How to Spend 3 Nights in Guayaquil with Hotel del Parque
by Stephanie Frias
Swooning for a
sojourn to the Galapagos Islands? Pay homage to the king of worldwide eco
destinations with a nod to her motherland. After all, sustainability experts
are whispering about lessening our impact through ubiquitous travel. In other
words, string your Galapagos travel story together with bookends on the
mainland, precisely from Guayaquil.
Night 1: Parque Historico in
Samborondón
Perhaps the most
charming way to broaden your stay in Ecuador is to spend at least 3 nights
lingering in the steamy port city of Guayaquil. For an exquisite blend of
wealth and wilderness, spend your first day in Guayaquil sauntering through the
decidedly chic and oh-so-eco Parque Historico in the Samborondón
neighborhood. The isthmus harbors an 8-hectare garden oasis home to some 50
wildlife species and historical architecture along the riverfront.
From within, snuggle up at the world-renowned Hotel del Parque all while sipping wine and sinking into the legendary cuisine at Casa Julian. It’s just one of three notable restaurants within the park coveted for their sustainable food practices.
Night 2: Explore greater Guayaquil
Spend day two on
the mainland with a quick commute from Samborondón to greater downtown
Guayaquil. Despite being a bustling city topping off over 2.2 million
residents, the waterfront city is delightfully easy to explore. Plus, it’s
rather famous for its parks, plazas, and meandering walking districts. Start your
day with a stroll overlooking the city from the lighthouse at Cerro Santa Ana and the Las Peñas art district.
Then, head back waterside before the sun sinks into the sea with a cruise along
the Malecon 2000 as it lights up the riverfront
after dark.
Night 3: Visit a Cocoa Plantation
An intriguing way to experience it firsthand is via the region’s very own Cocoa Route. After all, Guayaquil is a city founded on the very roots of chocolate, rising to prominence over the cocoa exportation boom nearly 400 years ago.
Guayaquil’s Cocoa Route
The official Cocoa
Route passes through 6 historic cocoa plantations, through which it is
endearingly possible to become a veritable cacao expert in just one day.
From Hotel del Parque, the tour first sets off for Hacienda Camino Verde, an astounding 8,600 acreage recognized globally for its sustainable production of fine chocolates. Then, continue on to El Deseo where the allure is in the secrets of taking Ecuadorian cacao from local farms to international tables.
Thirdly, a visit to the Hacienda La Danesa lends an iconic experience of the Ecuadorian chocolate trade. The historic ranch is prized for its award-winning chocolate developed on what is known as the best cacao plantation on the globe.
The route also includes a tour of the organic chocolate producer Milagro Vitaliano Sarabia, known as the prominent supplier of cacao for the fine chocolate industries hailing from France.
Finally, the full chocolate presentation is topped off with a look at the wilder side of the chocolate business. Tours through Taura and Bucay take onlookers through a deeper look at the natural landscapes in the world of cacao plantations including the vast cloud forests and coastal mangroves responsible for the best chocolate on the planet.
At the close of the day, return once more to Hotel del Parque to revisit memories of the day with Spanish tapas and wine at La Pergola on the twinkling waterfront.
