Puerto Bolivar Port Shuttles

Serving as the main port city for the large Ecuadorian metropolis of Machala, Puerto Bolívar is an especially idyllic way to get to know the multi-faceted mountainside country. Cruise ships arriving to the portside town are likely to dock along Malecon Puerto Bolívar, a scenic waterfront area with a historic pier and close access to the waterfront Malecon street and its many fun snack stands, restaurants and souvenir shops. If not directly docked, smaller boats should be able to tender guests ashore, public transportation is limited to a small network of buses mainly in the downtown area. Get there with ease by having a transfer scheduled ahead of time, considering a private sedan, van or chartered bus to take self-guided tours across not-too-far foothills, or go with one of many meet-and-greet services ranging from chauffeured limousines on the way to upscale restaurants, to basic local personal drivers who share all their favorites.

Especially close to the cruise port are a wide variety of unique waterfront restaurants along the Malecon, beloved restaurants being the colorful seafood at El Nuevo Eden, as well as the similar stylings at Waikiki’s Restaurant & Bar. In terms of finding big-name attractions, much more can be found through Puerto Bolívar’s connected access to the much larger city of Machala. Take Bolivar Madero Vargas Avenue toward downtown Machala to reach such landmarks as Parque Central’s colonial-era plaza with walkways leading toward the Municipal Center for Art and Culture, as well as the palm-lined gardens at Diego Minute Park. Find more details on what there is to do in the are at Machala’s Ministerio de Turismo (Tourism Ministry) along Rocafuerte, finally settling for a simple sunset by watching boats pass from the waterfront beauty of Old Cabotage Dock of Puerto Bolívar.