HD Manta and Montecristi Itinerary

HD Manta and Montecristi
Duration: 1 day
Highlights: Manta, Archaelogical Museum, Montecristi.
Half day tour of Manta and Montecristi, considered to be the centre of Ecuador's Panama Hat industry.
Itinerary
FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Your tour today begins with a drive along Manta’s “malecón” or promenade. Your guide will enlighten you on the history of this area, which was home to pre-Columbian
peoples such as the Valdivia culture, whose fragments of pottery are the oldest found anywhere in South America. You will have the chance to visit a small archaeological
museum in the area to learn more.
On arrival in Montecristi, a colonial town founded on 1628, you will have the opportunity to browse the local stores for a Panama Hat. This town is generally considered the
centre of Ecuador’s Panama Hat industry, which, of course, has its origins here and not, as the name suggests, in Central America.
Visit the town’s main square, home to an impressive statue of a former Ecuadorian president born here, before making your way back to Manta with a brief stop en roe to visit
a factory where carvings are made from tagua nut, a substance that looks very much like ivory.
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This orientation tour includes the history and highlights of Manta and nearby colonial Montecristi. In Manta, visit a small archaeological museum to learn about the
pre-Columbian inhabitants, then continue to Montecristi to browse for a Panama Hat and explore its main square.
TIMING BREAKDOWN
00:00 - 00:15 Drive from pier to Archaeological Museum
00:15 - 01:15 Tour of the Archaeological Museum
01:15 - 01:45 Drive to Montecristi
01:45 - 02:45 Tour of Montecristi and time to shop; Bathrooms available
02:45 - 03:30 Return to pier with stop at tagua factory en route
Approximate duration: 3½ hours
OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Archaeological Museum is not suitable for wheelchairs
- Use of sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
- The chronological order of this tour is subject to change
- Activity level is Easy