Rainforest Pacoche Tour
Rainsforest pacoche tour
Duration: 5 to 6 Hours
Airconditioned bus or minibus
Mobility level: Short walks
Temperatura: 24 ºC | 75 ºF
Active Rainforest and Wildlife Tour in Manta, Ecuador
Our Active Rainforest and Wildlife Tour is a favorite for the more active cruise ship passengers and tourists. Spend a day immersed in local wildlife, culture, food, and drink while exploring the beautiful landscapes of Manta, Ecuador.
Overview
Start your adventure along Manta’s main coast road, visiting the historic fish market and traditional wooden shipyard. Here, you’ll witness the unchanged daily life of fishermen and the impressive wooden skeletons of fishing trawlers being built.
Cultural Highlights and Montecristi
Next, travel to Montecristi, the birthplace of the famous Panama hats. Nestled at the foot of the landmark mountain, this town is rich in history and tradition. Your guide will show you the Panama hat makers’ workshops and stores, as well as a variety of local artisan goods. You’ll also see some of the last examples of traditional wooden architecture in the central plaza next to the cathedral.
From Montecristi, we head to the green abundance of the Pacoche rainforest. This national park, secluded in a humid microclimate, houses an immense variety of birds, monkeys, and local wildlife. Your guide, teamed up with a local resident, will highlight all the interesting sights and sounds. The walk is 2 hours long, with the first hour being very easy, mostly level terrain with some steps with bamboo railing. The second half is a little more demanding as we traverse rocky terrain, steps, and local deer tracks along and across small streams. For less physically active groups, we can turn back at the halfway point.
Historic Fish Market and Wooden Shipyard
The fish market is the heartbeat of Manta’s local economy, with fishermen’s routines unchanged for generations. You’ll be fascinated by the wooden skeletons of fishing trawlers being constructed right on the beach, a testament to the enduring local traditions.
Cliff Top Lighthouse and Coastal Views
Our final stop is at the clifftop lighthouse, offering stunning views of the coastline and Pacific Ocean. You can either drive up the hill in the bus or take on the challenge of climbing over 600 stairs from the beach. Capture amazing photos before heading back to Manta.
Pacoche Rainforest and San Lorenzo
The Pacoche rainforest walk is a true adventure, offering a chance to see howler monkeys and a variety of bird species. For those who prefer a less strenuous walk, the first half of the trail is easy and mostly level. After exploring the rainforest, visit the small fishing town of San Lorenzo, famous for its sea turtle breeding grounds. Enjoy a traditional meal at a beachfront restaurant and possibly witness baby turtles hatching during the winter months.
Itinerary
- Pick-up: From Port, Hotel, or Agreed location.
- Historic Fish Market: Drive past the market and traditional wooden boat builders with a 20-minute stop.
- Montecristi Town Center: Explore the historic town center, Panama hat makers’ demonstrations, and artisan goods (60 mins).
- Pacoche Rainforest: An active walk through the jungle, likely to see or hear howler monkeys and local wildlife (120 mins).
- San Lorenzo Beach: Visit the beach village, enjoy local cuisine at a beachfront bar and restaurant (60 mins).
- Clifftop Lighthouse: Optional climb to the clifftop viewpoint of the coast from the local lighthouse (30 mins).
- Return to Manta: Drive back to the original pickup location, concluding the tour in 5 to 6 hours.
What’s Included
- English-speaking guide
- Licensed driver
- Air-conditioned modern vehicle (Minivan, Minibus, etc.)
- All entrance fees to attractions
- Bottled water and local snacks on the bus
- Pickup and drop-off at the port or hotel
- Lunch stop (food and drinks not included)
FAQ
- Do you pick us up and drop us at the port? Yes, we ensure timely pickup and drop-off from the port. We plan to return at least 90 minutes before the ALL ABOARD call and have a backup bus ready for any mechanical issues.
- Is this tour suitable for somebody in a wheelchair? The tour involves some walking and may not be suitable for wheelchairs, but we can adjust the itinerary to accommodate different needs.
- Will we have time for lunch? Yes, ample time is provided to enjoy lunch at a beachfront restaurant.
- What if we are late getting off the cruise ship? We will wait for the entire group. If there are a few stragglers, they can catch up with the main group in a taxi with one of our staff members.
- What currency do we need? US dollars are the currency used. For lunch and personal expenses, $100 cash should suffice. Tips are not included but appreciated and can be given directly to the guides and drivers.
- How do I find the shuttle at the port? The port provides shuttle buses from the dock to the passenger terminal. We will be waiting in our red uniforms by the door with name cards. You will see us immediately. For more details, read our blog “What is Manta Cruise Ship Port Like”.
