Excursion Historical montecristi by chivas tour at Manta

Experience picturesque Montecristi, Ciudad Alfaro Memorial Museum and the first Ecuadorian railroad´s story, it all on board a unique and fun new way during this memorable, half-day sightseeing excursion by Chivas bus. A private Panama hat weaving demonstration included.

Chivas Bus   

Depart the pier aboard a Chivas bus for scenic, approximately 60-minute ride to Montecristi and Ciudad Alfaro Memorial Museum. Montecristi is wide known as home of toquilla straw hats, or 'Panama' hats. En route, a local band rides atop one of the brightly-painted Chivas buses, the most important means of transportation used by the local people.

Ciudad Alfaro

It´s a cultural symbolic park with Historical and Ethnographic museums, created in homage to the greatest national and Latin American historical hero, General Eloy Alfaro Delgado (1895 - 1912). The complex is located on the slopes of the Montecristi's hill at about 240 meters above sea level, from which we will have beautiful a view of town and the coastal bandage over the horizon.

But Ciudad Alfaro is more than a Memorial Museum. In fact, it was built up to preserve Eloy Alfaro´s most iconic and unprecedent work that still endures over time, the first Ecuadorian railroad, carried out during the early 1900´s.

You will find a classic engine and a telling story of the Devil´s Nose Pass, one of the most unique train routes in the world, and certainly one of the best known in South America. While constructing the Quito-Guayaquil train line in the early 20th Century, the engineers were faced with a major obstacle - The Andes. With no clear path into and out of the forbidding range, the engineers finally decided to tackle the problem head on. They created a series of switchbacks that allow the train to navigate a 45-degree rock slope while descending over 2,600 feet. It´s one of the most spectacular journeys through one of Ecuador's most scenic landscapes.

Panama Hat Waving Demonstration

Next, have a glance of the Panama hat weaving demonstration, recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Reboard the Chiva bus to return to the quayside.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Manta, Chivas Bus-Ride, Montecristi, Central Square, Shops, Ciudad Alfaro, Hat Waving demonstration

Note

Please note: This tour involves a minimal amount of walking for approximately 219 yards (about 200 metres), with a high step to negotiate to get on/off the Chivas bus and five steps at the sites visited. The Chivas bus has wooden seats and is air-cooled. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing, flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended.