Manta at first blush looks appealing. After about 3-6 mothns the heat, smell, and the crime gets to you. It is a small Guayaquil ( where NO expats choose to live) and will only get worse with the expansion and expat marinas, condos, and specials . Go see it if you must but DO NOT BUY until there at least a year. Approximately 10 expat couples have tried it recently and moved away to Cuenca, in the Andes, because of the aformentioned items. We live in Ecuador, and have for 3 years. Manta is not the place but nice to visit for a few days at a time. ceviche is great so is the $1 grandes but not for an extended time.Ecuador has other much better choices.