Reviews (23)
ALL OUR LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY OUR BRITISH EXPAT FAMILY
DISCOUNTS TO GROUPS
4 to 6 people 10% Dcto
7 or more people 15% Dcto
PRICE PER PERSON
$99.00
100 in stock (can be backordered)
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PRIVATE CUSTOM TOURS
Looking for a private tour that is tailored to your interests? Want to travel further afield from manta and Manabi? We can take care of everything.
Tammy P –
The rainforest tour was amazing even though the hiking trail was rainy, but there is still a lot to see
Lenin Davids –
This was a great excursion. Mauricio was knowledgeable about not only Ecuadorian history but the different species of plants in the rainforest. He answered our questions thoroughly and patiently. Bring your water and comfortable shoes. The hike was just enough to get your heat beating.
Darren Raffan –
Our tour guide Carlos was great ask for him. He gave us a historical overview of the country and forest.
It is really s worth while adventure. I would recommend the trip to anyone and everyone. The landscape is breath taking the colors are wonderful. I would have given a 5 star review but the bus driver dorve like he had stolen the bus.
Roxanne Ruiz –
Quick, fun trip
This is a full day trip. We got to see 3 sites. It was very nice. If you need to use the restrooms the first stop had restrooms that were super small. The driver and guide were nice and pleasant.
Glenda S –
Our Guide Toni was excellent. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. My husband and I enjoyed the sights we saw and expected to be more of a workout/hike. I suppose it was fortunate for us this was very light exercise due to a back injury and a very rainy second portion of the trip. The van did most of the hard work traveling up the mountain and stopping along for the waterfall, observation tower and river. The sights we did she were incredible and we enjoyed learning about the ecosystems and plants. The bakery at the end had an excellent “home-cooked” vibe. Very tasty meal!
Ed burkes –
Wonderful tour. Sammy was great. He was nice, funny and knowledgeable. He even stopped at a local place on the way back from the tour so that we could sample some of the local food. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour
Tony Gray –
We saw so many Howler monkeys in the rain forest. It was magical. Our guide was very well trained and spoke excellent English. The food was very strange looking but turned out to be very tasty. We were so tired after all the fun. Highly recommend this shore excursion tour.
Laura –
We had a large group tour when we sailed in on the Zaandam in April. The guides were on time, well organized friendly and fun. The bus was modern, clean and even had WIFI. The food was great and the Turtles on the beach were so cute. This was a very enjoyable shore excursion
Nelly Howard –
We took this tour so we could see the rainforest with my mother and my young kids. Our Family’s ages ranged from 62 years old all the way to 6 months old. The experience was perfect for all of us. We had a great time.
Stella Franco –
Such an amazing tour filled with wildlife. The food was a real treat too. The wood-fired grill put out some delicious flavors. Our guide was so attentive and informative.
Morty G –
The tour was very nice. Guides treated us very well. The Panama hats are amazing. Unfortunately, it was raining when we got to the rain forest, so the walk was a little muddy and hard going. The monkeys were not bothered they were out in force.
Dan Harrows –
We had an excellent time in the jungle and food and drink was to die for.
Steven Loftin –
We really enjoyed the walk through the Jungle. The Howler monkeys were so close. They hardly made a noise for ages, then all of a sudden they really started shouting. Very fun tour, Great guides.
Matt Stone –
Fun and friendly guide. Clean modern transport. Very nice meal on the beach. Didn’t see any Monkeys but we sure heard them howling. Saw a Tarantula and a giant iguana.
Kevin Allen –
Fantastic tour. Tom was brilliant and we managed to learn a great deal about Manta and Ecuador. Thoroughly recommend the tour – so much better than those organised by the cruise ships.
Columbus Wanderer –
My wife and I signed up for a local tour with Manta Tour Guides (Manta Ecuador). Until we took this tour, we always used the cruise ship’s excursions. Our experience with Manta Tour Guides changed our ways. This company was excellent. We did more and saw more attractions than two combined cruise line excursions. We saw and intermingled with locals at the wonderful fish market, saw Panama hats being woven and took a walk in the rainforest. The tour was topped off with a lovely meal at a local restaurant on the beach. And when we got off the bus at the ship terminal, we were greeted by the owner with a tasty local cocoa treat…a nice touch. Also, this company tries to keep the group to 8 or less which is great. The only ding against this company is they didn’t have our names on the tour list…..good thing I brought the email confirmation which solved this issue. The tour guide, Rosario, was excellent also. I recommend this company for tours if you go to Manta, Ecuador.
Pcetempsite –
Jimmy was a very good guide. The trip was well organised and everyone s wishes were catered for. The rain forest trail was challenging but interesting and there was an option to do half. The lunch break was delightful.
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