Manta, Ecuador facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Manta
City
San Pablo de Manta
From top, left to right: View of the seaport, panoramic view of the city, monument to the Tuna, monument to the Fisherman, restaurants on the Scenic Boardwalk, The Bat beach, sunset on the beach and Malecón avenue.
Nickname(s): Primer Puerto Marítimo del Ecuador (Ecuador's First Seaport)
Motto(s): Capital Mundial del Atún y Ciudad de la Pesca, del Atún y del Puerto Turístico, Marítimo y Pesquero (World Capital of Tuna Fishing, Tuna Touristic Port, Maritime and Fisheries)
Manta Location in Ecuador
Country	Ecuador
Province	Manabí
Canton	Manta
Area
• City	53.51 km² (20.66 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2022 census)
• City	258,697
• Density	4,834.6/km² (12,521.4/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (ECT)
Postal code	EC1308
Area code(s)	(+593) 5
Climate	BWh
Website	www.manta.gob.ec

Manta, also known as San Pablo de Manta, is a lively city in Ecuador. It is the biggest and most populated city in the Manabí Province. Manta is also the seventh largest city in the whole country.

This city has a long history, going back to Pre-Columbian times. It was once a busy trading spot for the Manta people, also known as Manteños. Today, Manta is home to over 258,000 people, based on the 2022 census.

Manta is famous for its tuna fishing industry. It's often called the "World Capital of Tuna Fishing." Besides fishing, tourism is also very important. The city also has a chemical industry that makes things like cleaning products and oils.

Located right on the Pacific coast, Manta has Ecuador's largest seaport. This port has been important for centuries. For example, Charles Marie de La Condamine used it in 1735. He was a French explorer who came to Ecuador to measure the Earth's equator.

Manta also has an international airport, Eloy Alfaro International Airport. It offers flights for passengers. There's also a military base here. The city is known for its international film festival, which brings together artists from around the world.

Sports and Fun Activities in Manta

Manta is a great place for sports and outdoor activities. Many events happen from January to April and again in November.

Football: The City's Favorite Sport

Just like in many parts of Ecuador, football is super popular in Manta. The city has two professional football teams: Delfín S.C. and Manta F.C.. Other teams that have played here include Green Cross F.C. and America.

Water Sports and Adventure

Manta's coastal location makes it perfect for water sports.

Surfing is a big deal here. Manta even hosted the Bodyboarding World Cup in 2004.
You can also try scuba diving to explore underwater life.
Other fun water activities include water skiing and kitesurfing.
The nearby Santa Marianita beach is especially popular for kitesurfing. This is because it has great wind conditions and a long, beautiful beach.
Manta has also hosted big events like the South American Windsurfing Championship.

Fishing and Tennis

If you love fishing, Manta is a good spot for sport fishing. You can also go underwater diving. For those who prefer land sports, Tennis is also played in Manta. The city has hosted several professional tennis tournaments.

Culture and Entertainment

Manta offers many cultural experiences and entertainment options.

Festivals and Museums

Every September, Manta hosts an International Theater Festival. This event brings plays and performers from different countries.
The city has a special cinema called MAAC cine. It shows independent films and movies that are not from Hollywood.
You can also visit the Central Bank Museum. It has an amazing collection of Pre-Columbian crafts. These are ancient artworks made before Europeans arrived.

Manta's Economy: How the City Works

Manta has one of the biggest economies in Ecuador. It's a very important city for trade and business.

Tuna Fishing and Processing

The main industry in Manta is fishing, especially tuna fishing. The city is a major center for canning and processing tuna. This processed tuna is then sent to countries in Europe and the U.S. Many large international tuna companies have factories in Manta.

Other Important Industries

Another key product from Manta is vegetable oil. Big Ecuadorian companies have their main factories here. Manta is also one of the top cities in Ecuador for large companies by revenue, after Quito and Guayaquil.

Growing Tourism

Tourism is becoming more and more important for Manta. Many cruise ships stop at Manta as they travel through the southern Pacific Ocean. Visitors love to explore the city and its surroundings.

