Guayaquil Gateway to Pacific Beaches

Ecuador is a country on the equator on the west coast of South America. The country has a diverse landscape including the Amazon jungle, the Andean highlands, and the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Guayaquil is a port city that is known as a gateway to Pacific beaches and the Galapagos Islands.

Museo Antropologico y de Arte Contemporaneo at the end of the riverfront you’ll find the modern MAAC. This is a museum of anthropology and archeology with a great fantastic permanent collection of pre-Colombian pieces and videos that let people take a look at the artistic techniques of early people. Changing exhibitions display artwork by contemporary Ecuadorian artists. There is also a modern 350-seat theater for plays, concerts, and films.

Malecon 2000 is an urban renewal project that is made up of monuments, playgrounds, sculptures, gardens, and river views. It stretches for 2.5 km along the shore of the wide Rio Guayas. This is a gated and policed public space that has restaurants, a museum, a performance space, an IMAX movie theater, and a shopping mall.

Numa Pompilio Llona is a historic street named after a well-known Guayaquil poet It begins at the northern end of the Malecon, toward the right of the stairs heading up Cerro Santa Ana. It is a lovely, narrow, winding street. On some of the houses, you’ll see plaques set into the walls indicating the residences of past presidents. This is home to some artists and there are art galleries and craft shops. Walking along the street you’ll eventually come to the river.

Cerro Santa Ana is a hillside enclave that has brightly painted homes, cafes, bars, and souvenir shops. Just go along the winding path and up the 444 steps to reach the hilltop Fortin del Cerro. The cannons that were once used to protect Guayaquil from pirates are still fired today during celebrations.

Fortin del Cerro the hilltop fort was a critical point for defending the city.

Climb the spiral staircase inside the lighthouse to get awesome 360-degree views of the city and rivers.

Parque Historico Guayaquil is located right across the Puente Rafael Mendoza Aviles Bridge.

It is divided into three zones – the Endangered Wildlife Zone with 45 species of birds, animals, and reptiles, the Urban Architecture Zone which showcases the development of early 20th-century architecture in Guayaquil and also has a restaurant and the Traditional Zone, which focuses on local traditions placing an emphasis on rural customs, crafts, and agriculture.

On the west side of Parque Bolivar is a cathedral that was originally built in 1547. After the wooden structure was destroyed by fire the present structure was built in 1948. There is an artificial lagoon and a monument built to Simon Bolivar who fought for independence against Spain upon a horse.

The park is also called Parque de Las Iguanas because of the iguanas that graze here on the rocks.

A block south of the park is the Municipal Library. The library was founded in 1862. It contains many research volumes and an unusual Comiteca, with an extensive collection of comic books.

Malecon El Salado is another impressive waterfront renewal project. There are eateries and cafes and a micro theater named Sala La Bota. In this area, you can rent rowboats. At night on the weekends, people come here to watch the “dancing fountains”.

Just south of here is Plaza Rodolfo Baquerizo a large square dominated by a modernist structure. Expositions and events are held here.

Museo de la Musica Popular Guayaquilena Julio Jaramillo is a small, quaint museum where one part is dedicated to the great singers and songwriters of Ecuador, especially the legendary Julio Jaramillo. There are old Victrolas and vintage mandolins. The other part is dedicated to the beer Pilsener, which once had a brewery near there.

City Cemetery is a landmark cemetery a short distance from the city center. It was founded in 1823 and has hundreds of above-ground tombs which are stacked atop of one another, resembling an apartment complex. There is a walkway leading to several monuments and huge mausoleums among them the impressive grave of President Vicente Rocafuerte.

Parque del Centenario this park is the largest in Guayaquil stretching for four square city blocks. There are beautiful manicured gardens, benches, and monuments. The most important monument here is the central Liberty Column surrounded by the founding fathers of the country.

La Rotonda is one of Guayaquil’s more impressive monuments. It is flanked by small fountains. It depicts the historic meeting between Boliver and San Martin that took place here in 1822.

Jardin Botanico de Guayaquil is located on a hillside offering great city views. There are over 80 orchid varieties, 75 exotic bird species, and about 700 different plants Walking along paths and trails you can see plant exhibits, an auditorium with preserved butterflies, and cages full of squawking parrots.

Crystal Palace is an impressive steel structure at times referred to as the Mercado Sur. It is a Belgian-designed covered market built in 1907 and was the biggest marketplace in Guayaquil. Today it has been restored and has giant glass walls. There are stalls with art, handicrafts, and commercial exhibitions.

Torre Morisco the famous 30m-high Moorish-style clock tower was completed in 1931. It is a memorable sight sitting on the waterfront.

Sucre Monument is a monument commemorating Antonio Jose de Sucre, the 19th-century general who played a leading role in helping Ecuador gain its independence from Spain.