Machala is a city in south-west Ecuador, capital of the El Oro Province. It is located near the Gulf of Guayaquil, on fertile lowlands. It has a population of 216,901. Machala claims to be the "Banana Capital of the World".

History and Culture
Machala is a commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural industries. There is a large trade in bananas, coffee and coca. The banana industry especially is orientated to exportation, and plays a huge role in the city's economy. It houses a university and serves as a stopping-off point on the way to nearby Puerto Bolívar and the Jambeli Islands.

Getting there
There is a small airport about 1km from downtown. It has flights to and from Guayaquil and Quito. There are also buses from Guayaquil, Piñas, Zamura, Santo Domingo, Cuenca and Quito.