What do people like (and dislike) about Machala?

"it is a nice walking city because there are NO hills and lots to see. Ocean and beaches near by, weather is very consistent, very few insects and the people are great. There is no airport nearby, closest is in Guayaquill, therefore i met very few expats in my daily life. The city, pop of 250k+-, is very clean," said a member in Machala, Ecuador.

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With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!

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Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!
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"I've lived here in Machala for over 10 years and although I'm very happy here, I'll be the first to say that it's not everyone's cup of tea. City services are surprisingly efficient and the cost of living - even for a growing city - is much more affordable than in a tourist destination city like Cuenca, or ex-pat meccas like Vilcabamba or Salinas. On the negative side ( depending on your expectations ) Machala is NOT a tourist destination. It is the second-largest port city in Ecuador and is a distinct blend of working-class and executive middle class people. Crime is high - particularly in and around the port area ( Puerto Bolívar ) and other less salubrious areas of the city but less rampant than in most U.S. cities this size ( 250,000+ est. pop. ). There's no conclave of English-speaking residents. A "working" knowledge of Spanish is really a must. No beach in this coastal city but there are a couple of Islas that you can boat-taxi out to if you want to spend a day at the beach and plenty of river "beaches" a short drive from the city center. The people here are hard-working, friendly, open, and for the most part very honest folks. They are always willing to help and once befriended, they'll be friends for life. All of us here are rich but none of us has any money," remarked another expat who made the move to Machala, Ecuador.