Welcome to Casa Luna!
City/town information
The booming port city of Manta, in Manabi Province, is a must-see for every first-time traveler to Ecuador. Manta is not a conventionally beautiful city. It is not an old city. It is not a cultured city. But it does have an extraordinary sense of its own emerging greatness. While there, visit the fish market where locals buy their fresh shrimp (usually around USD 3-4 per pound) or tuna (USD 10 for three pounds). For nightlife, Barrio Umina is the place to be on weekends - and its emerging foodie scene is garnering international attention!
34 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Manta
CicloviaThe booming port city of Manta, in Manabi Province, is a must-see for every first-time traveler to Ecuador. Manta is not a conventionally beautiful city. It is not an old city. It is not a cultured city. But it does have an extraordinary sense of its own emerging greatness. While there, visit the fish market where locals buy their fresh shrimp (usually around USD 3-4 per pound) or tuna (USD 10 for three pounds). For nightlife, Barrio Umina is the place to be on weekends - and its emerging foodie scene is garnering international attention!
Food scene
Ceviche is the national dish of Ecuador, and Fish Cevichería elevates it to another level. Try the ceviche camaron (shrimp) and be sure to crumple plenty of chifles (fried plantain chips) into it.
Fish Cevichería
31 Avenida Flavio ReyesCeviche is the national dish of Ecuador, and Fish Cevichería elevates it to another level. Try the ceviche camaron (shrimp) and be sure to crumple plenty of chifles (fried plantain chips) into it.
Best. Ceviche. Ever. Cabaña D'chuky makes it in the Jipijapa style, with peanut sauce. Don't knock it until you try it! Also, the patacones (fried plantain slices) are absolutely to die for. Great prices, super casual ambience.
La Cabana D'Chuky
Best. Ceviche. Ever. Cabaña D'chuky makes it in the Jipijapa style, with peanut sauce. Don't knock it until you try it! Also, the patacones (fried plantain slices) are absolutely to die for. Great prices, super casual ambience.
Yeah, it's a chain - but the sushi is well prepared from local ingredients, and the view from the outdoor dining area is unparalleled. Ask for the promocion: 36 assorted maki and two local beers.
Kobe Sushi Express
Yeah, it's a chain - but the sushi is well prepared from local ingredients, and the view from the outdoor dining area is unparalleled. Ask for the promocion: 36 assorted maki and two local beers.
Sightseeing
In the mood for marlin fishing, whale watching, or maybe a reef diving expedition off the shores of Isla de la Plata? Book with Rositatours. Safe, dependable, and inexpensive: you'll have an experience to remember!
Rositatours
Malecón Julio IzurietaIn the mood for marlin fishing, whale watching, or maybe a reef diving expedition off the shores of Isla de la Plata? Book with Rositatours. Safe, dependable, and inexpensive: you'll have an experience to remember!
Take an expertly guided tour through the Pacoche rainforest. You'll see every manner of species, including howler monkeys. At the end of your experience, stop for a tonga (an entire meal prepared in bananas leaves) or pick up some organically grown coffee.
Pacoche Adventure
Take an expertly guided tour through the Pacoche rainforest. You'll see every manner of species, including howler monkeys. At the end of your experience, stop for a tonga (an entire meal prepared in bananas leaves) or pick up some organically grown coffee.
This gorgeous stretch of beach, with its deep blue water, golden sandstone cliffs and fine-grained sand, is popular with Ecuadorians. During the holiday season, the main beach will be packed with sunbathers. A second, well-protected beach is reserved for nesting sea turtles.
Be prepared to have your bags searched and contraband removed. Los Frailes is one of the most protected natural areas in Ecuador. Anything that can create litter - bags of potato chips, gum wrappers, cigarettes, to name a few - will be confiscated.
Entry is by passport or national ID (cedula) only.
109 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Los Frailes
This gorgeous stretch of beach, with its deep blue water, golden sandstone cliffs and fine-grained sand, is popular with Ecuadorians. During the holiday season, the main beach will be packed with sunbathers. A second, well-protected beach is reserved for nesting sea turtles.
Be prepared to have your bags searched and contraband removed. Los Frailes is one of the most protected natural areas in Ecuador. Anything that can create litter - bags of potato chips, gum wrappers, cigarettes, to name a few - will be confiscated.
Entry is by passport or national ID (cedula) only.
Don't forget to explore your own front yard! At low tide during the workweek, you can walk for hours and rarely encounter a soul. From June to October, it's not unusual to see humpback whales breaching from shore. Or help the local fishermen bring in their nets. They will offer to share their catch with you, in exchange for your help.
Playa San José
Don't forget to explore your own front yard! At low tide during the workweek, you can walk for hours and rarely encounter a soul. From June to October, it's not unusual to see humpback whales breaching from shore. Or help the local fishermen bring in their nets. They will offer to share their catch with you, in exchange for your help.
Payo sa lungsod
Huwag palampasin
Whale season: June to October
The weather on the coast is typically cold and grey between April and December. But there's a great reason to visit anyway: whale season! Between June and October, humpback whales migrate from the Antarctic to mate along our coastline. You'll see whales breaching from Casa Luna's rooftop terrace. For an experience you will never forget, charter a tour from Puerto Lopez. Guaranteed, you'll get up close and personal with these majestic animals.
Mga kagawian at kultura
Ecuador is a cash society
Major hotel chains accept North American credit cards. Everywhere else takes only cash. Bring small denominations: fives and tens, primarily. Large grocery stores can break a twenty, but smaller merchants will not. Exact change is always appreciated and sometimes mandatory.
Ang dapat iempake
Bring food and essentials
There is a tiny farmers' market in nearby Puerto Cayo, and a small store on site at MSJ that is open Monday to Friday (but not Wednesdays or weekends). Raphael, the vegetable guy, visits with his fresh produce twice a week. Otherwise, there's not much else to stock up on. We strongly recommend that you bring groceries from Manta. We will get you started with toilet paper and a few essentials, but resupply is your responsibility.
Mga kagawian at kultura
Power fluctuations and water shortages
Our home is located in an urbanization in rural Ecuador. It experiences the same outages that happen in any rural setting. Occasional power fluctuations occur and they do not last long. If, after a few hours, power has not been restored, contact us and a host will help you to connect Casa Luna to our generator. Also, on holiday weekends, the community runs short of water. Casa Luna has a cistern to provide two days' worth of water for showers, toilets, and dish washing. Think of it as an adventure. That's what we do.
Paano makapaglibot
Carry your passport at all times
Local law requires that you carry identification with you at all times. Keep your passport with you always. If you are asked for it, your passport will identify you as a tourist and you will receive a friendly welcome from law enforcement officers.
Mga paraan para makatipid
Avoid the big shopping malls
Big North American-style malls charge big North American-style prices. When shopping for groceries, avoid Megamaxi at the Mall del Pacifico. Shop instead at Hipermarket, Tia, Mi Comisariato, or Tutti. You will save at least 40% on your food bill. Better yet, visit the local mercados where vendors sell fresh produce from the Andes. Prices are often negotiable, and you will leave with several bags of vegetables, fruit, cheese, and eggs for under ten dollars.
Mga kagawian at kultura
Practice safe traveling
You will always find horror stories on Facebook's expat groups. Understand that these are not normal events and they happen because people did not take common sense precautions when traveling. Stay in crowded, well-lit areas and keep your valuables safely in a front pocket with your hand in your pocket. In all our years in Ecuador, we have lost only one phone to a pickpocket. We have never experienced violent crime, nor has anyone we know. Manta is very safe. The bigger cities all have big city crime. Stay out of the sketchier neighbourhoods at night and you'll be fine.