What to do in Guayaquil Part 1

What to do in

Guayaquil – Ecuador

Guayaquil, officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most welcoming city in Ecuador, as well as that nation's main port and one of the main South American ports in the Pacific. Guayaquil is located on the western bank of the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil. Because of its location, the city is an important center of commerce with regional influence in areas of business, finance, culture and entertainment.

Guayaquil offers travelers a surprising number of sights and activities. It boasts museums, historic neighborhoods, sprawling parks and waterfront strips, carved by the rivers and estuaries, which find their outlet to the sea. Guayaquil offers visitors a blend of nature, history, and tradition. A proud city of the tropics where foreigners are well received, music rules and seafood is a must.

If you are planning to visit the Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil is the smartest place to take a flight from. Guayaquil is the closest point from Ecuadorian mainland to the Galapagos, an all the domestic flights do stopover in Guayaquil to get refuel and pick up more passengers.

Guayaquil's airport was awarded to be one of the best airports in South America, is open 24 hours and offers connections to every country in South America also have nonstop flights to Europe and the USA. In the main terminal on arrival there are several eateries to choose from including a few international chains.

It's also a lot more convenient to fly from Guayaquil to Galapagos or Lima, because it is at sea level and tourists do not get the high-altitude sickness. It is also easier to get to Cuenca if you are travelling there overland and finally the airport ^is very close to downtown, so you can star enjoying this beautiful city the as soon as you arrive.

• Parque Histórico (Historic Park)

Parque historico was built it in 1997 on the banks of the Guayas River as a theme park of 8 hectares with educational, cultural, environmental, recreational and tourist purposes. It is aimed to exhibit the history and culture of the old province of Guayaquil that emerged at the end of the colonial times and the beginning of the republican life of the country between the XIX and XX centuries, which occupied almost all of the Ecuadorian coast including the existing provinces of Los Rios, El Oro and part of Manabí.

The site also recreates the architecture, traditions and the urban and rural life of the Guayaquil of those times, mixed with a beautiful natural park full of a diverse vegetation that form different natural and wildlife areas with their respective flora and fauna.

The hotel del Parque benefits from its exclusive setting within the Parque Historico Guayaquil

Attractions: the visitors can get a taste of the geopolitical context of the old days; since the park recreates different habitats in which the people of the old province of Guayaquil used to develop their activities, such as the woods, the countryside and the city, which is closely related to the so called “Golden Age” of the main port of Ecuador, whose principal activity was the commercialization of cocoa.

The visitor can appreciate the history of Guayaquil in three defined areas:

1) Wildlife Area: it comprises approximately four hectares and recreates the natural habitat of more than 50 species between birds, mammals and other animals that turned the woods into their natural habitat, some of which are in danger of extinction.

2) Urban Architectonic Area: the space recreates the wealthy times of Guayaquil of the first decades of the XX century, when the city enjoyed an economic boom thanks to the growth and exportation of cocoa, which brought prosperity to the city and the surrounding farms.

3) Traditional Area: the space of two hectares is a place of reminiscence in which the visitor can learn about the history of urban Guayaquil, besides the observation of the rural life of our countryside.

The tourists will be immersed in the era known as “Pepa de Oro” because of the cocoa boom, and will be guided through a cocoa farm in which they will be able to see all the production process of chocolate.

Las Peñas Neighborhood (Heritage)

History

With more than 400 years old, Las Peñas was the first neighborhood of Guayaquil, which took its name from the cliffs and limestone rocks that formed the Hill back then when the Spanish settled in the XV century. In 1982 the neighborhood was declared Cultural Heritage of Ecuador and between 2002 and 2008, the place was restored and regenerated by the Municipality of Guayaquil.

This neighborhood, born in Colonial times, was destroyed in several occasions by the fires that assailed the city. The fact that the neighborhood was rebuilt in times of the Republic alienated its colonial style. 

It has a unique architectonic style and is a spectacular place for being located at the hill and in front of the river, also for its colorful and romantic appearance of narrow and cobbled streets with a bohemian ambiance.

Diego Noboa Staircases

The staircases are one of the favorite tourist destinations because it has symbolic places of the culture of Guayaquil, besides entertainment places.

It starts at the foot of the hill and end at the top. It is formed by 444 numbered stairs in which the tourists can find squares, roundabouts, museums, a chapel, a lighthouse, art galleries, craft shops, Internet coffee places, bars and restaurants.

