Manta, Ecuador

A Tip of the Hat to Ecuador’s Most Flawless Beaches

Set along the mid-coast of Ecuador, Manta is a bustling port where some of the most breathtaking beaches reside and tuna is king. A pre-Columbian era city, its history reaches back earlier than Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyages when it served as a trading post for the Incas and the Mantas. The country’s largest seaport, Manta is full of history, culture, and quiet seascapes to explore.

Its coastline draws powerful waves from the Pacific, making it widely known for watersports such as surfing, kite-surfing, and fishing. Lounge or swim at one of the city’s two most popular beaches, Playa de Tarqui and Playa Murciélago. Stroll along a beachfront promenade, watch tuna boats unload their catch, or make your way to the nearby village of Montecristi, home of the iconic handmade Panama hat made famous by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Naturally, the city known as the Tuna Capital of the World is also home to a giant tuna statue, complete with tin can, perfect for an iconic photo op. When hunger strikes, eat like a local and try Ecuador’s famous encebollado, a broth-based soup made with freshly caught tuna. Manta makes for a lively, breezy holiday destination.