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.