The objectives of the Manteño expedition are to (a) create the most authentic balsa raft possible, using only traditional technology (e.g. no metal, plastic or other non-traditional technologies or materials), (b) examine the 2,000-mile ancient Manteño trade route between Ecuador and Western Mexico, making landfalls along the way and surveying natural, logical stopping points for archaeological traces and (c) gain a better understanding of the performance of the Manteño balsa raft in the dangerous situation of sailing close to shore. \n\nExpedition Site\n