Over the last decade, Guayaquil has become the most popular destination in Ecuador after the Galapagos Islands. This is mainly due to its large port ( el Puerto Principal ), which has rescued the city's cultural treasures.   For the tourists, however, the main attraction lies in the heart of the city.

The famous route begins at the boardwalk Malecón 2000 , an architectural monument to the Pearl of the Pacific's (as Guayaquil is also known) new look. This creation, located along the banks of the river Guayas, is divided into three sections: south, central, and north.

In the southern section, the Plaza Olmedo stands out.   It is here where the monument to José Joaquín de Olmedo stands.   He was Guayaquil's first mayor, who paved the way for the revolution of 9th October 1820, and composed the city's anthem.   In the central section, the Plaza Cívica, also known as La Rotonda , can be found.   This square commemorates the meeting between Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín during their fight for the independence of South American nations against the Spanish.  

Last, but not least, there is the northern section, which is home to the Museum of Anthropology and Modern Art, as well as two cinemas and a food hall.   This section borders on the Las Peñas quarter, the place where the city first sprang to life on the 25th July 1537.   Even today, in this historic area of the city, you can see the canons that were used by the city's first inhabitants to defend themselves against European pirates.   These battles gave rise to a great number of stories, which are proudly told by the locals.

The canons can be found in the area known as La Planchada , at the beginning of Calle Numa Pompilio Llona , which is the main street through the area.   Most of Las Peñas ' houses have been turned into art galleries and bars.   Across from Las Peñas stands the Church of Santo Domingo, built in the mid-16 th Century.

On the edge of Las Peñas , there is Santa Ana's hill and from its summit, views of the whole city can be seen.   This is the perfect place to take photos and buy souvenirs from the shops and bars.  

Animal lovers who find themselves in the area tend to head for the Parque Seminario , which is famous for its abundance of iguanas, squirrels and turtles.   This is the iguanas' domain and they can be easily photographed.   Within the park's grounds, the Museo Municipal (City's Museum) can be found. The museum was founded in 1863, and hosts much the city's history.

Nightlife is concentrated around the city's centre.   In the so-called Zona Rosa (literally Pink Zone), there are dozens of bars and clubs to be found.   To the north of the city lies the Parque Histórico (Historic Park), a museum that transports visitors back to colonial times in Guayaquil.

What makes the city even more of a delight to visit is its warm and friendly inhabitants who welcome all visitors, be they fellow Ecuadorians or from further afield.   After having visited the churches, museums, parks and zoos, there are other, equally interesting places to visit such as the spa towns, which can be found around an hour and a half from Guayaquil.  

Interesting facts about Guayaquil

•  The Pearl of the Pacific is a multiethnic and multicultural city and has around three million inhabitants.  

•  Guayaquil is found to the right of the River Guayas and lies 4 metres above sea level.

•  Due to its geographical position, the city has a warm, tropical climate and is the country's economic capital.

•  The temperature between December and May ranges from 28 to 39 degrees centigrade.   Over the rest of the year, the temperature stays between 24 and 30 degrees.

•  Important people born in Guayaquil include Julio Jaramillo, known as the Nightingale of Latin America, and Medardo Angel Silva, one of the continent's most famous poets.

•  Guayaquil boasts two of the country's strongest football teams:   Barcelona and Emelec.

By:
Eduardo Andrade Jalón
Ecuadorian journalist graduated from the Faculty of Social Communications, University of Guayaquil.

Translated by Alice Kilgarriff