat ride across the Chone River to
enjoy a day in neighboring San Vicente or take a short bus ride to the surfing and
fishing village of Canoa. Alternatively, you can enjoy the beaches in Bahía, stroll
along the boardwalk, or perhaps head off to a secluded beach such as Boca Briceño
or El Matal. Other places of interest include the Río Chone estuary, with its islands
Isla Corazón and Fragatas, the Central Bank's Museums, and the House of Culture.
Among the many attractions of Portoviejo, the province's capital, also known as
the city of the “Royal Tamarind Trees,” is the Metropolitan Cathedral and the San
Pedro Seminary. Around the town, there are several natural baths and spas such as
El Zapallo, La Peña, La Papayita, San Antonio, and Cerro de Hojas.