Simón Bolívar Pier

History

This urban park, filled with nature, history, tradition and modern beauty is a touristic attraction that has a length of 2,5 kilometers (26 blocks). Visitors can find gardens, artificial lagoons, water fountains, viewpoints, docks, squares and historical monuments like The Rotunda Hemicycle, Moorish Tower, Aurora Gloriosa (Glorious Dawn) and the statue of Olmedo. As well as museums, movie theatres, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, food courts, playgrounds, a crafts market and all of the attractions, services and commodities that a tourist needs to enjoy a tour through the city. It also offers tours through the Guayas River in which the city can be seen from another geographic point, within an imposing natural environment of great beauty.

Crafts Marker of the Pier

Its location gives an ambiance of beauty due to its natural surroundings, since it is near the Guayas River and close to an area of gardens, trees, and contemplation and rest spaces.

Its main attraction, on a touristic level, are 24 stores that offer good prices, it has several crafts that depict the national folklore crafted by hand by Ecuadorian artisans in materials such as cloth, wood, leather, ceramic, stone, tagua, glass, balsa wood, toquilla straw, steel, copper, among others.

Santay Island National Recreational Area

Access: the visitor can access the Island by foot, by bicycle or by the river. The access for pedestrians and bicycles is through a bridge located in Guayaquil, in El Oro Street, next to the river.

The tourists can take boats that are anchored in the docks of the Yacht Club of Guayaquil to access the Island by the river, which is located diagonal to the Municipal Palace (Palmeras de Santay Cooperative).

The Island was not only recognized locally, regionally and nationally, but for its ecological characteristics and for the dedication of the population to the conservation, it was recognized internationally as a Ramsar place, award that highlights the importance of these ecosystems as fundamental for global conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The Island is home to 85 bird species, 12 reptiles like the boa and the iguana; mammals like the raccoon, the anteater bear and the bat. Catfish, sea bass, tilapias, which are used for consumption and sale, form the aquatic fauna. Species like the black mangrove; guachapeli and Saman trees (endemic species) can also be appreciated.

Guayaquil Historic Center

Go over Simon Bolivar Pier and enjoy of:

·         Its big group of sculptures with a length of 2.5 km

·         You can do your shopping in the Malecon 2000 mall

·         Visit the craft market located in the south wing

·         Visit the renewed South Market (Cristal Palace)

·         The beautiful gardens and fountains

·         The exercises zone and the Safari Park for the kids.

While you are on the Simon Bolivar Pier you can make lots of activities

The Ferris Wheel "La Perla", offers an entertaining ride for tourists, who can admire the city from the top. With 57 meters high it is the highest wheel of South America, and is located in the northern part of the Simon Bolivar Pier. The wheel completes its journey in 12 minutes.

•          Rides for the Guayas River on board of the Henry Morgan boat.
•          Rides for the Guayas river on fiber boats.
•          Travel the city in Guayaquil vision bus
•          Visit the museums located in the Simon bolivar pier
•          miniature museum “Guayaquil in the history
•          Anthropological museum and contemporary art (Maac)
•          Enjoy a movie or a documentary in the malecon cinema   

Take a beautiful walk by the Pier of the Salado Estuary. While walking the pier you will be able to do several activities like:

•          Walk by The Rodolfo Baquerizo Square
•          Walk by the 5 de Junio bridge and have a panoramic of 9 de Octubre Boulevard
•          Walk by the  Writers walk
•          Enjoy of Nautical Rides of Salado Estuary

If you are at the lineal park at night you cannot miss the Monumental Fountain of Dancing Waters show.

 Walk the Lineal Park:
A few meters from the Pier del Salado Estuary, is the lineal park with 21.000 square meters of construction and several resting areas, exercise, that goes from contemporary art and monuments on illustrious figures,

Zigzag Bridge (Youth Walk)
If you enjoy walking and admire the natural landscapes, continue the walk from the Lineal Park to the Zigzag Bridge. A bridge of modern architecture decorated with verticals roundabouts gardens and a beautiful view of the Salado Estuary.

Victor Emilio Estrada Pier

Continuing with the walking by the Zigzag Bridge you will get to the Victor Emilio Estrada Pier that connects with the Guayaquil University and Urdesa, one of the busiest place in the city.

El Velero Bridge 

A milestone in the urban aesthetics of Guayaquil, standing out as "The most beautiful bridge of the country".

