GUAYAQUIL

Set along the chocolate-brown Guayas River on the flat coastal plains of Ecuador is the city of Guayaquil. It is the largest shipping port on the Pacific Coast of South America, handling 80% of Ecuador's imports and 50% of its exports including shrimp, bananas, cocoa and coffee.

Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador with a population near 3 million and is home to one of the country's two international airports, the . Though it has always had a strong economy and plenty of nightlife, due to a series of fires it does not have the same cultural heritage as Quito or Cuenca. It has a lively population and a number of attractions that can make your day in Guayaquil worthwhile.

Many flights between Quito and the Galapagos have a short stop there, as do flights to many other international destinations.

Travelers with heart conditions or other problems aggravated by high elevations may consider flying in and out of Guayaquil rather than Quito. Its elevation, at sea level, is much easier on the body.

Discover a perfect day visiting Guayaquil in our blog The Best of Guayaquil

History of Guayaquil

Sebastian de Benalcazar found a city in the current location of Guayaquil in 1534. This city named "Santiago" suffered from several fires and was rebuilt multiple times. On July 25, 1537 Francisco de Orellana (of Amazon fame) founded the city for the final time at the Cerrito Verde (today known as Las Penas) beside the Guayas River. He named his new city The Very Nobel and Very Loyal City of Santiago of Guayaquil.

Legend says that the name comes from the Indian Prince and Princess who had lived in the region. When their beloved city fell under siege and they knew the battle was lost, rather than see the city surrender they committed suicide, his name "Guayas" and hers "Quil".

During Spanish rule, life was not easy in Guayaquil. The lack of fresh drinking water caused serious problems as did frequent pirate raids. There were plagues, floods, and more fires burning down most of the original city. The strong Guayaquilenos struggled and eventually built a prosperous city. Business boomed along the coast with ship building and agriculture. From early times the economics and politics of Ecuador split between the two cities Quito, conservative Hacienda owners, and Guayaquil, liberal business owners.

On October 9, 1820, Guayaquil declared independence from Spain becoming an independent state. Having gained their own freedom Guayaquil then sent their army east to free the rest of Ecuador.

Guayaquil Sites

Due to its history of fires and pirate raids, Guayaquil does not have the historic buildings as seen in Quito or Cuenca. Most of the city's main attractions are located near the Guayas River and can all be easily visited in a day.

Parque de Iguanas - Parque Seminario

Located in downtown Guayaquil in front of the Cathedral and the Grand Hotel is the Seminario Park better known as the parque de iguanas. Within the park is a statue of Bolivar, grass and fountains but the main attraction are the hundreds of green iguanas found here.

Iguanas can be seen in the trees, on benches lying on the grass and surrounding people who are willing to feed them. The park is free to enter and getting your picture taken with these large iguanas is a must in Guayaquil.

Malecon 2000

The Malecon 2000 is the crown jewel of Guayaquil and a major influence in the regeneration the city has seen over the last decade. The Malecon 2000 reclaimed 1.5 miles of riverfront for recreational usage. It is now a lovely pedestrian walkway with stores, shops, small gardens, monuments, a museum and an IMAX theatre. It is a favorite destination for both visitors and locals.

The Botanical Gardens are spectacular.  An island of calm in the middle of downtown Guayaquil the Botanical Gardens has over 320 colorful native plants from the coastal region of Ecuador. As an added bonus there are more than 70 bird species, many of them tropical and 60 butterfly species seen in the gardens.

Las Penas

Las Penas is Guayaquil's oldest neighborhood originally built during the mid 17th century the area retains its colonial flavor with small colorful wooden houses, winding streets and small plazas. Built on Santa Ana Hill many of the old houses have been restored and turned into small cafes and art galleries. To visit Las Penas a steep staircase made up of 444 steps (which have been numbered) leads you up the hill. The stairway is intersected by cobblestone paths or streets where you can  stop and see the buildings up close.

Las Penas has been one of Guayaquil's most important neighborhood for centuries. Las Penas has been home to presidents, musicians, historians, artists, captains of industry, housewives and fisherman. With a particular architectural style with narrow streets the houses near the river depict the early days of Ecuador with two fronts one for access from the street and the other for access from the river. The Planchada, Plaza de Colon and Santo Domingo church are excellent displays of Guayaquil's history.

Parque Historical

Also known as the Malecon 1900 the Parque Historical combines a historical area which recreates Guayaquil from the early 1900s, a wildlife park and an area celebrating the traditions and customs of coastal Ecuador.

The Historical Park is 8 hectares surround by a variety of trees on the Daule River. On weekends the park becomes lively with music and people dressed in traditional costume helping to recreate the era.

Handicraft Shopping

The largest artisan market is located in the middle of Loja Street, Juan Montalvo and Cordova and Chimborazo - The Mercado Artesanal. Stocked full of handicrafts from all over Ecuador the Mercado Artesanal has well priced paintings, jewelry and local crafts.

Within the 280 colorful stalls, displaying a variety of beautiful handicrafts from all over Ecuador at reasonable prices; the sales booths are attended directly by the artisans. You will find pottery, leather goods, jewelry, and paintings among other crafts. The Chamber of Artisans of the Guayas province together with the City Hall developed this cooperative project offering the artisans a place for their shops, exhibits and selling their crafts as well as creating a new shopping experience for visitors. The market is complete with music and private guards employed by the Chamber of Tourism.

Recommended Hotels in Guayaquil

There are a number of hotels in Guayaquil. Most of the properties are geared towards business travelers or a combination of tourism and business travelers. We recommend the following hotels in Guayaquil:

Hilton Colon - Located approximately 5 minutes from the airport the nicest hotel in Guayaquil with several restaurants, a spa, beautiful swimming pool and attached shopping arcade it is the most complete of Guayaquil's hotel offerings.

Sheraton Four Points - Located near the airport across from the Mall de Sol the Sheraton offers good service and a good location.

Howard Johnson Guayaquil - Located next to the Sheraton the Howard Johnson is convenient to the airport and offers a good hotel experience for the price.