South AmericaEcuadorManabí
Manta
Manabí, Ecuador · South America
About Manta
Manta sits on the route: 15 minutes from San Mateo.
Manta is in Manabí, Ecuador, with about 260,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is San Mateo, about 9 km away.
Manta, also known as San Pablo de Manta, is a city in Ecuador, cantonal head of the Manta Canton, as well as the largest and most populated city in the Manabí Province. It is the seventh most populous in the country. Manta has existed since Pre-Columbian times. It was a trading post for the Manta, also known asRead more
Manteños.
According to the 2022 census, the city had a population of 258,697. In the 21st century, its main economic activity is tuna fishing. Other economic activities include tourism and a chemical industry, with products ranging from cleaning supplies to oils and margarine.
Located on the Pacific coast, Manta has the largest seaport in Ecuador. The port was used by Charles Marie de La Condamine upon his arrival in Ecuador in 1735 when leading the French mission to measure the location of the equator. From Manta, Condamine started his trip inland towards Quito.
Manta has an international airport, Eloy Alfaro International Airport, with passenger airline service, and an important military base (known as Manta Air Base or Eloy Alfaro Air Base). Between 1999-2009 Manta Air Base was used by U.S. air forces to support anti-narcotics military operations and surveillance flights against Colombian drug trafficking cartels. The lease was not renewed by the Ecuadorian government.
Manta is recognized for its international film festival, featuring groups from different places in the world. The Ecuadorian actor Carlos Valencia was invited to Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Ratas Ratones y Rateros (1999), directed by Sebastián Cordero. The latter was born in the capital city of Quito.
Where to Stay in Manta
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Manta.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Manta.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manta?
Manta is in Manabí, Ecuador, about 9 km from San Mateo.
Road trip
Drive to Manta
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Manta. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 264,281
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- Manabí
- Timezone
- America/Guayaquil
- Coordinates
- -0.9494, -80.7314
Tags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Manta.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Manta.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.