It has an architectural design of modern style that simulates the shape of a sailboat and the natural surroundings of the Salado Estuary. At night, it offers great splendor, when its sails of canvas and fiber optic cable system illuminate in blue.

Firefighters Museum

History

There is an exhibition inside the museum that presents old water pumps, tools, uniforms and awards, besides valuable oil paintings and portraits of the Fire Department Commanders. Also, animal-drawn carts from the end of the XX century until the modern vehicles of today.

 A water fountain from 1902 can be appreciated in the small square of the museum. Another attraction is a semicircle that houses the busts of the chiefs of the Fire Department.

Santa Ana Port

History

It Is a touristic building complex of 4 hectares formed by several office buildings, commercial shops, apartments, squares, museums and a pier that borders the Guayas river.

It is surrounded by a natural landscape since is located in front of the Guayas River; it has a modern architecture with a building constructed in the same place where the silos of the National Brewery used to be located, which maintains its original design.  There is the Pilsener Square in which several artistic events take place and also the museums that pay tribute to Julio Jaramillo, the Beer industry and Barcelona Sporting Club.

Civic Square

History

The Civic Square comprises famous monuments like the Rotunda Hemicycle to Bolivar and San Martin, the Moorish Tower (public clock), the President`s Walkway (monuments to former presidents from Guayaquil) and also peculiar sculptures like the Wild Boar. It’s the home of two traditional Clubs: The Naval Club and the Yacht Club that have been incorporated to the project respecting their access and private requirements. The Square also has four sculptures that evoke popular culture and represent the four elements of nature (earth, air, fire and water), two of them transformed into viewpoints, which provide the visitor a privileged view of the city and its surroundings. There is also an esplanade with a series of water fountains that create an exceptional environment at night.

 One of its main architectonic attractions is a great portion of its area (approximately 10 thousand square meters) that was reclaimed from the river by a reinforced concrete base, on a pilot foundation, which approaches the city to its quite river.

Olmedo Square

The square pays tribute to Jose Joaquin de Olmedo, hero of Guayaquil, former mayor of the city and precursor of the Revolution of October 9, 1820.

 The monument is placed within a group of cylindrical water fountains and next to the traditional Union Club, meeting place of Guayaquil’s society, founded in 1869. The Square has several viewpoints and a terrace in front of the river that connects with other places of the Pier through a pedestrian wooden bridge. Benches have been placed along the corridors for the people to rest, and next to them giant skylights that give the place a maritime style.

Seminario Park

The existing park was built in the XIX century, in 1868, which had a huge eight-point star, reason why the park was called Plaza de la Estrella (Star Square). In 1889, the equestrian monument to Simon Bolivar was built and the place was renamed as Plaza Bolivar (Bolivar Square). By then, philanthropist Manuel Seminario made an important donation to renovate the park that took the last name of the illustrious citizen.

Also known as Parque de las Iguanas (Iguana Park) for the large population of iguanas in the place, it has a natural charm because of the tress and artificial lagoon in which swim different colored fish.

THE IGUANAS, A NATURAL ATTRACTION

 The iguana is classic specie from Guayaquil and is visible in different areas of the city. According to biologists, they settled in the early days of the city, during the colonial times, because water, mangroves and willow trees surround the city, whose fruits are their favorite food. The parks are filled with their presence due to their proximity to the river and because people did not pursue them, since it is not edible specie in our diet.

Seminario Park is also known as the Iguana Park, since dozens of iguanas live in its ornate gardens. According to the tourists they give a prehistoric and natural ambiance to the Park. The reptiles that measure up to 1 meter in length are the main attraction of the Park and mingle amiably among the people.

Centenary Square

It was inaugurated in October 9 of 1920, as the pinnacle work of the celebration for the commemoration of the 100 years of Guayaquil’s independence.

The square, one of the largest of the city, has 8.875 square meters and follows the traditional architectural detailing of the Sacred Woods of Classic Greece.

It has several attractions in which statues of great value stand out, which are surrounded by beautiful gardens.

The monument called “The Column to National Heroes”, crafted by Spanish sculptor Agustin Querol is located in the center of the Square, which pays tribute to the heroes of the independence deed of October 9 of 1820 that marked the local emancipation.

There are different statues in every gate of the square, each one with great symbolic significance. The “Fountain of the Lions” is located at the southwest corner of the Square.