Why Manabí Became Ecuador’s UFO Epicenter

Introduction

The coastal province of Manabí has emerged in Ecuador’s UFO discourse as a focal point for claimed sightings, speculative narratives and local folklore linked to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP or OVNI, Objeto Volador No Identificado). Unlike many accounts scattered across Andean or Amazonian Ecuador, the Manabí reports cluster around specific seaside localities — particularly Crucita, Bahía de Caráquez and Chirije — where civilian witnesses, ufologists and secondary reportage tie unusual lights, aerial objects and even supposed underwater installations to the broader national UFO record. While no independently verified scientific evidence confirms non-human technology in the region, understanding why Manabí has become such a hotspot reveals a mix of anecdote, media diffusion and cultural interpretation within Ecuador’s broader UFO ecosystem. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

Manabí’s Geography and the UFO Narrative

Manabí is a long, low-lying coastal province on Ecuador’s Pacific shore. Its shoreline incorporates popular beaches like Crucita — a tourism and paragliding centre west of Portoviejo — and nearby urban hubs such as Bahía de Caráquez, a maritime city on the Chone River estuary. These communities have robust tourist and fishing economies, with broad horizons over the open sea and coastal skies. [Wikipedia]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.

For proponents of UFO phenomena, this coastal geography is part of Manabí’s appeal in the national imagination: the open ocean and relatively uncluttered nocturnal sky provide a backdrop that makes unusual lights or unidentified objects more easily noticed and shared in local media. Dozens of civilian reports and social‑media posts describe bright, erratic lights over or near the ocean around Bahía de Caráquez and Crucita, often photographed or animated in local news articles. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraOVNI con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de CaráquezOctober 1, 2025…Published: October 1, 2025

Civilian Sightings: Lights, Shapes, and the Coast

Local reportage from 2025 and prior years includes several civilian sightings that have helped sustain Manabí’s reputation as a UFO focal point. In Bahía de Caráquez in mid‑2025, a resident described observing an object with a cigar‑like shape moving erratically in the night sky near the beach, with intermittent intense flashes and apparent size changes over about ten minutes before disappearing into clouds. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraOVNI con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de CaráquezOctober 1, 2025…Published: October 1, 2025

Earlier accounts in the same area describe spherical or erratically moving objects emitting rapid movements and flashes of light in the sky, with witnesses recording unusual motions not readily attributable to conventional aircraft or known meteorological phenomena. These accounts are typically reported in regional news and social media, but like many UFO narratives, they remain personal testimonies without corroborating radar, photographic analysis, or independent verification. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraOVNI con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de CaráquezOctober 1, 2025…Published: October 1, 2025

The recurrence of such local sightings feeds a feedback loop: residents share experiences online and in interviews, which local media amplify, and this, in turn, attracts attention from UFO enthusiasts and ufologists who then frame the area as an observation hotspot.

Pilot and Ufologist Claims: Submarine Structures and Military Testimony

Beyond civilian sightings, more elaborate claims have been advanced by Ecuadorian ufologist Jaime Rodríguez, a longstanding figure in the country’s UFO research community. Rodríguez has repeatedly asserted that a series of reports and “expedientes” linked to the late‑2000s Comisión Ecuatoriana para la Investigación del Fenómeno OVNI (CEIFO) include testimony from military personnel about unusual phenomena off the Manabí coast. [El Universo]eluniverso.comEl UniversoEl ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez dice que en Ecuador ha conocido de al menos 44 casos de avistamientos de ovnis | Internacional | No…

A particularly vivid version of this narrative involves the alleged detection of a “base submarina” — an underwater hangar or structure of non‑human origin — purportedly observed some 50 nautical miles off Crucita. Rodríguez attributes the account to a high‑ranking naval official’s sonar readings during submarine operations, and to documents he claims were among the 44 cases the commission investigated before its activities waned around 2007. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

In interviews circulating in 2026, Rodríguez has extrapolated this into a broader hypothesis: that the coastal zone near Manabí is monitored by foreign forces, satellites and local military installations — not merely for typical defence purposes but, in his framing, to observe or control these alleged non‑human phenomena. This has been repeated in multiple local news stories, though often with caveats noting a lack of independently verified documentation. [El Diario]eldiario.ecEl Diario Revelaciones de ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez sobre CrucitaEl DiarioRevelaciones de ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez sobre CrucitaFebruary 27, 2026…Published: February 27, 2026

Importantly, Ecuador’s own formal references to CEIFO in Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana records do acknowledge the commission’s existence and mandate but do not confirm specifics of such structures or extraterrestrial explanations; rather, they contextualise CEIFO as a body formed to compile reports of unidentified objects without asserting origin. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

Chirije, Tourism, and Local Memory

The small coastal area of Chirije, near Bahía de Caráquez, has occasionally surfaced in UFO discourse as part of the local tourism narrative. Articles and discussions mention “tourism OVNI” in the context of beachside observation spots where visitors might watch unusual aerial lights or participate in UFO‑themed events. These descriptions often blend local folklore with scenic coastal appeal, and attract interest from enthusiasts projecting meaning onto the geographic setting rather than from scientific observation campaigns. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

The persistence of such narratives — sightings, speculative military links, divergent testimonies — has given Manabí a distinct position within Ecuador’s UFO culture. Even so, expert voices emphasise that conventional explanations (atmospheric phenomena, human‑made craft, observational error) remain much more parsimonious absent robust physical evidence.

