A major cacao-producing province around the Guayas River basin and the port of Guayaquil, historically the gathering and export point for 'Arriba' cacao and today one of Ecuador's top producing provinces.
Country
Ecuador
Region
Guayas (Guayaquil basin)
Growing region
Americas
Coordinates
-2.20°, -79.90° (approx.)
Elevation
0-200 m
Producer
regional
Genetic groups
Nacional, admixture
Traditional class
mixed
Bean notes
Variable cotyledon colour; both Nacional and a large share of CCN-51-type hybrid material.
Harvest season
main Mar-Jun; smaller crop Oct-Feb
Fermentation
Box fermentation at farm and collection-centre level, roughly 3-5 days.
Drying
Sun-dried on patios and platforms.
Flavour
cocoa · nutty · mild fruit · earthy
Updated
2026-05-22
Sources
Actores Productivos — Los Ríos, Guayas y Manabí lideran la producción de cacao en Ecuador, https://actoresproductivos.com/los-rios-guayas-y-manabi-lideran-la-produccion-de-cacao-en-ecuador/
Factores productivos de la producción de cacao nacional de la Provincia del Guayas, Revista Espirales, https://www.redalyc.org/journal/5732/573263330009/html/