The Complete Guide to Panama Hats: Why They’re Actually Ecuadorian
The Panama hat has always been Ecuadorian. How it’s woven by hand in Montecristi, why it carries another country’s name, and how to tell a genuine one from an imitation.
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Independent Shore Excursions vs Cruise Line Tours in Manta: An Honest Local’s Guide
A Manta-based operator’s honest comparison of independent shore excursions versus cruise line tours — price, group size, the return-to-ship question, and when each option is genuinely the better choice.
Explore Manta, Ecuador: Shore Excursions & Day Tours for the 2026-2027 Cruise Season
Every cruise ship calling at Manta in the 2026-2027 season, with arrival and departure times and passenger counts — from Crown Princess and Oosterdam to the 5,078-guest Carnival Firenze.
Start Your Year in Ecuador: 7 Experiences You Can Only Have in Manta
Seven things you can do in Manta and nowhere else — from howler monkeys in the coastal forest to hats woven by hand in Montecristi, gathered as a starting point for a year in Ecuador.
Port of Call Manta: What is it like?
What to expect from a port day in Manta — the award-winning cruise terminal, the working tuna port behind it, and how far the forest, the beaches and the Panama hat weavers really are from the gangway.
Things to do in Manta: The Art of Weaving
The Panama hat has always been Ecuadorian. A look at the toquilla straw weavers of Montecristi — how the hats are made, why the name stuck, and what separates a real one from a souvenir.
Things to do in Manta: The New Chocolate Road Tour
Ecuador grows some of the finest cacao in the world, and much of it starts near Manta. Our Chocolate Road tour follows the pod from the farm to the bar — with plenty of tasting along the way.
Things To Do In Manta, Ecuador: The Complete Guide
A local’s complete guide to Manta, Ecuador — beaches, the fish market, the archaeological museum, Pacoche forest and the food worth crossing town for, whether you have six hours or six days.
The story behind our new experiential excursion
How our experiential excursion came about — the coastal community behind it, the families who host it, and why we think this kind of day says more about Ecuador than any viewpoint can.
Things to do in Manta: The Shipyard
Five minutes from the cruise terminal, Manta’s shipyard is still building wooden fishing boats by hand. One of the most honest, least polished things you can see in a port day here.
