Manta day tour: Fish Market, rainforest & Panama hat atelier

Step into Manta’s vibrant daily life from bustling markets to artisan hat workshops

A full-day tour of Manta, Pacoche and Montecristi that moves through the fish market where the local economy runs, a rainforest trail where howler monkeys live, and a Panama hat atelier where craftspeople still hand-weave the hats Ecuador is known for. Hotel or port pickup and lunch at a beachfront restaurant are included. The guide speaks English and Spanish. A moderate amount of walking is involved, with uneven surfaces on the second half of the rainforest trail.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Manta, Pacoche, and Montecristi

• Pick up from Manta
• Drive along downtown Manta to Fish Market
• Explore Pacoche Reserve rainforest
• Lunch at local beach restaurant
• Visit San Lorenzo lookout
• Tour Montecristi and Panama Hat atelier

The experience

The tour starts with a pickup from your hotel or port in Manta, then heads straight to the fish market: the working heart of the coast, where boats unload the catch and vendors move through the stalls. From there you drive to Pacoche Reserve, a humid rainforest where the trail winds through tropical growth and howler monkeys call from the canopy. The second half of the trail crosses uneven ground. You can walk the full route or turn back at the midpoint, depending on your pace and fitness.

Lunch happens at a locally-owned restaurant right on the beach at San Lorenzo, where you eat a bowl of Tonga (a traditional Manabí stew slow-cooked in banana leaves with local spices), and watch the Pacific from your table. After lunch, a lookout point at San Lorenzo shows hidden beaches and the ocean view before the drive to Montecristi. The town sits in the foothills and is built around hat-making. You visit a working atelier to watch craftspeople shape and finish the Toquilla straw hats that the world calls Panama hats, then learn about Ecuador's revolutionary history at the Mausoleum of Ciudad Alfaro. You have time to buy a hat or handwoven crafts before the drive back to Manta.

The whole day runs 7 to 8 hours. Your guide is bilingual in English and Spanish and drives an air-conditioned vehicle. Hotel or port drop-off is included at the end.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• a bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• lunch at a beachfront restaurant.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared TourGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeOffered as a shared experience for up to 12 passengers, and includes pickup

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeOffered as a private experience for up to 4 passengers, and includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Narwell Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want the standard price. Choose private if you prefer your own guide and vehicle for the day, or if your group has specific timing needs. Both options follow the same route and include the same stops and lunch.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are howler monkeys and will I actually see them in Pacoche?

Howler monkeys are large primates that live in the rainforest canopy and make loud, deep calls that carry through the forest. Pacoche Reserve is their habitat, and the trail passes through the areas where they live. Sightings depend on the time of day and the monkeys' movement, but the reserve is named for them because they are present there regularly.

Is the rainforest trail difficult, and can I do just part of it?

The first half of the Pacoche trail is manageable for moderate fitness. The second half has uneven surfaces and steeper sections. You can walk the full route or turn back at the midpoint. Your guide will help you decide based on how you're feeling, and both options are built into the tour.

What exactly is Tonga, and where do I eat it?

Tonga is a traditional Manabí stew made with local seafood or meat, slow-cooked in banana leaves with regional spices, and it's a signature coastal Ecuadorian dish. You eat it at lunch at a beachfront restaurant in San Lorenzo, sitting on the coast.

Can I actually buy a Panama hat, and how much do they cost?

Yes. The atelier in Montecristi sells finished hats and handwoven crafts. Prices vary depending on the quality and weave, and the artisans can tell you about the work that goes into each one. The tour includes time to browse and buy, but purchases are your choice.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

Hotel or port pickup and drop-off, lunch, the guide, the vehicle, and all taxes and fees are included. Bring water, sun protection, comfortable walking shoes for uneven ground, and cash or a card if you want to buy a hat or crafts at the atelier.