Manabí: Nature, Culture and Special Discoveries

Manabí combines protected nature with archaeological sites, lively craftsmanship and a distinctive food culture. You can shape your trip in many different ways: around hiking and wildlife watching, the history of earlier chiefdoms, or the making of the famous hat from Toquilla straw. When choosing your holiday rental, it is worth first considering which of these interests you want to shape your trip.

Islands and Nature in Parque Nacional Machalilla

In southern Manabí, Parque Nacional Machalilla protects dry and semi-dry forests as well as marine and coastal habitats. The national park includes Isla de la Plata. Covering 14.2 km², the island is considered one of the most important seabird breeding grounds on the Ecuadorian coast and has been on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance since 1990. Hiking on trails is part of nature tourism there; snorkeling and diving are also mentioned as maritime experiences. Hiking is available on Isla de la Plata, and visiting hours are listed as 08:00 to 16:00.

Isla Corazón offers a different nature experience: visitors explore it in rowing canoes and along raised walkways through the mangroves. Possible activities include hiking, photography, canoe trips, water sports, beach access, and observing flora and fauna. Visiting hours for this island are also listed as 08:00 to 16:00. The various activities offer concrete guidance when deciding whether to focus your trip more on trails and landscapes or on experiences on the water.

Archaeology, History and Craftsmanship

Parque Arqueológico Hojas–Jaboncillo is located in the Picoazá parish of Portoviejo canton and offers educational and cultural tourism. Along the tourist route Camino del Puma, visitors can see an archaeological collection assembled through research and donations. The offerings also include mountain biking and insights into the traditional production of corn flour and corn tortillas. Food cooked in a wood-fired oven adds to this culinary experience. Hojas–Jaboncillo thus combines archaeological discoveries with craftsmanship and food, rather than focusing on just one theme.

The history of the Manteño culture is also associated with several places in Manabí. The UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List property “Manteño Culture, lordships of land and sea” includes Hojas–Jaboncillo in Picoazá (Portoviejo), the Jocay chiefdom in present-day Manta with the fishing enclave of Ligüiqui, and the Salangome chiefdom in the area of present-day Puerto López canton. Salango was a strategic maritime center: the ocean-going raft originated there, and the site was also the main center for processing and distributing Spondylus. Another UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List property, the “Ecuadorian Cacao Cultural Landscape,” includes the cantons of Bolívar, Portoviejo, El Carmen and Chone in Manabí.

Toquilla Straw and Manabí Cuisine

Montecristi is internationally renowned for its Toquilla straw hats and is a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art. The weaving technique was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. Montecristi is considered the oldest place of production; nearby Pile specializes in processing Toquilla straw. The tradition is also maintained in Las Pampas and Los Bajos. If you are interested in crafts, this focus offers a different way to get to know Manabí than the nature and hiking experiences in the national park.

In Jipijapa, the beaches of Puerto Cayo are among the tourist attractions, along with thermal pools in the village of Andil and the historic sites of Choconchá and Joá. Regional cuisine also has its own distinctive touches: well-known dishes include corn and cassava tortillas from Sancán, Greñoso and ceviche with peanuts. You can also choose where to travel based on whether, alongside landscapes and culture, you especially want to discover the local food culture.

One described route to Parque Nacional Machalilla goes from Manta along the Troncal del Pacífico and the Jipijapa–Puerto Cayo–Puerto López route to Puerto López; the distance is given as 89 km.

More Places in Manabí

Also discover Manta, Montañita, Puerto Cayo, Cabuyal, Machalilla, Bahía De Caráquez, Jipijapa, Crucita, San Jacinto Y San Clemente, San Vicente, Cojimies, Santa Ana, Boca De Briceno, Pedernales, San Isidro, Canoa, Jaramijó Canton, Pacoche, Jama, Montecristi, Honorato Vasquez, Portoviejo and Flavio Alfaro.

For the broader travel overview: Ecuador.