I have to admit, I had zero expectations about this city. When I was here in 2016 on my way to the Galapagos, I stayed in a weird part of town and was kind of afraid to leave my hotel except to go for a quick dinner. Flash forward 7 years and I don’t know if it is the city or if it is me that has changed but I was very pleasantly surprised about what I found!
Rather than staying just two nights which would have left me just one full day to explore, I ended up extending for an additional day and a half. Between the great gastronomy scene, the free museums, and the awesome waterfront, Ecuador’s “other” city may just have won my heart.
Explore the hillside neighborhood of Santa Ana
Perched on a hill above the Guayas River, the colorful neighborhood is a great place to explore. There are 440 steps to get to the very top of the hill where you’ll find a cute little church and an adorable blue and white lighthouse. You can go up to the top of it for amazing views of the city.
As you make your way back down, you can grab a beer or smoothie at one of the many cafes, restaurants, and bars that cling to the steep main street. I had a delicious $2 smoothie at one of the cafes on the way back down. Not only did I get to enjoy the lovely views a little longer it was heaven after climbing up that hill in 85-degree heat!
I also stopped at one of the low-key bars while I was there. It was as divey as they come complete with plastic tables, uncomfortable chairs, blaring music, and cheap beer. It reminded me of the places where my dad and I would sit for hours drinking beer and talking about life. To top it off, there were sweeping views of the river down below.
Ride the cable car
I have to admit, I am very scared of heights so unless there is a fantastic view offered, I normally avoid cable cars. The one in Guayaquil was a little too hard to resist though! The cable car connects the city of Duran which lies just across the river to various parts of Guayaquil. This means that you get to ride the car above the rooftops of downtown and get a unique bird’s eye perspective of the city. Best of all, the entire 45-minute long experience only costs $4.
Go for a walk on the Malecon
Running along the riverfront, the Malaecon is basically the pride and joy of Guayaquil. This is a lovely area for a morning or evening stroll when it is bursting with families and groups of friends. As you walk, you can check out an old sailing ship, cute little parks, fountains, and other attractions. I went for runs there in the morning and it was my favorite place to start the day.
See the iguanas in Parque Centenario
This beautiful square boasts a gorgeous pavilion, a grand cathedral, and a collection of chubby little iguanas. The iguanas wander around the square like they own the place and seem completely unperturbed by the tiny humans (kids) that attempt to pet them. It is a great place to relax and people watch during the day.
Go for a wander on Isla Santay
Lying in the middle of the Guayas River, Isla Santay is a lovely ecological area. The island is connected to the city via a 1-kilometer-long footbridge. Once you get across the bridge, there are boardwalks that carry you above the mangroves as you walk to the island’s ecovillage. The only people you see are locals hurrying by on bikes as they head to the city center.
Visiting the ecovillage felt a bit like going to summer camp in Ohio but with a Latin twist. Music blared from the houses and laundry was left to dry on the wooden railings that ran along the boardwalk. It was an interesting place to walk around and I wish I would have had more time there.
Parque Histórico Guayaquil
This zoo/historical zone is a fun little attraction right by the airport where you can easily spend a few hours. There are paths that lead you through a small zoo featuring birds, monkeys, turtles, and a few other small animals. The conditions don’t look great as the enclosures are pretty small for some of the animals which was a little disconcerting.
After you leave the zoo, you reach the Malecon 1900, a play on Guayaquil’s famous Malecon. Many of the 19th and early 20th century buildings were painstakingly moved here from the city center after escaping demolition. The result is lovely and you are able to walk in and out of the buildings just like you could in the early 1900s. When I was there, the place was full of families eating ice cream, watching performances featuring local actors in period clothes, and simply enjoying a beautiful day out.
