Manta Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Located 420 mi/675 km northeast of Jakarta, Kalimantan is Indonesia's portion of the island of Borneo, which it shares with Brunei and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. Clashes between ethnic groups have taken place in Kalimantan, especially in the central and western portions of the territory, and prospective visitors should be sure to keep abreast of security developments.

The area does not offer much in the way of comfortable tourist accommodations, in sharp contrast to the Malaysian side of the island. Much of the place seems more geared for the logging, mining and oil industries than for travelers. Local ground operators lead group tours along the Mahakam River with stays at tribal longhouses that are up to 600 ft/183 m long and house up to 50 families. The island has 200 Indonesian Dayak ethnic groups living in thatched houses on stilts. Its two national parks, Gunung Palung and Tanjung Puting, are good places to see the rain forest.

We know from experience that Kalimantan is not a good place to run out of insect repellent—be sure to take along plenty. Also, beware of the heat—the air can get steamy and oppressive. As tourism is still fairly new to Kalimantan, English is not widely spoken. Transportation arrangements can also be more difficult than in other areas of Indonesia.

One of the key attractions of Kalimantan is river boat expeditions upriver to visit the orangutan rehabilitation centers near Camp Leakey. These range from single-night visits to weeklong expeditions where you sleep on the boat each night. Besides the orangutans, these trips feature jungle trekking, firefly-lit evening dinners and visits to the Camp Leakey interpretive center. You'll spy hornbills, macaques and proboscis monkeys from the boat, along with crocodiles in the river and the occasional wild boar. Book tours with local guides via email, and be sure to shop around. Prices are not standardized, and getting three offers could mean three very different bids for essentially the same experience.

Overview

Introduction

If you happen to be driving along the central Pacific coast 80 mi/130 km northwest of Guayaquil, a stop in Manta, Ecuador, offers a pleasant few hours.

A busy harbor town, Manta offers the Banco Central Museum (ancient Amerindian artifacts), an artisan market in Plaza Civica, an old wooden church and a picturesque fishing harbor.

The surrounding countryside of Manta has pristine beaches, backed by lush, rolling hills covered in orchards and cotton plantations. The sea has a dangerous undertow there, but the conditions December-April are right for surfing and international windsurfing competitions.

Don't miss Parque del Marisco, which translates as Seafood Park and offers fresh seafood and ceviches from stalls right on the beach at Playa Tarqui.

Nearby Portoviejo offers the museum Casa de la Cultura and botanical gardens.

Location

Shore Excursions

Shore excursions often include a small city tour with a visit to the archaeology museum, but then venture to nearby destinations. Montecristi, 6 mi/11 km west of Manta, is the home of the so-called Panama hat. See how these famous straw hats are made, find out why they were misnamed and browse a showroom for one to take home. Another regional craft is ivory nut carving. The nuts of the Tagua palm resemble ivory and are used to make crafts. Travelers visit ivory nut factories and showrooms for the creations.

For an experience of Ecuador's rich natural environment, take an excursion to the Pacoche Wildlife Reserve, home to more than 250 species of birds and a variety of orchids and other flora. A tour typically includes a craft demonstration with toquilla palm straw being used to make Panama hats and ivory nuts being carved.

From late June to early October, hundreds of humpback whales come to the warmer waters off Ecuador's shores to give birth. During this time, whale-watching is a very popular activity. Manta has some local tours, but Puerto Lopez, the most popular launch point for such a day cruise, is a bus ride south of the city. Excursions there often include a trip to Isla de la Plata (the "poor man's" Galapagos) and Machalilla National Park.