Pasaje, Ecuador

Capital City

Forget the glossy tourist brochures - Pasaje is a gritty, functional city with little to offer the average expat. According to the 2022 census, this tropical town is home to a population of 60,147, making it the 23rd largest city in Ecuador. As part of the Machala metropolitan area, Pasaje serves as a commuter hub for thousands of workers who travel there daily.

The area's economic lifeblood is the banana industry, but the bureaucracy surrounding trade is a persistent headache. And while the climate is mild, with average temperatures of 25°C, the low elevation of 30 meters above sea level means the tropical heat can be oppressive. Pasaje is a no-frills urban center, best suited for those already entrenched in the local economy or willing to brave the red tape.