You might need a hand planning what’s in store for a visit to the largest city in Ecuador. Drenched in cultural heritage, you’ll want to soak up every drop of colonial architecture, newly reimagined coastlines and one-of-a-king public parks like a sponge
Spectacularly, most of the best things to do in Guayaquil are either free or cost very little. So you can leave your purse at home and still have a wonderful day out with these 11 enticing things to do in the city…
Malecón 2000
The unmissable Malecón 2000 is a no-brainer whether you’re in Guayaquil for an afternoon or a week. Said to be one of the best facelifts South America has seen, you cannot give this one a miss.
Wander the 1.5 miles (2.5km) span of rust-tiled waterfront wonder to get everything you could want and more from a promenade. Malecón goes above and beyond for families searching for a park, friends wishing for a walk and talk, and couples who want to watch the sun setting over the romantic River Guayas.
Spend a few hours trekking through park gardens, scouring water’s edge museums, and picking at restaurant nibbles. Running along the coast of Guayaquil, it is reachable from almost anywhere and makes a peaceful pastime day and night.
Cerro Santa Ana
Perched on a sunny hillside in Guayaquil is a neighbourhood that puts all other surroundings to shame. The vibrant community of Las Peñas is loaded with 400 years of history, tucked away in its narrow alleys. It is worth every speck of your time investigating.
Cut to the bottom of Cerro Santa Ana Hill to Numa Pompilio Llona, where you can truly sink your teeth into the earliest architecture. Weave in and out of the striking colonial wooden streets and stumble into a brightly coloured bar to enjoy a pilsner in the town it was born.
Perhaps the highlight of the entire visit is the 444-step climb with motivating numbered reminders and snack vendors along the way. Take a seat to admire the city and build your way up to the grand finale at the top.
From there you can fall in love with panoramic views of the city and the stunning blue and white striped hilltop lighthouse. Don’t forget to check out the historic cannons, used to protect the city from threat and utilize the altitude to scour modern-day pirate ships.
La Perla
Guayaquil boasts the largest Ferris wheel in all of South America, which is why you simply cannot miss a ride on La Perla.
The reasonably priced attraction is a popular thing to do for all who visit the Ecuadorian city. Cherish an air-conditioned spin with some of the best views in the area.
Capture the top of Santa Ana Hill, the entirety of the boardwalk and the most excellent views of the River Guayas. Plausibly more enchanting, rides continue into the late night when The Pearl is lit up, with the newest setting doing the rounds at midnight on weekends.
Spot it steadily rotating on Malecón 2000.
Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art
Those wanting to learn about the history of Ecuador, with an eye for archaeology and art, should take a trip to the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art.
The MAAC is by far one of the top places to learn about the heritage timeline of this diverse country. And it qualifies as one of the largest museums in Guayaquil.
Head here to see ancient artefacts from the Spanish entrance up until the modern-day. Discover everything from culture to art through the Ecuadorian ages.
Visual aids, projections and insights will guide you through. Plus a visit to the delightful modern art gallery will absolutely raise your spirits.
Easily locate the entertaining gallery on the northern fringe of the Malecón 2000. Even better, you won’t have to pay a penny to enter!
Captain Morgan River Cruise
The beauty of the River Guayas is far too powerful to just be left admired from a distance. It almost begs you out loud to board a boat and sail its mighty depths.
Not only can you enjoy the imposing waters from the prime position, but the vantage point also provides a whole new angle to see the city you are investigating.
Yo ho! This is your invitation to board Captain Morgan’s ship and sail the deeps with the hearties. Sit back with a kicking bottle of rum, snacks, music and unparalleled views of Guayaquil.
Sink back into Guayaquil’s pirate history with a tour of a replica of the world’s most famous captain’s boat. Upgrade your $7 ticket to a $15 dollar open bar pass to keep the rum flowing throughout the trip. The ideal way to kick off a night out!
The cap’n and crew throw on a pirate show for their guests in all their finery during the hour-long cruise of the river and surrounding islands. Hop on at sunset to make the most of the golden sunset as it bounces off the Guayas.
Downtown
It would be a swing and a miss to go to Guayaquil and not see it downtown. Brimming with traditional architecture, local life and commemorating monuments, this is a cultural feast not to be ignored.
It isn’t just its parks that will blow your mind. Keep your eyes peeled and camera at the ready for the architectural surprises dotted around every corner of downtown Guayaquil.
The Municipal Palace will wow you with elegant balconies, monumental pillars and extravagant domed roofs. It stands tall and proud encircled by fountains and sister commemoratives of Ecuadorian independence. Pass under the Arosemena Passage which makes the whole place all the more spectacular.
The Guayaquil Cathedral sticks out in splendour with adorned spires, a striking red roof and its tall ceiling. But head inside to see the real sensation that is the city’s sacred pride.
