Bahía de Caráquez

Getting there & away

The newbus terminal is at the far southern end of the Malecón. From there Coactur (269 0014) has buses to Portoviejo ($1.50, 1½ hours) hourly from 4am to 8pm; some continue to Manta ($2.90, two hours) and Guayaquil ($4.50, six hours). Reina del Camino (269 0636) offers two classes of service – regular and ejecutivo(1st class) – to Quito ($9, eight hours) and Guayaquil ($7, seven hours). The company also serves Ambato ($9, nine hours) and Santo Domingo ($4, four hours). Buses to local towns such as Chone are often rancheras and they leave from various places in town.

To Canoa and points north, cross the river to San Vicente. The passenger and car-ferry docks are on the eastern side of town, off Malecón Santos.