Babahoyo, Ecuador

Capital City

With a population of 98,251, Babahoyo is one of Ecuador's largest cities, but it's no vacation destination. The city's strategic location as a commercial hub between the coast and mountains means constant traffic - over 25,000 vehicles pass through daily. And the hot, humid climate takes its toll, with frequent winter flooding that can paralyze the city.

The bureaucracy here is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the bizarre 2023 case of a woman declared dead who woke up in her coffin. But for those undaunted by the challenges, Babahoyo offers economic opportunities, as the center of the region's agricultural trade in crops like rice, bananas, and sugarcane. This gritty industrial hub is best suited for hardened expats seeking a lucrative foothold, not those in search of a scenic tropical retreat.