Famous Panama Hats

Did you know that the original and official "Panama" hats are made in the nearby town of Montecristi? Even though they are called "Panama hats," they have always been made in Ecuador. These famous hats are popular souvenirs for tourists visiting Manta.

Exploring Manta: Top Tourist Spots

Manta attracts many visitors, both from Ecuador and other countries. The city has beautiful beaches and interesting places to explore.

Popular Beaches

Some of the most visited beaches in Manta include:

"El Murciélago"
"Santa Marianita"
"San Lorenzo"
"Barbasquillo"

Surfers often go to San Lorenzo beach because it has strong, powerful waves. Santa Marianita beach, also known as Playa Bonita, is a favorite for kitesurfing.

Montecristi: Home of Panama Hats

Close to Manta is the small town of Montecristi. It was founded a long time ago, in the early 17th century. Montecristi is known for its old colonial buildings. But it's most famous for its wickerwork weaving. As mentioned, this is where the famous Panama hats are originally made.

Learning in Manta: Schools and Universities

Manta has many schools and universities for students of all ages.

Universities and High Schools

The largest and oldest university is Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro.
Other universities include Universidad del Pacifico (Pacific University) and Manta Institute of Technology.
Some of the most traditional high schools are Colegio San Jose, Colegio Senoritas Manta, and Colegio Stella Maris.

International Schools

Manta also has high schools that follow international academic standards. These include:

Jefferson High School (American)
Julio Pierregrosse High School (Spanish)
Leonardo da Vinci High School (Italian)

If you want to learn Spanish, Academia Surpacifico is a language school with over 14 years of experience teaching Spanish to foreigners.

Manta's Climate

Even though Manta is located near the equator, its climate is quite dry. This is because of the Humboldt Current, which brings cool, dry air. Manta usually has cloudy and hot weather for most of the year. Rain doesn't fall very often and mostly happens between January and April. Sometimes, during El Niño events, when the Humboldt Current is weaker, Manta gets more rain.

Climate data for Manta, elevation 14 m (46 ft), (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	35.0 (95.0)	34.4 (93.9)	34.4 (93.9)	35.6 (96.1)	34.4 (93.9)	35.0 (95.0)	35.0 (95.0)	35.6 (96.1)	32.8 (91.0)	33.3 (91.9)	32.2 (90.0)	32.2 (90.0)	35.6 (96.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29.8 (85.6)	29.8 (85.6)	29.9 (85.8)	30.2 (86.4)	30.1 (86.2)	28.8 (83.8)	28.2 (82.8)	28.3 (82.9)	28.0 (82.4)	28.1 (82.6)	28.5 (83.3)	29.3 (84.7)	29.1 (84.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22.6 (72.7)	23.1 (73.6)	23.0 (73.4)	22.7 (72.9)	22.3 (72.1)	21.3 (70.3)	20.5 (68.9)	20.2 (68.4)	20.2 (68.4)	20.5 (68.9)	21.0 (69.8)	21.6 (70.9)	21.6 (70.9)
Record low °C (°F)	17.2 (63.0)	17.2 (63.0)	13.0 (55.4)	17.2 (63.0)	17.2 (63.0)	13.3 (55.9)	16.1 (61.0)	15.0 (59.0)	15.0 (59.0)	14.4 (57.9)	15.6 (60.1)	15.6 (60.1)	13.0 (55.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	30.0 (1.18)	67.0 (2.64)	76.0 (2.99)	31.0 (1.22)	3.0 (0.12)	3.0 (0.12)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	3.0 (0.12)	1.0 (0.04)	0.0 (0.0)	3.0 (0.12)	217 (8.55)
Average relative humidity (%)	76	79	80	78	76	79	78	78	78	78	77	74	78
Mean monthly sunshine hours	124	113	155	150	124	90	93	93	90	93	90	93	1,308
Source 1: FAO
Source 2: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial (extremes)World Climate Guide (sunshine only)