Evaluating the Evidence: What Is and Isn’t Substantiated

When assessing Manabí’s status as Ecuador’s “UFO hotspot,” it’s crucial to separate levels of claim versus verification:

• Civilian reports of lights and unusual objects are genuine in the sense that people observed something they could not immediately identify; these contribute to a local pattern of sightings without implying any particular cause. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraOVNI con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de CaráquezOctober 1, 2025…Published: October 1, 2025
• Ufologist narratives such as Rodríguez’s submarine hangar hypothesis are widely circulated in regional media and social platforms but are not supported by publicly accessible official documentation or technical analysis. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026
• Official archival context shows that Ecuador did have a commission (CEIFO) that gathered numbered reports and testimonies about unidentified aerial phenomena, but these records do not equate to confirmation of extraterrestrial technology, and details remain limited in scope and release. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

Thus, Manabí’s reputation in the UFO domain reflects a blend of compelling local anecdotes and speculative interpretation, rather than a verified catalogue of unexplained or extraterrestrial phenomena.

Legacy and Public Interest

The ongoing interest in UFO phenomena around Manabí speaks to broader patterns in how communities engage with unexplained observation. Coastal skies and open horizons, combined with memorable local stories and media amplification, create fertile ground for sustained attention. Whether as a subject of curious tourism or as a node in Ecuador’s UFO cultural map, Manabí illustrates how specific places can become emblematic — not through confirmed evidence of non-human presence, but through the persistent intersection of witness accounts, local identity and speculative narrative. [El Telégrafo]eltelegrafo.com.ecEl TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026…Published: February 19, 2026

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Further Reading

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Endnotes

1. Source: Wikipedia
   Link: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucita

2. Source: Wikipedia
   Title: Bahía de Caráquez
   Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%ADa_de_Car%C3%A1quez

3. Source: extra.ec
   Link: https://www.extra.ec/noticia/ecuador/ovni-con-forma-de-cigarrillo-aparece-en-el-cielo-de-bahia-de-caraquez-137984.html
   Source snippet

   Diario ExtraOVNI con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de CaráquezOctober 1, 2025...

   Published: October 1, 2025

4. Source: extra.ec
   Title: Diario Extra Enigmas: Ovni apareció en Bahía de Caráquez
   Link: https://www.extra.ec/noticia/actualidad/enigmas-ovni-aparece-bahia-caraquez-85405.html
   Source snippet

   Diario ExtraEnigmas: Ovni apareció en Bahía de CaráquezMay 24, 2023...

   Published: May 24, 2023

5. Source: eltelegrafo.com.ec
   Link: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/tendencias/213/crucita-vuelve-debate-ovni-base-submarina-manabi
   Source snippet

   El TelégrafoEl Telégrafo - Crucita vuelve al debate OVNI: versión de “base submarina” reaviva la polémica en ManabíFebruary 19, 2026...

   Published: February 19, 2026

6. Source: eluniverso.com
   Link: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/internacional/el-ufologo-jaime-rodriguez-dice-que-en-ecuador-ha-conocido-de-al-menos-44-casos-de-avistamientos-de-ovnis-nota//
   Source snippet

   El UniversoEl ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez dice que en Ecuador ha conocido de al menos 44 casos de avistamientos de ovnis | Internacional | No...

7. Source: eldiario.ec
   Title: El Diario Revelaciones de ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez sobre Crucita
   Link: https://www.eldiario.ec/ecuador/existe-una-base-extraterrestre-submarina-frente-a-las-costas-de-crucita-el-ufologo-jaime-rodriguez-revelo-detalles-sobre-la-provincia-de-manabi-27022026/
   Source snippet

   El DiarioRevelaciones de ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez sobre CrucitaFebruary 27, 2026...

   Published: February 27, 2026

8. Source: eldiario.ec
   Title: Jaime Rodríguez y su hipótesis sobre OVNI en Crucita
   Link: https://www.eldiario.ec/portoviejo/investigador-ecuatoriano-jaime-rodriguez-retoma-antigua-hipotesis-sobre-presencia-extraterrestre-frente-a-crucita-portoviejo-18022026/
   Source snippet

   February 18, 2026 — Portoviejo Sociedad INVESTIGADOR ECUATORIANO JAIME RODRÍGUEZ RETOMA ANTIGUA HIPÓTESIS SOBRE PRESENCIA EXTRATERRESTRE...

