How to get here

 

Just 30 minutes away from Quito, Manta's airport caters to the largest of the domestic carriers of Ecuador. And one hour by taxi north, you will reach Hotel bahia B&B.  

 

How to arrive: from Quito and Guayaquil:

 

Many international airlines have direct flights to the city of Guayaquil and Quito, then you can take a flight from Quito for a 45 minute flight to Manta.

 

Tame (www.tame.com.ec), Aerogal (www.aerogal.com.ec) and Icaro (www.icaro.aero) fly daily to Manta from Quito for around $100 return (45 minutes).

 

Public Transport
Buses are another way to arrive. La Riena del Camino and Coactur (directo) travel to Bahia de Caraquez  from Quito and Guayaquil, and the major towns in-between (it can be from 5-7 hours depending on the company and their stops). You have to take the buses at either city's Interprovincial Bus Terminal .(El Terminal Terrestre.)  The price is around $8
 

Driving from Quito

The distance from Guayaquil is about 125 miles, and from Quito about 200 miles. You can rent cars at the Quito or Guayaquil airport.

Driving directions from Quito to Bahia de Caraquez - Very close to 5 hours driving time from northern edge of Quito. Genreally very good road with not much traffice once out of Quito, but be watchful for speed bumps - especially in populated areas. There are usually warnings and although some are clearly painted yellow and white, others are unpainted and can be hard to see ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT!  There is one 80 cent toll. Dec 2011
    There are two main alternatives - the southern route and the northern route. This describes the northern route, starting at the roundabout at the junction of Av Mariscal Antonio Jose De Sucre/Av De La Prensa, at the northern edge of Quito. Beyond this starting point the route is easy to follow. One way to get to that intersection is by taking Sucre (commonly known as the western ring road, or Camino Occidental, which leads eventually to the Pan Americana Norte) north. That roundabout is crowded and one of the few well marked ones, with signs indicating 'Mitad Del Mundo' and Calacali. Approaching from the west it is the third exit from the roundabout and heads north on Av Manuel Cordova Galarza (Faced with uncertainty one can ask anyone for directions to Mitad del Mundo). 
    Once on Galarza you stay on that road. In about 15 minutes you will pass Mitad del Mundo and begin climbing toward the pass to the northwest. Just beyond the pass you can fill with gasoline to last the rest of the way (although there are plenty of gas stations en route). From Mitad del Mundo it should take you about 2 1/2 hours to where you take a turnoff to the left, not far beond Puerto Quito, leading to Concordia. (If you miss this shortcut you will soon come to a T in the road at Independencia, where you take a left to get to Concordia, 5-10 minutes south, where you will make a right turn to join the road described next). This road leads to one roundabout, where you continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (west) on a good, new, road leading to Pedernales, on the coast. There is only one major junction, about 1/2 hour further, where you curve right to continue toward the coast. From Concordia it is about 1 hour to Pedernales.
    Continue straight into Pedernales until you come to the only signal light. Turn LEFT at that light. From there it is about 1 hour to Bahia de Caraquez. The road is new, wide, concrete. As you approach Bahia you will see its lights across the bay, as well as the lights of its new landmark bridge. Your road will lead directly to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, keep left. The road is one way and curves to the left and you will take the first clear left turn, which doubles back toward the bridge along the waterfront. After passing under the bridge, keep left  take your next imediate left U turn at Dolphin park, 300 meters to go you will pass the Police staition and the next block on the right you will have arrived to your destination, Hotel Bahia B&B.

 

 

Driving from Manta Airport (usually when you rent a car)

Drive out main airport avenue, once you get to the first intersection, there is a roundabout (cars that are on the roundabout have right of way), and take a left (you will be on the Ruta del Spondylus, there are only 2 options left or right). As you took the left, just follow this road straight (you will pass another roundabout in less than a mile, just go straight), and in about 20 minutes you will reach the Portoviejo-Crucita road (only left or right), please take a right for about 3 minutes and then at the gas station take a left and cross the Portoviejo River Valley and reach Rocafuerte (in about 5 minutes) then turn left and after going up a hill in about 1 minutes time, turn left again to the road towards Charapoto (should have sign saying Bahia). Then it is a straight drive all the way to San Jacinto, San Clemente, then thru the Balsamo forest (Las Coronas). It would be probably about 20 minutes or more when you reach a gas station you will see to the right and in front of a small roundabout, where you take a left. From here it will be about 8 kilometers  leading directly to the waterfront Malecon and passing under the bridge. After passing under the bridge, keep left  take your next imediate left U turn at Dolphin park, 300 meters to go you will pass the Police staition and the next block on the right you will have arrived to your destination, Hotel Bahia B&B.

 

The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is largely undiscovered, whalewatching, archaeological sites, great culinary delights await you!