Manta & Montecristi: Fish Market, Hat Weaving & Chocolate Tour

Summary

From Manta’s bustling docks to Montecristi’s weaving hands and sweet chocolate

You’ll walk Manta’s lively fish market with locals, step inside boatyards and tagua workshops, try weaving hats in Montecristi, taste fresh Ecuadorian chocolate—and maybe find yourself thinking about all those small details long after you’ve left.

What’s the experience like?

We stepped straight from the van into the salty morning air of Manta’s fish market—honestly, I’d never seen tuna that size up close. Our guide, José, waved us over as fishermen shouted greetings and held up their catch like trophies. The floor was slick and cold underfoot, and the scent of fresh fish mixed with diesel from the boats. I tried to ask one fisherman about his biggest catch (my Spanish is rough), but he just grinned and handed me a piece of raw tuna to hold for a photo. It was heavier than I expected—my hands still smelled like the sea an hour later.

Driving inland toward Montecristi, we stopped at a boatyard where men were hammering huge planks into shape. The wood dust hung in the air, catching the sun in little golden flecks. José explained how these boats end up back at that same market every morning. Next came the tagua factory—never thought I’d care about buttons, but seeing those hard white nuts turned into smooth little discs was weirdly satisfying. One woman let me feel a handful; they’re cool and almost waxy, not what you’d expect from something called “vegetable ivory.”

The real highlight for me was watching Doña Rosa weave a Montecristi hat in her tiny shop. Her fingers moved so fast I could barely follow, and she laughed when I tried to say “sombrero” with my accent (I definitely butchered it). She showed us how each strand gets pressed and shaped—hours of work for one hat. There was this quiet pride in her voice that stuck with me. Afterward we wandered through Ciudad Alfaro museum; I didn’t know much about Eloy Alfaro before, but seeing his story told through murals made it feel personal somehow.

Last stop: chocolate factory. The smell hit us before we even got inside—deep and earthy, not sweet like candy bars at home. We tasted samples right off the line (the 70% one nearly knocked me out). On the way back to Manta our driver slowed down so we could snap a photo of that huge statue of a woman weaving at the roundabout—one last reminder of all those hands behind every hat you see here. It’s funny how much you can learn about a place just by following its smells and sounds for a day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Manta's culture and crafts

• Visit fish market and meet fishermen
• See fishing boats being built at boatyard
• Tour Tagua button factory
• Watch Montecristi hat weaving demonstration
• Visit Ciudad Alfaro museum and downtown shop
• Taste and buy chocolate at factory

Top questions

How long does the Manta & Montecristi tour take?

The tour is a full-day experience including stops at the fish market, boatyard, tagua factory, hat workshop, museum Ciudad Alfaro, downtown shops, and chocolate factory.

Is hotel pickup included in this day trip?

Yes, pickup is included as part of your booking for convenience.

Will we see how Montecristi hats are made?

Yes, there is an artisan demonstration showing weaving, shaping, ironing, and pressing of Montecristi hats.

Are entry fees covered on this tour?

All entry fees are included in your tour price.

Can I taste chocolate during the factory visit?

You’ll have opportunities to sample different local chocolate products at the factory stop.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

No formal lunch is included but there are tastings along the way; bottled water is provided throughout.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?

The tour is wheelchair accessible if notified in advance; strollers are also welcome.

Do guides speak languages other than English or Spanish?

If you need another language guide you must select "Other languages" when booking.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your location in Manta or nearby areas, all entry fees for each stop along the route—including workshops and museums—a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle throughout the journey, plenty of bottled water to keep you refreshed between stops like the fish market or chocolate factory demonstrations before returning home in time to relax with your new memories (and maybe some chocolate).