Manabi
is the perfect
spot for tourism.
Access to
all major
towns is easy
via road,
air, or, if
preferred,
via boat.
Manabi is
linked to
the provinces
of Guayas
and Esmeraldas.
The ports
of Manta and
Bahia de Caraquez
are located
at a short
distance from
Portoviejo
. The distance
between Portoviejo
and Santo
Domingo is
249km. Some
cantons are
connected
to Portoviejo
via asphalted
roads: Santa
Ana , Chone,
Bahia and
Calceta. The
province has
three airports:
Los Perales
in Bahia de
Caraquez,
Reales Tamarindos
in Portoviejo
and Eloy Alfaro
in Manta.
The province
has excellent
hotel infrastructure
and good telephone
services.
Machalilla
National Park
This
is a protected
area measuring
55,000 hectares
with areas
of primary
dry tropical
forest and
lower coastal
zones with
beaches and
beautiful
landscapes.
Pre-Colombian
ruins have
been discovered
within the
area.
(See
National Parks
for more information)
Bahia de Caraquez
This
is a small
coastal town
with an abundance
of holiday
homes and
high-rise
condos. In
the first
half of the
20 th century,
this was one
of Ecuador
’s principle
port, however,
problems with
the sandbanks
led to the
foundation
of the ports
of Guayaquil
and Manta.
President
Duran holidayed
here in the
1960s and
from them
on the resort
has gained
popularity.
El Nino hit
the province
in 1998 and
Bahia was
badly affected.
Some of the
city was cut
off by landslides
and streets
were turned
into rivers
of mud. In
August 1998
an earthquake
followed severly
damaging some
buildings
in the area.
Tourist infrastructure
has since
been rebuilt
and improved;
there are
several interesting
local tours
that can be
taken in the
area. The
area is famous
for recycling
its waste,
there are
severan organic
farms nearby
and a series
of reforestation
projects are
currently
up and running.
(Information:
Lonely Planet
, Ecuador
2003)
Traditional
Manabi Cuisine
Typical
dishes are
based on fish
and fish products;
others are
based on plantain,
yucca, peanuts
and corn.
Viche
is a
soup made
with plantain,
peanuts, yucca
and fish heads.
Cazuela is
another typical
dish made
with fish
or shellfish.
Empanadas
(pasties),
fried plantain,
ceviche
(marinated
seafood),
fried bananas,
yucca bread
are also traditional
in the region.
Last Updated
21st August
2006 (DLW)
