Vinces, city of Los Ríos Province, Ecuador
Vinces is a small city in Los Ríos province, Ecuador, built along a river that shapes daily life here. The town spreads out with simple houses and quiet streets, surrounded by fields growing cacao and bananas, while the large Abras de Mantequilla wetland with its lakes and forests lies nearby.
Vinces was founded on June 14, 1845, when the government gave it official city status. Originally part of Guayas province, it became part of Los Ríos province in 1860.
Vinces earned the nickname 'Little Paris' when wealthy landowners sent their children to study in France, and they returned with European styles and habits that shaped the town. You can still see this influence today in the town center, where a small Eiffel Tower replica stands as a reminder of this connection.
When visiting Vinces, wear comfortable clothing since the climate is warm and humid with rain in certain months. The river and wetland are best explored on foot or with local boats, and it helps to plan travel using local bus routes to nearby cities like Guayaquil or Babahoyo.
One of the oldest and most important water sports competitions takes place here: an international motorboat race that starts in Guayaquil and ends in Vinces, considered the longest of its kind in the world. Nearby, the Abras de Mantequilla wetland, one of the largest in the country, offers visitors the chance to spot monkeys, frogs, iguanas, and many bird species.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
