Machala, Commercial port city in El Oro Province, Ecuador
Machala is a port city in El Oro Province, southern Ecuador, spreading across flat plains near the Gulf of Guayaquil. Palm-lined avenues run through neighborhoods with commercial buildings, residential blocks and open squares where market stalls and cafés line up side by side.
The settlement began in 1573 as a small outpost and grew slowly over centuries. In the 20th century, banana exports transformed the area into a major port and drew merchants and workers from across the country.
The name comes from an indigenous term meaning "fertile land", a reference locals still mention with pride. Residents gather at public markets where fresh fruit and local produce shape daily routines and set the rhythm of the place.
Buses and taxis connect the center to outlying districts and the coastal area, while public transport runs regularly throughout the day. Main roads are easy to navigate during daylight, though delays can occur during rush hours.
Banana fields nearby reach right up to the city limits and turn the landscape into a sea of green leaves. Early in the morning, trucks carrying freshly cut bunches head toward the port.
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