Holiday in Guayaquil

What makes Guayaquil special as a destination?

Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and the economic center of the country, located on the west bank of the Rio Guayas near the Pacific coast. With around 2.7 million inhabitants, Guayaquil is livelier, more tropical, and busier than the capital Quito — and the main gateway to the Galapagos Islands. The Malecon 2000 is a 2.5 km long waterfront promenade along the Rio Guayas, symbolizing Guayaquil's urban renewal: gardens, museums, playgrounds, restaurants, and an IMAX cinema stretch along the river. At the southern end, a lighthouse stands on Cerro Santa Ana, a colorfully restored hill neighborhood with 444 numbered steps to the summit. Las Penas, the oldest district of Guayaquil at the foot of Cerro Santa Ana, delights with colorful colonial houses, art galleries, and small bars. The climb up the 444 steps is rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire city and the river. Parque Seminario (Iguana Park) in the city center is a surprising natural spectacle: dozens of free-roaming land iguanas bask among walkers and can be photographed up close. The neo-Gothic cathedral and the elegant town hall frame the square. Daily flights to the Galapagos Islands (about 1.5 hours) depart from Guayaquil. The city also provides access to the Cocoa Route: Ecuador is home to the finest cocoa in the world (Cacao Nacional), and plantations can be visited as a day trip.