Manta

A onetime sleepy fishing village with an unsuccessful history of warding off pirates, Manta today booms with all the hustle and bustle of a medium-sized city. Ecuador's second-largest seaport's newest incarnation is that of a port of call, with ships of Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, and Royal Caribbean stopping here on select South America itineraries during the December-April season. Organized shore excursions take you shopping in nearby Montecristi, or via a flight to Quito, then overland to the markets in Otavalo.