Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cabañas. San Vicente can be reached via Río Chone by road, or on a
ferry from Bahía.
Heading north from San Vicente, there are a few stretches of isolated
beaches, fishing villages, and basic accommodations. One of the best
of these is in the village of
Canoa
, less than 10 miles north of San
Vicente. Quite a bit farther north, between Cojimíes and Pedernales,
stop and relax at many isolated stretches of sandy coast. Camping is
available anywhere, but it is best to find accommodations that offer
camping on the premises.
Manta
Manta, the next major port town to the south and the largest along
the central coast, is a thriving city based on fishing and tourism. With
over 150,000 people, though, it does not top my list of places to spend
time. But the town is lively, has a waterfront location, and is the sec-
ond largest Ecuadorian port after Guayaquil. Nights, especially, are
active along the Malecón, or waterfront, and you can absorb the local
culture, bar-hop and people-watch. The beaches are not great, but
some of the surrounding areas, particularly to the northwest, are
better.
To the north of downtown is
Murciélago Beach
and the area known
as
Bahía de Manta
(Manta Bay), with nice beaches and cabañas to
stay in. This area attracts holidaying Ecuadorians more than foreign
travelers.You'll probably have it all to yourself if it's during their off-
season. To the southeast of the main port is the fishing harbor, and
across the Río Manta is the suburb of
Tarquí
, which gets very lively,
crowded, loud and a bit dirty during the peak season. Keep an eye on
your belongings here. Although there are numerous hotels in this
area, you are better off staying at one on the Malecón near the north-
western side of Manta.
Regular bus service is available in and out of Manta to most of the
main coastal destinations. From Bahía, the trip is under two hours,
four hours to Guayaquil, and five hours to Santo Domingo de los
Colorados (you can continue to Quito from there).
Farther northeast is the small resort/beach town of
Crucita
, with
more tranquil beaches and adventures that include surfing, wind-
surfing and paragliding.
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