Ecuador
Punta Murciélago

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 15

      Manta, Ecuador

      January 29, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

      Hello South America!

      Our trip to Manta was absolutely fascinating as we found out how much work it takes to manually make anything these days ... and in some places it’s still the only way (and often the best way). Manta, is a port city known for tuna fishing, and fish markets. It is a large city of 200,000 people. There are some great beaches and surfing here too, making it a big tourist destination.

      Next to our ship, they were loading nets full of fish onto trucks around the clock. (photo 1)

      In 1735 Charles Marie de La Condamine used this port as he was measuring the location of the equator. The airbase here was used extensively by U.S. air forces in 1999-2009 to support anti-drug operations against Columbian drug cartels.

      First, we went to the archaeological museum and learned all about the history in Equator and how people lived for the first half of this Century. They were very clever in their use of materials to make household items and building materials and in deconstructing plants and trees, made incredible efforts to figure out that every piece of material was utilized in some productive manner.

      We saw how the beautiful Guayacan wood is used to make boats. Usually, they are high tech fishing boats with instrumentation and fishing equipment making them cost upwards of $800,000. I would just like to have one in case I met Noah one day and he needed a replacement (below, photo 2).

      In the Cabuya Factory we were treated to a demo of plant weaving in the last factory that still makes coffee bean bags by hand (mostly they are now made/shipped in plastic containers).

      In order to make woven bags and coffee bean bags the plant fibers are extracted from the leaves (see video clip at https://youtu.be/fnaIGam4fPM) (photos 4, 5, 6 and 7)

      Next, the course leaves are softened and separated by "smacking" them against nails and then individual fibers are wound together and connected by hand to make spools of fiber. (photos 8 and 9)

      The last steps take 144 spools and bring them together into 1 spool that is weaved together to make it tighter and stronger (see these two videos of how they make this into a coffee bean bag https://youtu.be/fb2s8118aGs and https://youtu.be/yG_rdzpL-Yo)!!!!

      In total, 144 spools make 50 bags (see photo with the tour guide above in the green shirt with the owner that has been making these bags for 60 years) at $4 per bag. Now thats a lot of work $200 (50 x 4). (photos 10 and 11)

      Our next stop was a demonstration of how to make the famous "Panama" hats (which are actually "Montecristi Hats" from Ecuador that made their way to Panama and became famous there when President Roosevelt wore one for a photo op at the Canal). You know the type, a traditional brimmed straw hat, made from the plaited leaves or jipijapa palm or toquilla straw.

      They are light-colored (not white, these are the knock-offs), lightweight, and worn in the summer. The tightness of the weave and time spent making them determine the quality and price ($50 - $25,000). It can take days, weeks or up to 3 months to make one hat! (photos 12, 13, 14 and 15)

      Watch this video of the weaver doing her magic as she makes a hat!
      https://youtu.be/LuZ57eZYrBw

      Lastly, we watched as buttons and incredible pieces of art were made from TAGUA. It is a vegetable that looks like ivory and hardens to a hard finish that can be made into shirt buttons, carved into animals (we got a blue-footed booby), and made into other sculptures.

      The plant that comes off the tree (photo 17)
      Button (photo 18)
      After a busy day (photo 19 and 20)
      Read more

    • Day 119

      Manta🇪🇨-Montecristi🇪🇨 17.04.2024

      April 17 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Heute Mittag sind wir von Guayaquil her pünktlich in Manta angelegt mit ganz wenig Wind, teils bewölkter Himmel, hohe Luftfeuchtigkeit und deutlich über 30 Grad.
      Busfahrt durch Manta, Handelsstadt, größter Thunfisch Hafen in Südamerika. Etwas außerhalb von Manta die Produktion von Tagua (Vegetarisches Elfenbein) Gegenständen anschauen gegangen - hat mich nicht aus den Socken gehauen - scheinbar produzieren die Frauen der Thunfischer während ihrer Abwesenheit die Gegenstände in Heimarbeit und versuchen damit Zusatzeinkommen zu schaffen. Weiterfahrt auf eine Anhöhe von Montecristi zu einem Museum der Verfassungsgeschite von Ecuador 🇪🇨 mit Aussicht auf Montecristi und einem ausgestellten historischen Zug der Ferocardilles Ecuatorianos. Von dort Fahrt ins Rathaus von Montecristi wo uns eine lokale Musikgruppe empfangen hat. Die Musik war sensationell - hatten die doch mehr als eine Stunde Trancemusikstücke gespielt in einem wahnsinns Rhythmus, fast so wie früher in Luzern vor dem Fritschi. Im Rathaus war eine ganze Linie mit all den einzelnen Schritten der Handproduktion von Panamahüten ausgestellt. Alle originalen Panamahüte werden in Montecristi in Heimarbeit gefertigt und in Panama als Panama Hüte🎩 verkauft. Rückfahrt nach Manta. Kurz vor dem Ablegen ist längsseits ein Thunfisch Boot🛥️ vorbei welches einen kleinenn Heli auf dem Vorschiff hatte - Thunfisch muss rentieren🙈.
      19:10 Ablegen von Manta und Fahrt mit einem Seetag dazwischen nach Fuerte Amador Panama🇵🇦
      Read more

