Portoviejo

Portoviejo is in the Coastal Lowlands of Ecuador.

Founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1535 and the capital of Manabi province, Portoviejo is known for its beautiful royal tamarind trees. The city was badly affected during the 2016 earthquake.

There are buses going to Portoviejo from Manta, Quito and Guayaquil.

• La Rotanda Park, ☏ +593 2-370-0250. (updated May 2018)

• 🌍 Crucita Beach. One of Ecuador's best spots for paragliding and kite-surfing. (updated May 2018)

Ecuadorian handicraft made from tagua palm

Portoviejo is famous for kapok mattresses and pillows made from the ceibo seed case and is a good place to buy hammocks. The main street has several stalls selling tagua figures. There is also a large flea market in downtown.

• 🌍 Che Cactus, Avenida Manabi, Sector Los Mangos, ☏ +593 93 999 5954. Rich and meaty Tex-Mex barbecue. (updated May 2018)

• 🌍 Hotel Ceibo Real, Manabi Avenue and Pio Montufar St, ☏ +593 5 263 22 80, ceiboreal@hotmail.com. Staff are bilingual in English and Spanish. Single rooms from $65, double rooms from $95. (updated Dec 2018)