View source for Machala

{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Machala
| nickname                        = Banana Capital of the World
| image_flag                      = Machala Flag.svg
| image_seal                      =
| settlement_type                 =
City
| total_type                      = City
| map_caption                     = Location of Machala in Ecuador
| image_skyline                   = Collage Machala.png
| imagesize                       = 300px
| image_caption                   = '''From top, left to right:''' Juan Montalvo Central Park, Bolivar Port, [[Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, Machala|Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral]], monument to Juan Montalvo in front of the City hall of Machala, monument to the Bananero, monument to the founding of UTMACH, Columbus Square and Municipalidad street.
| pushpin_map                     = Ecuador
| coordinates                     = {{coord|3|16|S|79|58|W|region:EC|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{Flag|Ecuador}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Ecuador|Province]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Cantons of Ecuador|Canton]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[El Oro Province|El Oro]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Machala Canton|Machala]]
| established_title               = Founded
| established_date                = 1573
| elevation_m                     = 6
| area_total_km2                  = 42.91
| population_demonym              = Machaleño / a
| population_density_km2          = auto
| area_code                       = (+593) 7
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Dario Macas Salvatierra
| population_footnotes            = <ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/ecuador/towns/el_oro/070150__machala/ Citypopulation.de] Population and area of Machala</ref>
| population_as_of                = 2022 census
| population_metro                = 
|population_rank = [[List of cities in Ecuador|5th]] in Ecuador
| population_total                = 288072
| timezone                        = [[Ecuador Time|ECT]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| website                         = [http://www.machala.gob.ec www.machala.gob.ec] {{in lang|es}}|
}}
'''Machala''' ({{IPA|es|maˈtʃala}}) is a city in south-west [[Ecuador]]. It is the capital of the [[El Oro Province]], and is located near the [[Gulf of Guayaquil]] on [[fertility (soil)|fertile]] [[lowland]]s. Machala has a [[population]] of 288,072 (2022 census); it is the sixth-biggest city in the country, and the second-most important port. It has been referred to as the '''''Banana Capital of the World''.'''

==Economy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Machala is a commercial center for the surrounding [[agriculture]] industries. There is a large trade in [[banana]]s, [[coffee]] and [[Cocoa bean|cocoa]]. The banana industry is especially oriented for exportation, and plays a huge role in the city's economy. Bananas are shipped out from nearby [[Puerto Bolívar]] mainly to North America. Machala's geographical position near [[Guayaquil]] also makes it an important transportation center. Many travelers heading south to Peru or north to Guayaquil funnel through the city. It is not known as a tourist destination among Ecuadorians or international tourists, though its proximity to the [[Pacific Ocean]] positions it close to beaches. Machala has a growing economy that was marked in 2007 by the inauguration of its first mall, with a movie theater, on the outskirts of the city.

==Orientation==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
The center of Machala is dominated by a large Catholic church and a central plaza. The plaza was built in the early 2000s to include a large fountain. There are many hotels situated in the center of the city. Las Brisas, located nearly a mile from the central plaza, is another popular place in Machala; it is a wealthier neighborhood which used to serve as a popular hangout for local teenagers. But the remodeling of La Zona Rosa, as well as the decreased safety of the area, have led to its becoming less popular.

==Education==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Machala has one university, the Universidad Técnica de Machala. There are many private schools in Machala and one public high school – Colegio 9 de Octubre. The city serves as a stopping-off point on the way to nearby [[Puerto Bolívar]] and the [[Jambelí Islands]], which can only be reached by ferry.