   Published: February 18, 2026

9. Source: eldiario.ec
   Title: Ufólogo dice que hay base OVNI submarina frente a Crucita
   Link: https://www.eldiario.ec/portoviejo/investigador-afirma-existencia-de-base-ovni-submarina-frente-a-crucita-portoviejo-17022026/
   Source snippet

   February 17, 2026 — INVESTIGADOR AFIRMA EXISTENCIA DE BASE OVNI SUBMARINA FRENTE A CRUCITA, PORTOVIEJO ARCHIVOS ATRIBUIDOS A CEIFO Y VERS...

   Published: February 17, 2026

10. Source: sisepuedeecuador.com
    Title: Crucita la Bella
    Link: https://www.sisepuedeecuador.com/crucita-la-bella-manabi/
    Source snippet

    Manabí - Si Se Puede EcuadorOctober 12, 2020 — CRUCITA LA BELLA – MANABÍ Last updated: octubre 12, 2020 5:45 pm Redacción Published octub...

    Published: October 12, 2020

Additional References

1. Source: radiocentro.com.ec
   Link: https://radiocentro.com.ec/ufologo-ecuatoriano-afirma-que-hay-una-base-submarina-extraterrestre-en-manabi/
   Source snippet

   El experto afirma que un alto oficial le confirmó el dato.February 18, 2026 — ECUADOR: MAYO 6, 2026 Ecuador, mayo 06, 2026 Ecuador Contin...

   Published: February 18, 2026

2. Source: informatemanabi.com
   Link: https://informatemanabi.com/%E2%9D%96-manabi-%E2%96%AEreavivan-debate-ovni-en-manabi-por-version-de-base-submarina-frente-a-crucita/
   Source snippet

   Infórmate Manabí Periodismo DigitalFebruary 18, 2026 — ❖ MANABÍ ▮REAVIVAN DEBATE OVNI EN MANABÍ POR VERSIÓN DE “BASE SUBMARINA” FRENTE A...

   Published: February 18, 2026

3. Source: elmercuriomanta.ec
   Title: ovni con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de bahia de caraquez
   Link: https://elmercuriomanta.ec/index.php/2025/10/02/ovni-con-forma-de-cigarrillo-aparece-en-el-cielo-de-bahia-de-caraquez/
   Source snippet

   Ovni con forma de cigarrillo aparece en el cielo de Bahía de Caráquez – EL MERCURIOOctober 2, 2025 — Image OVNI CON FORMA DE CIGARRILLO A...

   Published: October 2, 2025

4. Source: larepublica.ec
   Title: la historia desclasificada de base ovni en manabi
   Link: https://www.larepublica.ec/blog/2018/02/09/la-historia-desclasificada-de-base-ovni-en-manabi/
   Source snippet

   La historia desclasificada de la base OVNI en Manabí | La República ECFebruary 9, 2018 — LA HISTORIA DESCLASIFICADA DE LA «BASE OVNI» EN...

   Published: February 9, 2018

5. Source: youtube.com
   Title: Ufologist Jaime Rodriguez: The Secret of UFOs and the CIA
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrDNxRhut0
   Source snippet

   ECUADOR DECLASSIFIED! Military and Pilots Saw UFOs and Extraterrestrials is highly relevant because it features a dedicated breakdown of...

6. Source: goraymi.com
   Title: Crucita CRUCIT A Crucita
   Link: https://www.goraymi.com/en-ec/manabi/portoviejo/playas/crucita-ahjudwyrt
   Source snippet

   CrucitaCRUCITA Crucita - Manabí, is considered one of the best places to practice hang gliding and paragliding sports, so international c...

7. Source: youtube.com
   Title: ECUADOR DECLASSIFIED! Military and Pilots Saw UFOs and Extraterrestrials
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybx6KNyYK5Q
   Source snippet

   Real Cases of Extraterrestrial Contact in Ecuador...

8. Source: youtube.com
   Title: UFO Casebook | Dossier Ecuador | S1E10
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcCgUhOMTk
   Source snippet

   Ufologist Jaime Rodriguez: The Secret of UFOs and the CIA...

9. Source: youtube.com
   Title: UFOs IN ECUADOR / The CEIFO
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrNO4NZQITk
   Source snippet

   ECUADOR DECLASSIFIED! Military and Pilots Saw UFOs and Extraterrestrials...

10. Source: youtube.com
    Title: Real Cases of Extraterrestrial Contact in Ecuador
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x4WHJo84Io
    Source snippet

    UFO Casebook | Dossier Ecuador | S1E10...