Machala is a city located in south-west Ecuador. It serves as the capital of the El Oro Province and is situated on fertile lowlands near the Gulf of Guayaquil.
As of the 2022 census, Machala has a population of 288,072, making it the sixth-largest city in the country. It is recognized as the second-most important port city in Ecuador after Guayaquil and is frequently referred to as the Banana Capital of the World.