What to see in Ecuador

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is the largest and most populated city in Ecuador and is located on the banks of the Guayas River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean through an estuary called "Estero Salado".

Right in the centre are the famous streets of Clemente Bailén and Chimborazo, where the Seminario Park is located, in which huge and harmless iguanas roam wild. It houses an equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar and in front of the garden area is the Cathedral of Guayaquil, a beautiful neo-Gothic building rebuilt in stone after the great fire.

On the banks of the river, the 2.5 km long Malecón Simón Bolívar, known as the Malecón 2000, allows for peaceful river-side strolls. It is one of the most successful urban projects in America and an icon of the city. Guayaquil locals stroll along the promenade and it is also the departure point for boats that sail down the river to enjoy the local landscapes.

This urban park, full of nature, history, tradition, modernism and beauty, has many tourist attractions such as manicured gardens, artificial lagoons, fountains, viewpoints, quays, squares, museums, cinemas, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, food courts, play areas and historical monuments such as the Hemiciclo de La Rotonda, a monument that commemorates the meeting between Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín; a Clock Tower, 30 meters high, which an octagonal base and a huge Byzantine-style dome that is one of the most famous and photographed buildings in the city; the Palacio de Cristal, a convention and exhibition center located in the Plaza de la Integración, the Obelisk to the Glorious Aurora and the statue of the politician Olmedo.

A few meters from the Malecón 2000 and on the banks of the river on a hill, is the emblematic historic district of Cerro de Santa Ana, a very special neighbourhood with a colonial appearance, narrow cobblestone streets and wooden houses of different colours. Behind the statue of the founder Francisco de Orellana, there are 444 steps that connect the base of the hill with the top in a route that concentrates a variety of restaurants, cafes, art galleries and craft shops. Above you get one of the best views of the city and you can visit the Lighthouse, the Chapel of the Virgin of Mercy and the Naval Museum. At the foot of the hill, Las Peñas neighbourhood is the most iconic of Guayaquil, where we can appreciate the colonial air in its old, elegant and colourful wooden houses with French-style balconies. In its most emblematic street, the narrow paved road Numa Pompilio Llona, art galleries and live music venues permeate the place with a captivating bohemian air. Next to Las Peñas is Puerto Santa Ana with its own Malecon and modern commercial and office buildings.

Travel to Guayaquil to discover the economic centre and feel the constant renewal of Ecuador. Guayaquil is warm, cosmopolitan, colourful, modern and dynamic. It has as been baptised "the Jewel of Ecuador" and “the Pearl of the Pacific".