Transportation in Machala offer visitor with the option of a bus and ferry service. This laid back town in Ecuador enjoys the facilities of good bus and ferry transport. Transportation in Machala is also very economical and frequent.
The city of Machala does not have a major bus station. However, the major bus companies of the city have their own small stations. They are all located in the center of town. Each company has a well defined route which covers a certain area of the town. To get to Guayaquil one has to take either Rutas Orenas, located at 9 de Octubre and Tarqui, or Ecuatoriano Pullman, located at Colon and 9 de Octubre. To get to Quito you must avail Panamericana, located at Colon and Bolivar, or Occidental, located at Sucre and Olmedo. To get to the other areas of Ecuador, you first need to reach a major city and then avail a connecting bus.
Most bus and truck owners and drivers belong to cooperatives. The cooperatives set uniform rates. Machala is directly linked to very few cities in the country. Though bus travel in Machala is inexpensive it is often crowded and plagued by frequent vehicle breakdowns.
The country has a well-developed coastal shipping system. It widely uses some rivers, particularly the waterways of the Guayas Basin. Small canoes and vessels are used. Competition from highways has diminished waterborne traffic. However riverboats continue to ply traditional routes providing access to towns and farming areas not reached by roads. Machala is no exception to this rule. Waterways link the town with other coastal areas of Ecuador namely the archipelago of Jambeli.
The port of Puerto Bolivar near Machala is wherefrom ferry services to coastal areas can be availed. It is located some 7 kilometers from Machala. Travelers are also offered motorized boat services.
Boats leave for the nearby destinations at regular intervals. The boats return one hour later. The frequency of services increases on weekends. The usual charge is $2 per person. A chartered boat with a capacity of 18 people can be availed at a price of US$10.00. From Machala, one can travel by boat to Playas Bravita and even Costa Rica.
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