Whirl back to the colonial age at Iglesia San Francisco. Its glorious bright blue facade roars of the 18th century and is an architectural pinnacle for everyone’s list.
Walking tours are available to secure the visit and to show you the best of the area known to locals. Just ask at the visitor centre found at the Banco del Pacífico for information.
Parque Bolivar
Never overlook a trip to the park when in Guayaquil. It might just be one of the best things you do!
Just like Malecón 2000, Parque Bolivar is the most popular attraction downtown. Bragging a backdrop of the stunning city cathedral, this free visit isn’t just a pretty picture.
The park is infamous for its friendly residents – a group of native iguanas that don’t seem to mind being the centre of attention in the busy city. The iconic feature is like something you would find in the Galapagos, except the species is actually native to Guayaquil.
Many people refer to Bolivar as Iguana Park. And you can come here to watch the peculiar creatures being hand-fed flowers and vegetables in the sunshine!
While a quick visit offers a short walk, it is something no one should miss when in the city centre.
Malecón El Salado
Want to enjoy the local life without heading downtown? Malecón El Salado will lead you past the typical areas where the citizens spend their days. It enforces the true lifestyle of Guayaquil without pushing the modern commercialisation of Malecón 2000.
As a westward-facing pier, the Salado makes as great a spot to catch the sunset as it does for trying locally sourced seafood and soaking up the culture.
Relish in a spot of lunch in one of the open-air restaurants. Plaza de Mariscos is the prime place to try a portion of classic creole crab or simply enjoy the evening musical performances on Fridays and Saturdays.
Other bits to have the advantage of include a rowing boat hire company that allows you a couple of options. You can either take a boat out on the river on your own accord to sail where you wish and enjoy the challenge of rowing yourself, or you can hire a person to do the leg work for you so you can sit back and enjoy the breeze. The latter can be a romantic option for any evening river date.
Call by the dancing fountain and look out for the sculptures and local wildlife.
Monumental Fountains of Dancing Waters
You might think a fountain is not worth your effort when there is so much to see in such an affluent city.
Though the Monumental Fountains of Dancing Waters are already en route on the Malecón El Salado and you would be sorry to miss the sensation.
Not only is the spectacle of the astounding 40 metres high (131 feet) spurting fountains, “dancing” to music impressive, it makes a thrilling way to enjoy the culture. The Monumental Fountains astound all ages.
You could compare them to the notorious Las Vegas Bellagio Fountains, though the Guayaquil exhibit stuns for an even longer period of time and stands out in the city as a staple of the culture.
Enjoy the traditional music and the joy it brings to the community from the opposite side of the river bank, where you will get the best views. Though, to be right up front with the action, there is also a viewing platform. If you are lucky enough to get there early, secure a seat at one of the places nearby that serve nibbles throughout the show.
This is another phenomenally free treat on offer in Guayaquil that you should take full advantage of. The performance takes place every evening from Tuesday to Sunday between 7 and 9 pm, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch the action!
Parque Historico
Guayaquil is known to have an impressive selection of parks. Parque Historico (Historic Park) is one of the most popular visits in the city.
The free attraction has three areas of interest:
The Traditional Area is where you can see demonstrations of local rural life, including cocoa plantations where you can see the chocolate process. Here you can see the old species of plant from the colonial period, as well as traditional residences and chicken farms.
Head to the Wildlife Zone to discover the local biodiversity of plant and animal species. Follow the trail through the wildlife habitats where native creatures are free to roam their open space. Explore everything from toucans to sloths to spider monkeys and caimans.
The Urban Zone, on the other hand, demonstrates the economic surge made by the Cocoa Boom and the outcome of that. Dotted around are a number of important buildings that represent cultural heritage, including the Territorial Bank and a cocoa farmers’ home.
Inside the buildings, you can find museums, restaurants, workshops and more. Take the Urban Car to find your way through the large park and take the weight off your legs. If you visit at the weekend, look out for performances taking place in the open air.
Isla Santay
For a refreshing change of pace, head over to Isla Santay to soak up the rural side of life.
Just across the river from the busy city, delve into nature on a car-free isle. Escape the hustle and bustle via a sightly pedestrian-only bridge for a breezy day out around Santay.
Less than 4 miles (km) round walking can bring you back down to Earth and introduce you to a whole new side of Ecuadorian life. Meet the local species, see how the residents live and explore every millimetre of the weird and wonderful environment.
Meander the boardwalks to witness locals going about their stilted houses, the fishermen casting their lines and the crocodiles enjoying their swamp home.
Head through the tropical rainforest for an insight into the Galapagos and be sure to collect the freshest of produce from the fish markets.
If you’re pushed on time, bike hire is available and, like everything on the island, prices are affordable, though time shouldn’t be a problem for you.
All in all, it takes around 3 hours to explore Santay Island and it would be a great deal of shame to miss out on any of its charming details.
