Portoviejo; also know as the city of the "Royal Tamarinds". It acquiered this fame because of the tamarind tree plantations which grew so tall and lush that they became the pride of the city. As all developing provincial capitals, an urban transformation in perceived which imparts the feeling of constant progress. 

As an example, we should like to mention the beautiful, totally renovated Metropolitan Cathedral and the House of the San Pedro Major Seminary considered one of the most modern architectonic works of Manabi. 

Portoviejo is by tradition a cultured and hospitalarian city and one of the most ancient of Ecuador and America. 

The Valley of the Portoviejo River, with its hilly landscape presents to us a small but enchanting citry, full of Ceibo (Kapoc) trees.  

Its valleys and mountains have extensive woods with large, economically important, precious timber trees.  

The main tourist attraction of the capital of Manabi is Crucita, a sea resort only 30 Km away, which can be reached in only 20 minutes. Having a quiet elevation south of the beach together favorable winds makes Crucita a place with excellent characterists to practice the Alas Deltas and Parapente sports. Each year, internacional contests of these sports are held here. It offers lodging and eating facilities.

Manta is presently a dynamic city and is one of the most important urban sectors of Ecuador with approximately 200.000 inhabitants. Its accelerated growth has turned it into a pole of industrial, commercial and specialty tourism. The fishing and tourism activities are those having the greatest boom.  

Manta the most important city of the province after the capital. Manta attracts tourists during the entire year because it is a port with many advantages, located on a bay which has given it the characteristics of being The door to Ecuador on the Pacific Oceans. Its location is strategic for north or southbound vessels as it is located at the center of the Ecuadorean coastline. Thanks to its delightful spring climate with an average temperature of 24°C and at an altitude of 6 m. a.s.l. Manta occupies the first place in the choice of a vacation resort.

Bahia de Caraquez; a city located at the foot of the sea at the bay formed by the mounth of the Chone River, Its first settlers were the Caras, a tribe which is believed to have migrated from Central America, and which became a very important part of the nationality of this country; this is why Bahia is also known as The Craddle of the Ecuadorian Nationalism.

The beauty of the coastline of the Sucre Canton has motivated the development of the tourist industry, that is, the growth of the number of hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.  
 

Among the main points of interest to tourists are the Fragata Islands, the Isla de los Pajaros, Isla Corazon, San Vicente, Canoa, Rio Muchacho, Los Aposentos, Cabo Pasado, Don Juan, Camarones, Punta Palmar, La Chonera, Pedernales, Cojimies.

The Jipijapa Canton, which is also called "the Sultana of Coffee" is located in southern Manabi. It has gotten this name because it has the largest extensions of coffee plantations and is the largest coffee bean producer in Ecuador.  

The main activity in this canton is the production and export of coffee as well as the trading of same under different forms and the making of toquilla straw hats, hammocks and different craft natural to the region. At a distance of 40 minutes along the coastal road is the beach resort of Puerto Cayo which is very visited and from where one can reach the Isla de la Plata, which faces this port. It is an appropriate place for sports fishing and other water sports.  

Chone, a town located in a beautiful valley of the same name, among the main activities of this canton are agriculture, cattle raising, aviculture, pisciculture and commerce in its different forms.  

Some of the tourist attractions are outings to the banks of the Chone river or escalating the Cerro Guayas where we find a statue to Christ the Redeemer and from where you can have a splendid panoramic view of the town. On a week-end you can also attend the popular cock fighting or the horse races at the racetrack. Of course you will also enjoy the delicious and typical native food of Manabi as well as the warmth and open hospitality of its friendly and sincere people.  
 

Montecrisi in this town of friendly and cordial people, you can visit the house of Alfaro, the church of Montecristi and browse in the many artisan shops where you will find a great variety of articles, specially the famous toquilla straw hats. Close to Montecristi lies "La Pila", a parish of this canton where skillful artisans are devoted to making reproductions of pre-colombian art such as small clay and ceramic statues.

If you continue along the road for another few minutes you will reach the resort of Jaramijo where you can enjoy the inviting beaches, the sun and the blue sky and observe the place where lied the rests of the "Alajuela" the boat on which Eloy Alfaro was the main protagonist of the naval battle of Jaramijo on December 6, 1884.  

Also you can visit Machalilla National Park  
 

These enormous and fantastic mammals are part of the natural patrimony of Ecuador and of the world. These giant nomad creatures (of up to 30 tons) have chosen a residential spot here in Ecuador, between the months of June and November, talking advantage of the still rich waters of the Central Pacific Ocean off the country.

During those months of abundant food like crill and plankton, the mammals store energy and food to face the hardships they will have to face when migrating to the gelid waters of the Antarctic.  

The spectacle during this time of the year is surprising. They use our territorial ocean for coupling, courting and giving birth to their offspring.  

These mammals are also known as the singing whales because they issue harmonious sounds (their vocabulary) that fill the depths of the sea and can de heard for miles.