==Climate==
Machala features a [[semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh''). Like most of the coastal region of Ecuador, there is a short [[wet season]] from January to April due to the retreat of the [[Humboldt Current]]. The weather in both wet and [[dry season]]s is very warm to hot and cloudy due to persistent fog from the cold current.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Machala ([[General Manuel Serrano Airport]]), elevation {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1971–2000)
|Jan high C = 30.9
|Feb high C = 31.2
|Mar high C = 31.5
|Apr high C = 31.4
|May high C = 30.2
|Jun high C = 28.3
|Jul high C = 27.1
|Aug high C = 26.9
|Sep high C = 27.1
|Oct high C = 27.2
|Nov high C = 28.3
|Dec high C = 30.1
| year high C = 
|Jan low C = 22.8
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 23.0
|Apr low C = 23.4
|May low C = 22.9
|Jun low C = 21.8
|Jul low C = 20.8
|Aug low C = 20.3
|Sep low C = 20.3
|Oct low C = 20.6
|Nov low C = 20.7
|Dec low C = 21.9
| year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 63.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 100.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 117.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 59.0
|May precipitation mm = 18.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 13.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 11.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 9.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 8.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 13.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 11.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 16.0
|year precipitation mm = 
| Jan humidity = 81
| Feb humidity = 81
| Mar humidity = 80
| Apr humidity = 83
| May humidity = 83
| Jun humidity = 86
| Jul humidity = 86
| Aug humidity = 86
| Sep humidity = 86
| Oct humidity = 85
| Nov humidity = 83
| Dec humidity = 81
| year humidity =
| source 1 = FAO<ref name=FAO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.fao.org/land-water/databases-and-software/climwat-for-cropwat/en/
| title = CLIMWAT climatic database
| publisher= Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations
| access-date = 20 June 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Transportation==
===Air===

[[Santa Rosa International Airport]] {{airport codes|ETR|SERO}} serves as the city's principal airport. It hosts commercial flights to [[Quito]] with the Ecuadorian airline [[TAME]].

==Notable residents==

* [[Gabriel Achilier]] (born 1985), footballer<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://lahora.com.ec/noticia/1102023564/fallece-esposa-de--gabriel-achilier |title=Fallece esposa de Gabriel Achilier |trans-title=Gabriel Achilier's Wife Dies |work=[[La Hora]] |language=Spanish |date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Jordy Caicedo]] (born 1997), footballer
* [[Gilberto Chamba]], serial killer
* [[Fausto Tutu Guzman]] (born 1944), great Basketball player and Pajero Professional
* [[Nicolás Asencio]] (born 1975), footballer
* [[Juan Carlos Espinoza Mercado]] (born 1987), footballer
* [[Ángel Fernández]] (born 1971), footballer
* [[Luis Miguel Garcés]] (born 1982), footballer
* [[Hólger Matamoros]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Carlos Muñoz (Ecuadorian footballer)|Carlos Muñoz]] (1964–1993), footballer
* [[Ismael Pérez Pazmiño]] (1876–1944), journalist and politician<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diccionariobiograficoecuador.com/tomos/tomo2/p4.htm |title=Ismael Pérez Pazmiño |website=diccionariobiograficoecuador.com |language=Spanish |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Ángel Pután]] (born 1986), footballer
* [[Tania Tinoco]] (born 1963), journalist and television producer<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.eluniverso.com/2003/08/31/0001/262/E878E843851F448597E72C86D5B278FA.html |title=Tania Tinoco: Mi familia es lo primero |trans-title=Tania Tinoco: My Family Comes First |last=Pezo |first=Claudia |work=[[El Universo]] |language=Spanish |date=August 31, 2003 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.orenses.net Orenses - El Oro - Machala - Ecuador / Comunidad Virtual de la Provincia de El Oro] News about Machala in [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101020215400/http://chat.orenses.net/ Chat Orenses - El Oro - Machala - Ecuador] Chat Orenses - El Oro - Machala - Ecuador
*[http://www.ecuadorrealestate.org/ Investor info for Ecuador and Machala]
*[http://www.utmachala.edu.ec/ Universidad Technica de Machala]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081023031029/http://mundomachala.com/ Sitio informativo de la Capital Bananera del Mundo]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110820011753/http://ecuador.travel/en/ecuador-travel-guide/southern-coast/southtern-coast-destinations-and-attractions/machala.html Ecuador, Travel in Machala]
{{Coord|3|16|S|79|58|W|region:EC_type:city(230000)|display=title}}

{{Province capitals in Ecuador}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Machala| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in El Oro Province]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Port cities in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in Ecuador]]
[[Category:1573 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]