Guayaquil

Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador with 3 million inhabitants. The city on the Gulf of Guayaquil is the most important economic center of Ecuador and the most important port in the country. Guayaquil lies on the Rio Guayas, which pours here in the Pacific Ocean.

Already in the 16th century there was a permanent settlement, which was gradually expanded into a major port and center of shipbuilding. The city suffered from numerous pirate attacks and several devastating fires. During the cocoa boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city grew considerably and became a major business metropolis.

Although Guayaquil is an economic center, the city is well worth a visit. Consider the following points of interest:

• Along the Guayas River lies the Malecón, the waterfront area that, after numerous construction and renovation works, has become an important leisure and recreational area. Here you will find an amusement park, playgrounds, restaurants, museums, monuments, an IMAX movie theater and even a shopping mall. The Malecón is one of the most notable urban renewal projects in South America of recent decades.
• The historic districts of Las Peñas and Cerro Santa Alta are among the oldest in the city. Some streets and houses have been spared from the numerous fires, others have been renovated. Therefore you can feel transported back to the colonial era. On the cobbled streets you will find nice little restaurants and bars.
• The Anthropological Museum (Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo) consists of several rooms that show modern Ecuadorian art and some rooms dedicated to anthropological themes. These show numerous important pre-Columbian finds. They also give an interesting overview of developments before the colonial period, especially in the coastal region around Guayaquil.

On the trip Ecuador andino you spend one night in Guayaquil.