    • Day 96

      Carnaval in Manta

      February 23, 2020 in Ecuador ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

      In Quito habe ich eine Gruppe Ecuadorianer kennengelernt, die mich gefragt haben ob ich mit ihnen mit zum Karneval nach Manta fahren will. Ich hab natürlich zugesagt. Also sind wir am Freitag Abend an die Küste nach Manta gefahren. Der Karneval in Ecuador ist, wie in Deutschland eines der Top Highlights des Jahres. Die meisten Ecuadorianer fahren für die 4 Tage an die Küste um dort exzessiv zu feiern. Das Wetter ist dort sehr heiß, so hatten wir Tagsüber knapp 35° und nachts nie weniger als 27°. In Manta wurde für Karneval ein Festival organisiert, mit vielen Konzerten am Strand, hauptsächlich nur Reggaeton. Die Stimmung war sehr gut und die Strassen waren bis spät in die Nacht gefüllt mit Menschen, lauter Musik und Schaum. In Ecuador ist es Tradition andere Leute an Karneval mit einer Art Rasierschaum zu besprühen, Wasser von Pick Up Trucks oder Hausern auf sie zu schütten, Farbe ins Gesicht zu schmieren und sie mit rohen Eiern zu bewerfen. Dadurch kommt es teilweise zu regelrechten Strassenschlachten.
      Tagsüber waren wir am Strand und haben uns von den Nächten erholt. Es war eine sehr gute Erfahrung mal nur mit Ecuadorianern zu reisen und nur Spanisch zu reden. Caranaval in Manta war definitiv eines meiner Highlights auf meiner Reise.
      Montag Abend ging es dann wieder mit dem Auto zurück nach Quito.
      Read more

    • Day 6

      Tuna Capital

      April 6, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

      No wonder I saw so many tuna leaping in the sea as we approached Ecuador: Manta is the Tuna Capital of the World.

      Our guide rattled off the names of several tuna brands including Bumblebee and Starkist. They all get their fish from Manta, Ecuador.

      The harbor was full of fishing boats, some of which even had helicopters on deck for spotting tuna.

      I also enjoyed seeing frigate birds again, as you can tell from the last photo. They do some mighty fancy flying.
      Read more

    • Day 149

      Manta, Ecuador 🇪🇨

      October 1, 2023 in Ecuador

      Recently visited Manta, Ecuador, and was captivated by the city's unique charm. The bustling streets tell tales of a vibrant tuna industry, while the stunning beaches offer a perfect escape. Spent a blissful day by the coast, enjoying the rhythmic waves and exploring the city's rich maritime culture. Manta's blend of lively urban energy and serene coastal beauty makes it a must-visit for any traveler seeking a delightful fusion of city life and beach relaxation. #Manta #Ecuador #TravelAdventureRead more

    • Day 27

      Manta, Ecuador

      March 28 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      In Manta, our only stop in Ecuador. Warm, about 35 degrees but with a nice breeze. We are about 100km south of the equator, so will be in the northern hemisphere by tomorrow morning.
      Had a morning excursion that included a place where they process Ivory Nuts which are palm nuts that have a core that looks like and is as hard as ivory. They make buttons and stuff out of them. The nuts look like rocks. Also went to a place that makes real Panama hats from a type of palm fibre. Expensive for a good one ($500) but you can roll them up and transport them in a small box or tube. Angela bought a budget end ladies Sun hat. The weaving process looks hard on the back and chest. It looks like having big boots helps. See pictures.
      Finally to a place that makes Hessian cloth and bags but out of agave fibre. The machines they had to make the thread and weave the cloth were amazing. All hand made out of steel angle, hardwood, regard etc. Genius!
      Did also go to a museum but we didn't go in.
      Still amazed at how many people get on the tour bus coughing there lungs and other vital organs up. Not giving a single eff about other people seems to be a big trait on this ship.
      Anyway just had lunch and a strong bow each. Last one was a 500mil can. This was a 330mil bottle. Same price. Who knows?
      Off to Panama City tonight. A day or two at sea. That is our second last stop. I'm beginning to stress about US immigration and airport security but I'm looking forward to the Panama Canal and Aruba where we have some mystery hi octane action in store.
      Geek Fact : A few hundred km east of Manta in the Andes is Mt Chimborazo. Due to the fact that the earth bulges at the equator due to its rotation the peak of Chimborazo is the furtherest land point from the centre of the earth. So if you were on Mount Everest you would be further above 'sea level' but closer to the centre of the earth.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Punta Murciélago, Punta Murcielago

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android